Golden State Today

Grand Challenges at UC Davis is advancing its efforts to address global "wicked problems," marked by the expansion of its leadership team and funding for new research centers. Paul Dodd joined Grand Challenges in December as associate vice chancellor in the Office of Research, working alongside Vice Provost Jonna Mazet.

Dodd and Mazet are enhancing transdisciplinary collaborations, uniting the university’s strengths around Climate Solutions, Sustainable Food Systems, Reimagining the Land-grant University, and Emerging Health Threats. Dodd's expertise lies in fostering interdisciplinary academic relationships and external research partnerships. He previously served at UC Davis from 2012 to 2022 before a two-year tenure at the University of Galway, Ireland.

“It’s truly a great privilege to take up this exciting role working with Vice Provost Mazet and the Grand Challenges team,” Dodd stated. In his new role, he integrates efforts across Grand Challenges with UC Davis's Office of Research and Office of Global Affairs.

Among the focus areas, Dodd will oversee activities within Climate Solutions and Emerging Health Threats. On May 13, Climate Solutions celebrated when the US Department of Transportation awarded UC Davis a Climate Change and Transportation Center led by Kari Watkins. The center will receive up to $7.5 million over three years.

Watkins expressed her enthusiasm: “I am overjoyed at the chance to lead a center focused on simultaneously reducing the climate impacts of transportation while also thinking about mitigating how the climate disaster is already affecting our travel.”

The Emerging Health Threats area has also seen progress through Grand Challenges’ Institute of Pandemic Intelligence (IPI), founded with a $1 million award from the Health Research Services Agency. In early May, IPI published a Pandemic Preparedness Roadmap in partnership with Healthy Davis Together and Bay Area Global Health Alliance.

“We hope this tool will effectively assist planners at local levels and policymakers at national and global levels,” said Molly McKinney, chief of staff for Grand Challenges.

Following H5N1 Influenza outbreaks, Grand Challenges partnered with UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine on May 16 for an Emergency Virtual Consultation that engaged over 600 individuals worldwide. Christine Johnson noted that “the emergency consultation model was very effective for bringing together leading scientists” to address H5N1 Influenza control.

In all challenge areas, significant advancements have been made in building strategic partnerships internally at UC Davis and externally across various regions. “UC Davis is unique in both diversity of its active collaborative networks and breadth of disciplines represented,” Mazet said.

The Reimagining the Land-grant University (RLGU) challenge aims to recognize Indigenous peoples' contributions while fostering meaningful relationships with them. This effort is guided by Megon Noble, Michelle Villegas-Frazier, and Beth Rose Middleton-Manning who work towards supporting Native relations on campus.

“Reimagining the Land-grant University aims to acknowledge harm created by establishment...and collaborate closely with Native Nations,” Noble explained.

The Sustainable Food Systems challenge area has built partnerships creating a network among food systems researchers at UC Davis. In January, they hosted an event allowing participants to strategize on increasing UC Davis's impact in food sectors.

Grand Challenges has strengthened regional partnerships too; it collaborated with UC Davis Artificial Intelligence Institute for Next Generation Food Systems applying for NSF conference funding aimed at exploring AI applications in food production responsibly.

Across its focus areas, Grand Challenges positions campus strengths strategically for real-world impact promoting sustainability and equity. “We are excited to have Associate Vice Chancellor Dodd join our team,” Mazet added.