That would be forensic entomologist Robert "Bob" Kimsey of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology.
You'll learn how important entomology is in forensic investigations, you can chat with Dr. Bob, and you can look at some of his collections.
Kimsey wears a number of hats. He's the master advisor of the Animal Biology major; an assistant adjunct professor, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology; and the faculty chair of the department's Picnic Day. He's also the advisor to the UC Davis Entomology Club and that includes guiding students to such venues as Alcatraz Island to see the flies and other insects. (See The Fly Man of Alcatraz)
Known as an outstanding teacher, advisor and mentor, Kimsey won the 2020 top faculty academic advising award from the international NACADA, the “global community for academic advising.”
Kimsey is also a 2019 winner of a faculty advising award from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the Eleanor and Harry Walker Advising Awards. He previously won the UC Davis Outstanding Faculty Advising Award, and the Distinction in Student Mentoring Award from the Pacific Branch, Entomological Society of America.
Bob Kimsey's teaching philosophy: "I think that humans learn best together, where one person demonstrates the process or disseminates the knowledge to solve a problem to another person, and then together they solve the problem. The problem may be proximal and practical or abstract and conceptual. Following instruction, the teacher may participate with groups of students to solve problems, and there exist many other variations on teaching that adhere to this simple theme. But the principal components remain the same: demonstration or dissemination of knowledge followed by cooperative application. This is likely the most ancient of teaching concepts, and to the extent recent innovations in teaching method return to this simple process and replace simple lecturing, it continues to be the most effective."
Known for expertly guiding students toward career paths, and helping them meet challenges and overcome obstacles, Kimsey draws such unsolicited accolades on Rate My Professors as:
- “Dr. Kimsey is by far one of the best professors at UC Davis. His class never fails to entertain! You do need to put in the work to do well but it is very worth it! Dr. Kimsey truly cares about his students and wants to see them succeed and find a path that best suits them. Strongly recommend!”
- "This was the best class I've taken at UC Davis. You can tell that Dr. Kimsey really cares, and puts a lot of effort into his class.”
The campuswide UC Davis Picnic Day is free and open to the public. Kimsey's booth is an integral part of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology's insect-related displays and activities, set from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Briggs Hall. You'll see everything from Roach Races to Maggot Art (also think medical, forest and agricultural entomology). Check out the line-up.
Over at the Bohart Museum of Entomology, located in the Academic Surge Building on Crocker Lane, Lynn Kimsey, a UC Davis distinguished professor of entomology, serves as the director. (Yes, the Kimseys are husband and wife.) The Bohart Museum displays will be at the east entrance of the Academic Surge Building. Scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Bohart displays will center on the state insect, the California Dogface Butterfly; monarchs; and the student-created traveling display exhibits.
What's a picnic without bugs?
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