UC Davis Scientists Battle with Balloons

By Kathy Keatly Garvey

As scientists, they know water by its chemical formula of H2O: two parts hydrogen combined with one part oxygen.

But for 15 minutes a year, they think of it as the key substance inside balloons.

Three dozen scientists at the University of California,  Davis, left their labs Friday afternoon, July 15 for the ninth annual Bruce Hammock Water Balloon Battle, held on the Briggs Hall lawn.

They tossed 2000 pre-filled water balloons in 15 minutes, amounting to “15 Minutes of Aim” or “Bruce’s Big Balloon Battle at Briggs.”

Some used toy Super Soakers,  pressurized water blasters, to spray the other water warriors. Toward the end, a few grabbed half-filled buckets for sneak attacks.

Hammock, a distinguished professor of entomology, launched the water balloon fest in 2003 as a way to build camaraderie and gain relief from the heat.  Christophe Morisseau, associate research scientist in the Hammock lab, coordinates the annual event.

The Hammock lab is known for working hard and playing hard, even when it comes to balloon battles.

“We look forward to this every year,” Morisseau said.

When it was all over, the scientists, including professors, visiting scientists, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students and undergraduates, picked up the balloon remnants and went home.