Honoring our retirees: Heiner Lieth

Heinrich Lieth retired as a professor and University of California Cooperative Extension specialist in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences. His work has focused on growing plants in greenhouses and similar protected structures.

Burger introduces Lieth

David W. Burger is a professor emeritus in the department who worked closely with LIeth. A horticulturist and plant physiologist, Burger's research has focused on propagating flowers and trees, and on how ornamental plants in containers use water. He offers a sometimes-emotional tribute to Lieth's career.

Lieth: Traveled U.S. in a VW camper

Lieth's botanist father brought his family to the United States from Germany in 1966, a time when post-war prejudice toward Germans remained high. Lieth went on to study mathematics, which led him to crop modeling. One of his special research areas has been cultivation without using soil. His work with students has led to success in international competitions.

Gail Taylor welcomes guests and honorees at the 2023 Retirement Dinner

The department traditionally has held its retirement dinner every two years. But, the COVID-19 pandemic caused postponement of both the 2020 and the 2022 dinners, chair Gail Taylor explained. This event, held at the UC Davis Convention Center on April 28, 2023, honored several faculty who had retired since 2018.

Here, the department chair offers closing remarks:

Video playlist

You can watch the entire video playlist from the 2023 Retirement Dinner here.

Read more about the work of Heiner Lieth here.