Blue-ribbon commission on L.A. fire recovery to leverage UCLA expertise
In response to the devastating Los Angeles wildfires in January, officials argue that efforts to rebuild must prioritize addressing inequality and preventing future fire risks. To facilitate this, Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath and UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk announced a commission that will tap UCLA's expertise across various disciplines to develop policy recommendations focused on creating a more resilient and equitable community. This commission will draw on the knowledge of legal, housing, environmental justice, finance, and wildfire experts from UCLA to ensure that the policy recommendations remain grounded in rigorous research, ultimately shaping a safer future for Los Angeles.
Late on Friday, Jan. 10, just days after the Southern California fires erupted, UCLA’s Duane Muller got a call from Mayor Karen Bass’ deputy chief of staff, Jenny Delwood, a Bruin alumna. City Hall, Delwood said, was searching for a space to set up a hub run by the city and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) where federal, state and local agencies and nonprofits could assist people. "Would UCLA’s Research Park work?" Three days later, the 5,000-square-foot space was transformed into a hub for assistance. Bruins from various departments, including Campus Human Resources, Alumni Association and the School of Law, actively volunteered to provide aid and resources, including job opportunities and legal advice. More than a thousand alumni and
community members stepped up to help, demonstrating a strong commitment to support Los Angeles during this challenging time and reinforcing the connection between UCLA and the L.A. community.
One UCLA: How acts of kindness have kept Bruins connected to each other and L.A. amid tragedy
As wildfires carved a trail of destruction through our city, the UCLA community has met the moment with generosity, support and a commitment to helping Angelenos recover. To support affected students, faculty, staff, and local residents, the university established the Bruin Wildfire Relief Funds for immediate financial and housing assistance. The Economic Crisis Response Team focused on the specific needs of students who have lost their homes. On February 6, hundreds of Bruins gathered at UCLA's Carnesale Commons for the First Thursday “Bruins Love LA” event. There, they wrote postcards to first responders and connected over recovery efforts. Additionally, UCLA has organized food distribution events, mental health counseling, and academic support to help those impacted.
Chancellor Julio Frenk, experiencing this Southern California calamity in his new role as head of the university, underscored the significance of community kindness during this crisis.
Car-free in Westwood
Westwood Village officially unveiled Broxton Plaza, the largest pedestrian plaza in the city of Los Angeles, during a lively street party on February 22, attended by Bruins, local business owners, and residents. The new, 14,000-square-foot car-free space features outdoor dining and live music, and will host community events, serving as a vibrant hub that strengthens the ties between UCLA and the neighborhood. At the unveiling, UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk emphasized the importance of community connections, while local leaders highlighted the plaza's role in revitalizing Westwood amidst new developments like the Metro Purple line extension and the upcoming 2028 Olympics. With attractions such as restaurants, shops, and cultural venues, Broxton Plaza aims to foster a sense of belonging and
shared experiences for students and residents alike, ensuring that the spirit of Westwood endures for future generations.
Donald Shoup, a distinguished professor emeritus of urban planning at UCLA, died on February 6 in Los Angeles at the age of 86 after a brief illness. Renowned for his groundbreaking research on urban parking management, Shoup highlighted the ways that zoning can lead to car dependence, traffic congestion and pollution. His influential book, “The High Cost of Free Parking,” published in 2005 and revised in 2011, argued for pricing street parking and reducing off-street parking requirements. It became a gospel of urban planning and earned him respect and recognition worldwide. His ideas gained traction globally, supported by the Parking Reform Network, which has documented over 3,000 cities implementing his reforms. Generous with his time and knowledge, Shoup served at
UCLA since 1974, held various leadership roles, and remained an active community member even after retirement in 2015.
UCLA once again has been praised as one of the Best Workplaces for Commuters in recognition of programs that benefit nearly 40,000 faculty and staff and more than 28,000 students. The university offers a range of sustainable transportation options, including subsidized transit passes, bike programs, electric vehicle charging stations, and a guaranteed emergency ride home program. In 2024, UCLA introduced a new Commuter All-Access Pass for local and commuter transit agencies at a lower price and launched a pilot program providing free public transit passes to lower-income employees. The Earn-A-Bike program allows employees and graduate students to trade a parking permit for a free bicycle package. These initiatives contribute to improved health, financial savings, reduced traffic
congestion, and lower greenhouse gas emissions, reflecting UCLA's commitment to a diverse and sustainable campus community.
Be part of the change and join us to ensure an accessible and equitable Sepulveda Transit Corridor – a future public transit line connecting the San Fernando Valley to West L.A.
STC4All advocates for Metro’s future Sepulveda Transit Corridor to include a direct station on UCLA's campus and a seamless connection to the Purple/D Line Westwood Village station. STC4All Coalition Video
In the latest episode of the Forecast in FIVE hosted by UCLA Anderson’s Seth Katz, Gene Seroka, the executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, discusses exciting partnership opportunities with UCLA South Bay that focuses on advancing education, research, and innovation in supply chains and clean energy. Seroka highlights three areas: enhancing human resources development through engagement with UCLA faculty and students, leveraging clean technology and digitalization to attract top talent, and making higher education more accessible to the local community.
Henry Samueli, an alumnus with three UCLA degrees in engineering (B.S. ’75, M.S. ’76, PhD ’80) and chairman of Broadcom Inc., received the prestigious 2025 IEEE Medal of Honor, along with a $2-million prize, for his pioneering work in broadband communication and dedication to promoting STEM education. A faculty member at UCLA when he co-founded Broadcom, Samueli has more than 75 U.S. patents and has significantly contributed to making broadband internet accessible. His philanthropic efforts include substantial donations to UCLA, leading to the naming of the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science. Samueli expressed gratitude for the recognition and is committed to using the prize for philanthropic purposes.
Students build a 3D-printed cyclotron
Team-building exercises might conjure images of trust falls and escape rooms for many, but the National Society of Black Engineers at UCLA's Samueli School of Engineering is taking teamwork to the next level as students from various engineering disciplines collaborate to build a working, 3D-printed cyclotron. Project leader Isaiah Mills Terry sparked the initiative after learning about magnetic fields in a physics class. Participants gain hands-on experience with CAD software, programming, and circuitry, while mentorship from recent graduate Selasi Etchey enriches their learning. Funded by university grants, sponsorships, and student contributions, the project enhances teamwork skills and interdisciplinary knowledge among early engineering students.
Could the U.S. run out of hospital beds? Hospital occupancy rose during COVID, and it still hasn’t gone down. With the population aging, UCLA experts warn that if the sustained increase isn’t addressed, the country could be facing a hospital bed shortage by 2032.
Paxlovid's impact on death and hospitalization weaker than expected UCLA-led research finds that Paxlovid does not significantly lower COVID-19 hospitalization or mortality in vaccinated older adults, contradicting earlier Pfizer trial claims. Despite a 118% increase in prescriptions among those aged 70, health outcomes showed no improvement, prompting calls for more clinical trials in high-risk populations.
Discover how UCLA's students, staff, and faculty are enhancing the well-being of Greater Los Angeles through UCLA Community Partnerships.
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
The Sustainable LA Grand Challenge (SLAGC)is a campus-wide incubator for societally-relevant, interdisciplinary sustainability research initiatives. Core to SLAGC’s mission is aligning research agendas with decision makers, connecting them with the best knowledge to inform policies and discussions about tradeoffs in the pursuit of a more sustainable and resilient future. The SLAGC team actively creates opportunities for collaboration with external stakeholders to co-develop research agendas and design impactful interventions, enhancing the competitiveness and societal impact of UCLA's research in addressing urban sustainability challenges.
