Chancellor Block’s last update - Summer 2024

In his final update before stepping down, Chancellor Gene Block expressed gratitude to the UCLA community and highlighted the upcoming transformative developments for the university. The report covers the campus’s recent physical expansions across the region and the impact they will have; two infrastructure projects that will better connect UCLA to nearby communities, the Metro Purple Line Extension and Sepulveda Transit Corridor projects; and why the transition to the Big Ten matters for both Bruin athletes and UCLA. It also includes insights and reflections from Chancellor Block as he prepares to pass the torch, first to interim chancellor Darnell Hunt and then to his permanent successor, Julio Frenk, in January 2025.

Bruins in Paris

As the 2024 Olympic Games commence in Paris, 49 Bruins are taking part in 14 sports. They are competing for 18 different countries, with the majority representing the United States. The games started on July 24 and will end on August 11. Those interested can follow UCLA student-athletes, coaches, and staff as they pursue Olympic glory this summer in France.

Q&A: UCLA Law’s Steven Bank on the Olympics and the law

UCLA Law professor Steven Bank, a prominent figure in sports law (and a soccer fan), discusses the legal complexities of the Olympics in an interview, focusing on demonstrations and protests, security, and anti-doping enforcement. His expertise covers various issues, including the authority of international sports bodies and the rights of college athletes, and how his "International and Comparative Sports Law" course equips students to navigate the global sports arena. All of that gives him a keen interest in the Paris 2024 Games, and Bank highlights legal issues to watch for.

Kamala Harris and UCLA

As Vice President Kamala Harris begins her presidential campaign, UCLA Newsroom is taking a look back at her visits to UCLA and her other interactions with the campus over the years. The retrospective covers her time as San Francisco's district attorney, California's attorney general, one of California’s U.S. senators, and U.S. vice president. The coverage highlights media and UCLA faculty experts' perspectives on Harris' visits, as well as interviews and perspectives on her career over the past 15 years.

Related: List of UCLA experts who can provide insights on the changing dynamics of the 2024 presidential race

UCLA graduate student Sonya Brooks appointed student Regent

The University of California Board of Regents has appointed Sonya Brooks as the 2025-26 student Regent, making her the 51st student Regent since the position was established in 1975. Brooks, a graduate student at UCLA pursuing two graduate degrees, has a strong commitment to fostering inclusivity and advocating for students from diverse backgrounds. Her experiences as a first-generation student and as a student parent, combined with her leadership roles in various student organizations, demonstrate her dedication to supporting and empowering her peers. In her new role, she aims to address mental health support, student housing, and research opportunities, while also ensuring that the UC system continues to excel as a symbol of excellence and opportunity for all.

UCLA, UC Berkeley Extension receive $12 million from Scott Galloway to help non-traditional students pursue careers

Professor, author, and entrepreneur Scott Galloway has donated $12 million to UCLA and UC Berkeley to establish the UC Excelerator program, aimed at providing non-traditional students the skills and resources needed to launch their careers. The program will offer tuition-free classes focused on career development, networking opportunities, and access to industry leaders. It is specifically intended to benefit community college graduates and individuals with limited college experience. This substantial gift from Galloway will significantly impact the accessibility and affordability of higher education, helping students thrive in today's economy.

UCLA returns cultural relics to the Warumungu community in Australia

At a repatriation event at the Fowler Museum at UCLA, 20 culturally significant objects were returned to the Warumungu community in Australia. The voluntary return was initiated by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, and the returned items will be cared for according to the Warumungu community's customs. This event reflects the museum's commitment to responsible stewardship and the exploration of global arts and cultures. The Fowler Museum's approach to exhibitions increasingly focuses on co-creation and Indigenous perspectives, emphasizing cultural exchange and the acknowledgment of historical injustices.

