Picnic Day 2019 Filled With Fun and Collaboration
UC Davis and the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering celebrated another successful Picnic Day on Saturday, April 13th. The theme of this year's float was the adventure that comes along with being a biological and agricultural engineer:
Biological and agricultural engineers turn ideas into reality using technology such as robotics, sensors, bio-based products, and computer models. Everyday they face challenges such as water scarcity, food insecurity, energy shortage, pollution, and much more. They fight to make a cleaner, more sustainable environment, and make healthier and safer food with innovative research and technology.
This year's float featured BAE graduate students dressed as super-people fighting and defending against the many challenges the world faces. The float was complete with alien invaders, deadly beam, and shield clad super-people.
In addition to the float, the BAE parade entry featured the largest tractor believed to ever go through. The tractor, a 530hp New Holland T9, was made available to us by Garton Tractor of Woodland, CA while the tractor was on campus for a training course.
But showcasing how biological and agricultural engineers help make the world a better place is only part of the story. Behind the creation of the float and setting up the exhibition was a vital ingredient: collaboration.
Dr. Farzaneh Khorsandi, Assistant Cooperative Extension Specialist for BAE had this to say:
"One of the highlights of Picnic Day is the way in which everyone works together on so many levels. To make it all work, it takes a coordinated effort and a lot of key collaboration."
Faculty, students and staff begin working on the float and exhibition about two months before the event. The project must be managed from meetings to execution and every step along the way.
The day of the event is no different. It is a coordinated ballet where all must work together to achieve a common goal. People even helped out after the event with clean-up.
"Picnic Day is good for people who work in UC Davis and for people that come to visit and see the parade," Dr. Khorsandi said. "It's really a great all-around event."