UCLA’s 10 years of “Philanthropy as Civic Engagement”

UCLA’s course on Philanthropy as Civic Engagement made a difference over the past decade, awarding more than $1 million to Los Angeles nonprofits through the efforts of undergraduate students. The class, which is part of UCLA’s Honors Collegium, provides students with the opportunity to allocate funds to various causes, extending their research into action. The course emphasizes the importance of holistic philanthropy, encouraging students to invest their time and talent in contributing to the greater good. With a recent donation from Madaline and Mark Asofsky, the program will expand, aiming to incorporate philanthropy elements into other UCLA courses and provide students with direct engagement with nonprofits and community members. The overall goal is to establish a conceptual framework for interdisciplinary philanthropy education at UCLA, while empowering students to take their first steps toward changing the world.

Alumni couple gives $25 million to propel UCLA’s Department of History into the future

Southern California business leader Meyer Luskin and his wife, Renee, have donated $25 million to UCLA to support the UCLA Department of History, the largest single donation to the department and the UCLA College's Division of Social Sciences. In recognition of their generosity, the university will name the department the UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin Department of History. The funding will support students, faculty, and the development of early-career scholars, as well as various public-facing centers and programs, including the Luskin Center for History and Policy. Their dedication to promoting a robust understanding of history and its relevance to society is reflected in this exceptional gift, which will further the department's mission of bringing the study of history into the public sphere. Meyer and Renee Luskin have a longstanding philanthropic relationship with UCLA, with their previous contributions benefiting various areas across the campus.

Related: Meyer Luskin on Shaping the Future of History: A Q&A with the alumnus and longtime UCLA supporter

The stress of housing insecurity

The struggle for affordable housing in California is taking a toll on the mental health of its residents, according to a new study from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. The study revealed that nearly half of people experiencing housing insecurity reported psychological distress in the past year, yet only 22% of them sought mental health care. The burden of housing instability is particularly high among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander and Latinx adults, and their worries unsurprisingly often center on paying the rent or mortgage. The state's high cost of living, skyrocketing housing prices, and shortage of affordable housing options exacerbates these challenges and places marginalized populations and young adults at a higher risk of experiencing housing instability.

Metro removes alternative from Sepulveda Transit Corridor project

Metro has removed Alternative 2 of the Sepulveda Transit Corridor (STC) project connecting the San Fernando Valley to the Westside from further consideration. This alternative had proposed to build a monorail that would have included an automated people mover to connect from the monorail line to the UCLA campus. Four of the five remaining alternatives include an on-campus UCLA station with higher projected ridership than Alternative 2. Metro expects to release a draft environmental impact report for the STC project in early 2025, followed by the selection of the mode and route, and the new rail transit line is forecasted to be completed by 2033-2035. To learn more about STC4All and ways to get involved, visit the STC4All Coalition website.

UCLA Alumni Association board welcomes new officers and members for 2024–25

The UCLA Alumni Association board of directors has elected new members and officers to lead the association. The new president, Paco Retana, has a background in mental health and has been serving on the board since 2018. Cinthia Flores, the new vice president, has a background in labor law and was appointed to the board in 2020. Cathy Choi, the new secretary, has over 20 years of experience in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. Ed Lew, the new treasurer, is an assistant chief counsel at the Walt Disney Company and has a degree from UCLA School of Law.

UCLA’s expansions across Los Angeles present opportunities for research, community

UCLA recently acquired several properties to advance its strategic goals, including expanding research and academic opportunities and engaging with the larger L.A. community. These acquisitions align with UC-wide strategic goals to enroll more students and award significantly more degrees by 2030.

UCLA Luskin Hosts Conference for Global Engagement

UCLA Luskin Social Welfare recently hosted the 9th International Youth Conference, which brought together youth from around the world for in-person and online discussions, workshops, and collaborations. The conference focused on the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as well as youth inclusion in policymaking, with more than 720,000 people globally tuning in via live streaming. Faculty members and scholars from UCLA and other universities, as well as youth activists and civil society leaders, participated in the event, which was covered by ABC7 in Los Angeles.

UCLA-led workshops to bridge technological innovation, culture and creativity

UCLA’s Innovation, Culture, and Creativity project, funded by the National Science Foundation, will support a series of multidisciplinary regional workshops bringing together artists, researchers, and professionals in the creative and technology sectors to foster research and innovation at the intersection of culture, creativity, and technology. The project, launched with a $1.3 million investment, will host workshops in seven states, connecting individuals from various backgrounds to explore new types of innovation and R&D support. The insights gained from these regional meetings will inform a national conference in December 2024, aiming to better connect research and innovation in the technology and creative sectors. The project's overarching goals are to examine the role of regional culture in strengthening innovation ecosystems, support America’s creative sector, and develop strategies to expand and diversify the country’s STEM workforce.

Scientific definition of a planet says it must orbit our sun. A new proposal would change that

Planetary scientists are proposing a new definition of a planet to replace the outdated one set by the International Astronomical Union in 2006, which currently requires a celestial body to orbit the sun within our solar system. The new proposal aims to broaden the definition to include celestial bodies orbiting stars outside our solar system and provides specific quantitative criteria for defining a planet. The proposed definition includes requirements for a planet to orbit one or more stars and sets mass limits that should apply to planets everywhere. The proposal also emphasizes the importance of dynamical dominance and the spherical shape of planets. The authors hope that their work will initiate a conversation leading to an improved planet definition, one that is less “sun-centric.”

Related: Astronauts want to redefine planets again | Scienmag

Western U.S. heat wave: Video ‘Office Hours’ with Daniel Swain

UCLA’s renowned climate scientist-communicator, Daniel Swain, takes note of yet another very hot American summer. As he notes, long-lasting heat waves are baking the western U.S., raising both health risks and dangers from escalating (or potentially new) wildfires, with “an extraordinarily long duration of very high fire risk conditions amid a historic heatwave.”

2023 Rolling Hills Estates landslide likely began the winter before

Researchers from UCLA and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have studied a landslide that occurred in Rolling Hills Estates in July 2023 and found that it was a slow-moving, progressive landslide that started the winter before, when heavy rainfall infiltrated the slope. Using satellite data, they were able to measure ground motion over time and predict the landslide three days before it occurred. They noted that predicting landslides using satellite remote sensing data requires further refinement, but they are working on a project called OPERA to build an analysis-ready surface displacement database for near real-time monitoring and possibly landslide prediction. They emphasize the importance of monitoring signs of active movement, such as cracks in structures, as they could signal a future progressive failure.

Related: Danger signs before Palos Verdes landslide | Los Angeles Times

UCLA Health named official team physicians of USA Basketball for Olympic Games

USA Basketball and UCLA Health have joined to provide top-notch orthopaedic and sports medical care to USA Basketball's teams. UCLA Health will serve as official team physicians, providing coverage for national teams at major events and offering support for junior national team programs. The partnership also includes collaboration on initiatives such as the Women in the Game program, aiming to educate and empower young athletes and leaders in the sports industry.

Related: Meet the official team physicians of USA Basketball

A more inclusive framework for Alzheimer’s disease

Semel Institute rooftop to be reborn as plant-filled living laboratory

Opinion: California will finally have indoor heat standards for workplaces — with a cruel exception  | Los Angeles Times

Changes to administrative state may feel muted in California | CalMatters

Can U.S. hospitals keep up with heat-related emergencies? | New York Times

Family field trips to learn about L.A.’s original, Indigenous stewards | LAist

California voters to decide on $10 billion climate change borrowing plan| Spectrum News 1

Challenges remain in the fight against Latino homelessness | LAist