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Dear UC Davis community, partners and friends,
These times of uncertainty and confusion can feel overwhelming. Federal agencies face political interference, and funding for research and higher education is under attack. It’s frustrating, exhausting, and makes it hard to feel safe, hard to have the energy to engage. But engagement is exactly what’s needed.
Now, more than ever, is the time to practice public scholarship. As public scholars, we generate knowledge that strengthens our communities and helps build a more equitable society. That is our responsibility — especially now, when democracy itself feels fragile.
What are you doing within your own sphere of influence to build understanding and foster community? Perhaps it’s a classroom discussion that shifts a student’s perspective in ways they carry forward into their lives. A community partnership that sparks actionable change. A research project that helps reframe a public debate. A policy recommendation that makes its way into local governance. These small actions matter.
The erosion of trust in institutions, the spread of misinformation, and the deepening divisions across society have real consequences, affecting the way people engage with the world. But knowledge remains one of the strongest tools we have. Let’s get to work.
In community,
Michael Rios
Vice Provost, Public Scholarship
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