UC Davis Biological and Agricultural Engineering Historical Photo

History

From the Beginning of UC Davis to Today and Tomorrow, a History of BAE

The Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering enjoys over a 100 years of history. Click here to download "A Brief History of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at the University of California, Davis (PDF)" written by Department Chair Bryan Jenkins.

Abbreviated Timeline

1868 - UC Berkeley established as a result of the Agricultural Colleges Land Grant Act (Morrill Act)

1909 - UC Berkeley opens University Farm School in Davis (formerly Davisville), California

1915 - Division of Agricultural Engineering established at Davis (Later named the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering)

1956 - Rollover Protection Structure (ROPS) developed at UC Davis by Lamouria, Parks and Lorenzen. (Designated ASABE historical landmark in 1986.)

1959 - UC Davis designated as independent campus of the University of California along with Department of Agricultural Engineering

1992 - Department of Agricultural Engineering becomes Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering

2005 - UC Davis Tomato Harvester designated as historical landmark by ASABE

2015 - Department celebrates 100th anniversary

With over 100 years of history, it is difficult to enumerate the many ways the department has grown over the years along with the contributions to science and society. Please click here to download a more complete timeline.