UC Davis flung open its doors to thousands of Picnic Day attendees Saturday (April 18), showcasing groundbreaking research, eye-catching art, a welcoming community and more. 

“Picnic Day is always one of my favorite days on campus,” Chancellor Gary S. May said at the start of the parade. “It’s a time to see the bonds within our Aggie community, between current students and alumni from many years ago. We showcase the expertise from our world-class faculty and have a lot of fun along the way.”

This year’s theme, “The Journey Home: Destination Davis,” was on display across campus.

Research takes center stage

For many researchers, Picnic Day is an opportunity to share their work with members of the public.

“Normally I present to like-minded people in science,” said Eduardo Gamez Jr., a Ph.D. student in biological systems engineering who was explaining a weather station to kids outside Hoagland Hall. “It’s a really cool opportunity to find the language that is understood by many.”

Standing in front of a poster explaining his work on carbon uptake of redwood forests and almond orchards, he explained how equipment measures rainfall.

Mandeep Singh, an agronomy advisor with the UC Cooperative Extension, normally helps growers manage weeds in row crops like alfalfa. On Saturday he was helping attendees identify common weeds and answering questions from the expected (how to manage them) to the unusual (“Some people ask if you can eat it.”).

“It’s super fun to show off things we’re working on in our lab,” said Giancarlo Sagastume, a Ph.D. student in the Bionic Engineering and Assistive Robotics Lab. He was showing off a cuff that allowed attendees to steer a motorized ball through a maze using hand movements — technology that could be used for prosthetics. 

Kenji Quides, an assistant professor of teaching in microbiology and molecular genetics, was using a microscope to point out tiny organisms floating in a solution of hay in Katherine Esau Science Hall. He said he hoped to teach attendees that microbes can be found everywhere, and most are harmless.

“I think UC Davis has a lot to offer,” Quides said. “We do a lot of really awesome biology and a lot of it applies to general life.”

A taste of Davis

Across campus, many attendees lined up for free plants, and tastes of everything from ice cream to popcorn — those, too, were displays of UC Davis expertise.

Faculty members giving out prune samples also answered questions about growing fruit trees. And elsewhere, a new blend of olive oil was making its debut. 

“Tasting is believing,” said Selina Wang, faculty director of the UC Davis Olive Center, as she encouraged attendees to try samples of the center’s “Friends Blend” extra virgin olive oil, which she said was a direct result of the university’s close ties with industry partners. Three local producers — California Olive Ranch, Corto Olive and Séka Hills — helped produce the oil, which is also available at UC Davis Stores.

Community near and far

Picnic Day is a chance for many to visit new or familiar parts of their campus home.

Stephanie Libby, a third-year animal science major and transfer student heading to the Doxie Derby, was attending her first Picnic Day.

“There are so many things to do,” she said. “I love seeing all the community.”

Others were encouraged to send a message to family members at home. A station inside Shields Library allowed attendees to write postcards home — instructions were provided, as staff discovered many students have never written or mailed a postcard, University Librarian Bill Garrity said.

Xiaoli Li, head of content support services at UC Davis Library, said many attendees wrote notes home to people they wished could attend the event; she also said it was a popular place to take a break during Picnic Day.

Rae Woodland, a flutist with Cal Poly Humboldt visiting campus for the Battle of the Bands, took a moment to write a postcard to her mom encouraging her to adopt a pet.

Picnic Day was also a literal return home for Gong, a 4,000-pound interactive sculpture by artist William T. Wiley that is back in front of the Manetti Shrem Museum of Art; since 2022 it has been at the di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art near Napa.