Spring vacations aside

Susan Menning

For her senior-year spring break, sociology major Antionette Saenz

envisions sunny beaches and time with friends, both of which she’ll

enjoy while restoring sand dunes in Humboldt County.

Saenz is a student director for UC Irvine’s Alternative Spring

Break, part of a national program that encourages college students to

have first-hand impact on societal and environmental issues by

volunteering their holiday time.

This month, 25 UCI students -- selected for their commitment to

community service and willingness to work in challenging environments

-- will participate in Alternative Spring Break. One group

accompanying Saenz will restore fragile dune ecosystems by removing

invasive, nonnative plants with Friends of the Dunes. Another group

will travel to Salinas to work at Dorothy’s Place, a homeless shelter

providing nutritional and transitional programs for the area’s poor.

Alternative Spring Break has grown consistently since its

inception at UCI three years ago, and organizers hope the momentum

continues.

“Participating students apply their academic learning to a broader

social context, transforming them into more responsible and socially

conscious citizens,” says program organizer Donna Norris. “Their

deeper awareness of societal issues has a tremendous impact on their

lives.” More: https://www.volunteer.uci.edu/asb.

UCI LIBRARIES OFFER EXHIBITS, SPEAKERS, BOOK CLUB

The UCI Libraries comprise rich, scholarly collections covering a

wide variety of subjects.

Currently on exhibit is “From Papyrus to Digital: UCI’s Thesaurus

of Ancient Greek Texts,” which traces the transmission of Greek text

via an array of media -- from fragile papyri and stone inscriptions

to digital media. Free and open to the public, the display includes

rare books and artifacts.

The Libraries also offer a monthly book club for community members

on the fourth Thursday of each month from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Langson

Library. Discussions led by UCI librarians and faculty members

provide fascinating learning experiences on a variety of topics.

And for those wanting a more in-depth library experience, the

support group “Partners of the UCI Libraries” offers a dynamic series

of speakers, author events and exhibit openings. Through their

support, members also enrich the Libraries’ collections and

resources, helping to extend the cultural and intellectual resources

available to the Orange County community. For information about these

programs, call (949) 824-4651.

At 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, the UCI Libraries’ Speaker Series

presents a program and book signing with Walter B. Stahr, former

Newport Beach resident and author of the recently published “John

Jay: Founding Father.”

Stahr illuminates the great life of this often forgotten American

soldier, politician, diplomat and lawyer. Readers will follow Jay’s

story through key events in early American history, such as the

Revolutionary War, the writing of the Constitution, the first

presidencies and the creation of the U.S. Supreme Court.

The event is free and open to the public; reservations are

required. Call (949) 824-5300.

With more than 2.4 million volumes and 28,500 current journals,

the UCI Libraries host more than one million community visits each

year. See for yourself, the Libraries are open every day, but hours

vary. Call (949) 824-6836.

BRAIN SCIENCE:

PRESENT AND FUTURE

Brain science has reached a new level of maturity, and current

understanding of how the brain works has a growing impact on our

lives. At 7:30 p.m. March 29, Dr. Richard Morris of the University of

Edinburgh presents “How Could Brain Science Transform our Lives in

the 21st Century,” as part of the IHF Distinguished Lecture Series on

Brain, Learning and Memory.

Drawing on examples from memory research, Morris will illustrate

where neuroscientists are today, where they think they are going, and

how a balance of basic science and needs-driven research will

influence education, the development of new medical treatments and

brain-style computing.

The event takes place at the Barclay Theatre and is free and open

to the public. More: (949) 824-4275.

UNUSUAL PLANTS OFFERED

AT UCI ARBORETUM SALE

Spring is planting time in Southern California, and the UCI

Arboretum offers a selection of unusual plants for your garden at its

annual “April Showers of Flowers” plant sale, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

April 2.

A wide range of unusual early spring perennials and bulbs from the

arboretum’s nursery will be available. These plants -- rarely, if

ever, found in local nurseries -- make unique additions to your

garden. Most are very easy to grow, and many will attract

hummingbirds and butterflies. An outstanding selection of flowering

perennials also is available.

The UCI Arboretum is located just south of the corner of Campus

Drive and Jamboree Road. Admission and parking are free. More: (949)

824-5833.

Please stay in touch, and let us know how we can help you become

better connected with the top-ranked research university right here

in your backyard.

* SUSAN MENNING is assistant vice chancellor of communications at

UC Irvine. She can be reached at uciconnect@uci.edu.