Volman: photochemist

David Volman, professor emeritus of chemistry, died Jan. 8 at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington D.C., following a brief illness. He was 90.

Born in 1916, Volman received his bachelor's and master's degrees in chemistry from UCLA in 1937 and 1938, respectively. He earned his doctorate from Stanford University in 1940, and joined UC Davis as an instructor and junior chemist the same year. During World War II, he worked as a research chemist for the U.S. government's Office of Scientific Research and Development.

He became a full professor in 1956 and served as department chair from 1974 to 1980. Volman's area of research was in photochemistry, the interaction of light with molecules, and in surface chemistry. Volman retired in 1986, but continued to be active, cycling to the department almost daily.

Award nominations due

The nomination period is under way for this year's Diversity and Principles of Community Achievement Awards to be given at the Soaring to New Heights celebration set for April 17. The honors program includes individual, and department, unit and team awards. Among the individual honors is the Deanna Falge Award that recognizes an individual for five years of more of exemplary contributions. Each nomination must include specific examples of contributions to affirmative action, diversity and-or the Principles of Community. Award nominations are due by Feb. 20, preferably by e-mail, to Vickie Gomez, program coordinator, Campus Community Relations, vlgomez@ucdavis.edu.

Correction

For more information on the UC Davis ethics program, call Robert Loessberg-Zahl, assistant executive vice chancellor, at (530) 752-6550. His phone number was listed incorrectly in the Jan. 12 article on the ethics briefing now under way for all employees.

Staff scholarships

Staff Assembly is now accepting applications for scholarships for career staff on the main campus and in the health system. Organizers said recipients are selected on the basis of demonstrated academic potential, community service and financial need. Awards vary in amount and number from year to year. Those given as a result of this application period are intended for use in the fall or winter quarter of the 2007-08 academic year. Applications are due by 5 p.m. March 5. Applications are available online, at staff.ucdavis.edu, or at the Staff Assembly office in the Human Resources Administration Building.

Employment applications

Staff Development will hold a noontime session Feb. 1 on the subject of the UC Davis employment application process. You will be able to ask all the questions you have always wondered about. In addition, you will get tips on how to prepare your employment application materials so they showcase your experience and skills. The instructor is Elaine Nakata, an analyst with Human Resources. The session takes place in the Mee Room at the Memorial Union.

Student loan reforms

A proposal to cut interest rates in half on federal need-based student loans was scheduled for a House of Representatives vote Wednesday (after Dateline went to press). Under the legislation, the rates on subsidized Stafford loans would be gradually cut from this year through 2011. The Stafford loans, which now carry a fixed interest rate of 6.8 percent, would be cut in five steps — to 6.12 percent this year, 5.44 percent in 2008, 4.76 percent in 2009, 4.08 percent in 2010, and 3.4 percent in 2011.

Lora Jo Bossio, UC Davis director of financial aid, said in an e-mail that such a new law could mean that "we will soon see additional legislation that will reduce the interest rates of subsidized loans for graduate and professional students as well as a reduction in the interest rate of all unsubsidized loans."