Honoring the remarkable students of the Class of 2025
UCLA's Class of 2025 includes nearly 15,000 graduates, many of whom have overcome personal and collective challenges, showcasing a diverse array of backgrounds and talents. In congratulating those graduates, Chancellor Julio Frenk emphasized the importance of helping students flourish. This year's commencement reflected the remarkable journeys and achievements of these Bruins, who embody the qualities that uphold UCLA's status as the top-ranked public university in the nation.
UCLA Magazine: Special inauguration edition
UCLA celebrated the inauguration of its seventh chancellor, Julio Frenk, on June 5 in Royce Hall. Here’s a glimpse behind the scenes of this significant occasion.
In case you missed prior coverage of Chancellor Frenk’s inauguration, you can find it here.
Highlights from the California Economic Futures forum
Dive into the latest discussions on California’s economic landscape from the recent California Economic Futures forum. The event, held at the UC Student and Policy Center in Sacramento, brought together experts to address national and state economic trends, fiscal strategies, and investment opportunities. It also featured a briefing on the national and state economies by UCLA Anderson Forecast faculty director Jerry Nickelsburg.
Sepulveda Transit Corridor update
Los Angeles Metro officials presented preliminary costs and scheduling updates for the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project at a community meeting in May, highlighting plans to connect the San Fernando Valley and West L.A. through five route alternatives, each featuring a stop near UCLA. Metro wants to include a stop near UCLA because of UCLA’s status as a job, education and health care hub for the region, said Cecily Way - a Metro representative. The project will reduce the current 40 to 80-minute car travel time that is typical from the West Valley to the other side of the hill, and it is expected to draw 63,000 to 124,000 daily riders, improving air quality and public safety. Community members stressed the need for strong planning to enhance access for the UCLA community and
nearby areas.
STC4All advocates for Metro’s future Sepulveda Transit Corridor line to include a direct station on UCLA's campus and a seamless connection to the Purple/D Line Westwood Village station. STC4All Coalition Video
Transportation research and technology insights
Robert Hampshire, former chief science officer and assistant secretary for research and technology at the U.S. Department of Transportation, delivered the UCLA Luskin Lecture on April 28. He shared firsthand insights from national case studies on roadway and aviation safety, supply chain disruptions, and unmanned aerial systems. In a conversation with Ann Carlson, Emmett Institute faculty director at the UCLA School of Law, Hampshire explored how a mission-driven, cross-sector approach can help eliminate transportation fatalities, reduce carbon emissions, and ensure access for all travelers. The event was co-hosted by UCLA’s Institute of Transportation Studies, as part of the 2025 Wachs Distinguished Lecture Series.
‘Active travel’ study
A new study by UCLA and Google examined more than 11,000 cities and concluded that enhancing walking and cycling infrastructure in cities could reduce carbon emissions by 6% while generating $435 billion in health benefits annually. Researchers found that increasing urban density and redesigning streets for safety and comfort are key strategies to boost active travel rates worldwide. The study also highlighted successful case studies from various cities, illustrating the importance of tailored approaches to urban planning. Copenhagen was singled out for its forward-looking policies to encourage walking and biking.
NSF grant for sustainable manufacturing
The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering $1.9 million as part of a larger project focused on creating more sustainable chemical manufacturing. The project focuses on innovation in chemical processes and workforce training, while also fostering collaboration with industry to turn research into commercial solutions. A startup called Praio has emerged from this technology and is currently incubating at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Advancing water equity in Los Angeles
The UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation is leading a new initiative to ensure equitable access to local water supplies as Los Angeles invests in recycled water for greater resilience against climate challenges. This project aims to support public understanding of a city-wide flagship recycling program, Pure Water Los Angeles, which will make the region’s water supply more resilient and offer substantial economic benefits. The Luskin team will analyze equity implications, including water affordability and building trust in tap water quality through community engagement.
Microplastics in chewing gum
Lisa Lowe, a first-year environmental engineering Ph.D. student at UCLA, grew up in Hawaii with a profound respect for nature, guided by the Native Hawaiian philosophy of malama ‘āina, which emphasizes caring for the land. Her research on microplastic pollution, co-led with UCLA Professor Sanjay Mohanty, reveals that both synthetic and natural chewing gums release microplastics and raise health risks. With support from a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Lowe focuses her studies on designing infrastructure for water remediation that uses natural elements to combat pollution in urban areas. Her background in biological engineering and hands-on experience has shaped her commitment to finding solutions that work with nature, and the need to protect the
environment in a world increasingly exposed to plastic contamination.
Fowler Museum repatriation
At a May 20 ceremony at the Fowler Museum at UCLA, 11 culturally significant objects, including 10 green glass spearheads and a kangaroo tooth headband, were returned to the Larrakia people of northern Australia. The return was made as a demonstration of the museum’s commitment to ethical stewardship and repatriation and resulted from collaboration with Larrakia elders and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS). Australian Senator Malarndirri McCarthy commended the effort as a vital act of cultural preservation. The museum has previously repatriated items to other Indigenous communities, prioritizing community-based care for collections
Learning never gets old at UCLA Extension’s OLLI
The UCLA Extension’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) offers adults over age 50 a low-stress environment to enjoy lifelong learning through classes such as Gentle Yoga and art history, without the pressure of tests or grades. Founded in 2001 by Bernard Osher as a philanthropic project, OLLI has now expanded to more than 120 universities across the country, including most of the University of California system. OLLI has grown to more than 1,200 students at any given time and provides opportunities for social interaction, including a popular course that predicts Academy Award winners. The program emphasizes community connection through a variety of in-person, online, and hybrid classes.
UCLA Awards 2025
Since 1946, UCLA has paid tribute to distinguished Bruins who have brought great honor to the university and whose contributions impact the world. This year’s UCLA Awards ceremony was held on the evening of May 17 at the UCLA Luskin Conference Center, recognizing six individuals and one alumni network for leadership in healthcare advancement, advocacy for marginalized groups and service to the Bruin community. For more information about the UCLA Awards and this year's honorees, visit https://alumni.ucla.edu/awards/.
UCLA’s PEERS program inspires ‘Love on the Spectrum’ Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson developed the UCLA Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relationship Skills (PEERS) for autistic adults, and played a role in shaping the concepts seen in the Netflix hit reality dating series “Love on the Spectrum.” Before the show aired, Laugeson hosted a workshop for the cast, and her non-televised dating boot camps inspired the series' approach to helping individuals with autism find love and navigate relationships.
Parkinson’s and pesticides Dr. Beate Ritz's research in California’s Central Valley highlights the associations between environmental exposures in pesticides and air pollution, and increased risk for developing Parkinson’s disease.
Prostate cancer research grant A team of researchers from UCLA and the National Cancer Institute led by Andrew Goldstein was awarded $1 million to identify metabolic pathways that drive tumor growth in the liver and explore whether targeting these pathways could enhance patient survival.
Supporting Communities: UCLA's Impact
Discover how UCLA's students, staff, and faculty are enhancing the well-being of Greater Los Angeles through UCLA Community Partnerships.
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
The Los Angeles Regional Collaborative (LARC) is a network of climate practitioners and decision-makers from local and county government, regional agencies, non-profits, businesses, and academia. Housed at UCLA's Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, LARC uses cutting-edge research, community engagement, and the power of networks to build a sustainable and resilient Los Angeles.