Related: UCLA repatriates artworks to Aboriginal community | Los Angeles Times

L.A. County study finds routine discrimination and violence against unhoused population

A recent, first-of-its-kind study conducted by researchers at UCLA and USC highlights the profound health risks and challenges faced by individuals experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County. The study reveals that discrimination and vulnerability to physical and sexual violence are widespread among the unhoused population, with nearly one in three reporting daily discrimination and over half experiencing discrimination in the past week. The research emphasizes that these experiences of cruelty and violence have detrimental effects on the health and life expectancy of homeless individuals. The study calls for increased efforts to address and reduce the impacts of discrimination and violence on the unhoused population, including decriminalizing homelessness and educating the public to humanize and build empathy for people experiencing homelessness.

How some collaboration efforts can yield harmful results

UCLA School of Law’s Criminal Justice Program published a report highlighting the collaboration between local law enforcement agencies and Los Angeles County’s child protective services agency, the Department of Children and Family Services. The report emphasizes the downsides of such inter-agency collaboration, noting that laws and regulations that enable the sharing of data between these entities also can lead to the separation of families and criminalization in cases of alleged child abuse. The findings suggest that such collaborations may disproportionately impact Black and Indigenous families and result in harmful and enduring involvement with both child protective services and the criminal legal system. The report also calls for further research to assess the impact of these partnerships. It was funded by a grant from the UCLA Luskin Institute on Inequality and Democracy.

Community-driven climate action can create economic benefits

The UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation has been involved in tracking the progress of the Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) program in five communities: Fresno, Ontario, Stockton, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Northeast San Fernando Valley and Watts. The program, funded by a grant from California, aims to assess and advance environmental, health, and economic benefits in the state's most disadvantaged communities. It is part of California Climate Investments , and has funded development and infrastructure projects, including the installation of solar panels on low-income homes and improved mobility options. The first round of TCC grants is nearing the end of implementation in 2025, but there is potential for additional federal funding through the Inflation Reduction Act.

UCLA engineers win sixth RoboCup soccer championship

UCLA's Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory (RoMeLa) made a significant impact at RoboCup 2024, with their humanoid ARTEMIS robots clinching the world championship in the adult-size humanoid soccer league. Guided by professor Dennis Hong, the team's robots displayed exceptional prowess, winning every game, including a decisive 6-1 win against reigning champions NimbRo AdultSize in the finals. This achievement demonstrates progress in hardware, perception, decision-making, and execution processes of autonomous robots, emphasizing the importance of continued research and development in this domain. Beyond soccer, these advancements hold broad implications for various industries and underscore the potential in the field of humanoid robotics and artificial intelligence.

UCLA researchers work to decarbonize infrastructure

A team of researchers, led by UCLA experts, is part of a $12 million, five-year research initiative funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The goal is to maximize performance and reduce energy demands in computing. The team will use advanced technology and analysis to measure and track carbon emissions throughout the entire lifespan of these systems, from manufacturing to end-of-use. It will also study the environmental impact of different materials, processes, and behaviors to find ways to minimize the overall environmental footprint. This effort involves collaboration with several other universities and is part of a larger $36 million NSF investment in sustainable computing innovations.

Older adults hurt by lack of access to resources

A recent study from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research concludes that California adults requiring assistance with daily activities due to age or disability experience worse overall health and higher rates of serious psychological distress. The study found that almost half of adults needing long-term services and supports (LTSS) reported their health as "fair" or "poor." There are disparities in psychological distress among different racial and employment groups, highlighting the need for improved resources for these individuals, especially with California’s aging population growing in numbers. The report recommends educating the public on existing programs, improving care coordination, and better connecting LTSS recipients to behavioral health care. Initiatives such as the Aging and Disability Resource Connection and CalAIM are identified as supports for improving access to care. The findings emphasize the importance of developing equitable programs to address the diverse needs of this population and eliminating disparities as the norm.

Teen marathoner's journey: From transplant to advocacy

UCLA selected by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to test Medicare dementia care model

Beloved historic movie theaters Westwood Village and Bruin to close this week  | Los Angeles Times

Are homeless encampment cleanups successful? | Los Angeles Times

Tech giants push for veto of new social media laws | Southern California News Group

The downside of ‘Managed Retreat’ in wildfire zones | San Diego Union-Tribune

Pesticides may be as bad as smoking for increasing cancer risk  | Yahoo Life

15 years later, the federal minimum wage is still $7.25 an hour | Marketplace