In Memoriam

Travis Bean

Asst. Cooperative Extension Specialist in Weed Science, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences

(1977 - 2020)

Travis Bean, University of California, Riverside Assistant Cooperative Extension Specialist in Weed Science in the Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, passed away on May 27, 2020. Travis joined the UCR Department of Botany and Plant Sciences in 2014 as a weed scientist with expertise in weed management in wildland, rangeland, and agricultural settings.

Travis earned a B.S. in Plant Sciences from the University of Arizona in 2000. He then earned a M.S. degree in Range Management from the University of Arizona in 2002. His M.S. research addressed the problem of revegetation in desert climates. Following his Masters, he held a number of positions in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Arizona, including Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant, Research Specialist, Senior Research Specialist, and Principal Research Specialist, 2002-2014. During that time, he was also working to complete a Ph.D. in Ecology and Management of Rangelands at the University of Arizona. His dissertation research addressed management of the invasive weed buffelgrass and he served as coordinator of buffelgrass eradication and outreach at the University of Arizona Desert Lab. His work on buffelgrass was recognized by a Public Service Award from the University of Arizona School of Natural Resources and Environment and a United States Department of Interior Partners in Conservation Award.

Within a short time of his arrival at UCR in 2014, Travis established himself as a key member of the University of California “weeders” group. He immediately made an impact to address critical issues in California wildlands and provided much needed help to citrus and avocado growers. Travis’ research program was aimed at determining the safest and most effective means of managing weeds and his extension program communicated his expertise in weed science to an extensive clientele, providing them with practical advice for addressing weed management problems.

Travis was an active member of the California Weed Science Society, serving on the Board of Directors for two years, as secretary and vice-president. He was quite visible in the California Invasive Plant Council, a statewide organization focused on weedy plants in the millions of acres of non-crop land in the state. He was a statewide resource for invasive-plant management and restoration and wildfire prevention and recovery. Travis served a prominent role in guiding policy in weed control statewide. Within UC, Travis held leadership positions in several important UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Workgroups that serve clientele by hosting workshops and field days. Travis was a great contributor to weed research and extension in California and the western United States and his loss will be felt greatly by his friends and colleagues at UCR and throughout the weed science community.