Combatting heat in Los Angeles
UCLA and USC launched the ShadeLA
campaign to combat rising temperatures across Los Angeles County, particularly in vulnerable communities. Working with civic partners, this collaborative effort focuses on expanding the urban tree canopy and enhancing shade infrastructure to provide relief from extreme heat, which significantly affects low-income neighborhoods, where air conditioning is less widely available. ShadeLA creates design competitions, maintenance programs, and community engagement events to promote shade solutions, with the ultimate goal of improving public health and climate resilience. The ShadeLA initiative also is using the attention and investment around the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games to add shade, protect existing shade, use science to inform decisions and make it easy for residents,
businesses, schools, nonprofit organizations and local governments to participate in expanding shade.
UCLA enhances radiant cooling
UCLA engineers have developed a new radiant cooling system that significantly reduces mean radiant temperatures by 10 degrees Fahrenheit, enhancing outdoor comfort without compromising safety or visibility. This innovative design combines water-cooled aluminum panels with see-through, infrared-reflective polymer film, making it particularly beneficial for public spaces such as parks and Metro stops during extremely hot periods. Field studies on the UCLA campus and at the San Fernando Swap Meet demonstrated that participants felt cooler inside the structure compared to traditional shade alone. That illustrated two principles: the importance of shade and the added value of radiant cooling.
UCLA-led team installs air quality monitoring network
UCLA's CAP AIR project has set up 20 monitoring stations across western Los Angeles County to provide real-time updates on air quality and the effect of the recent wildfires on the region’s air. These stations measure not only tiny particles but also larger ones that can be kicked up during construction, which may affect public health. Funded by nonprofit organizations, this project helps local residents to stay informed about pollution levels and to identify areas that may pose risks to their health.
New UCLA police chief
Craig Valenzuela, a UCLA alumnus and former LAPD officer, will serve as the new chief of UCLA's police department starting September 1. Chancellor Julio Frenk highlighted Valenzuela’s extensive law enforcement experience and commitment to community safety, particularly as the university prepares for the Olympic Games in 2028. Valenzuela expressed excitement about returning to UCLA to collaborate with the campus community on safety initiatives.
New data reveals immigration arrest trends in Los Angeles
The Deportation Data Project, a collaboration between UCLA and UC Berkeley, reported 2,026 immigration arrests in the Los Angeles region from June 1 to 26, a period of intense focus on those arrests and the stresses they have created between federal, state and local governments. Among the 722 individuals arrested by ICE from June 1 to 10, 69% had no criminal convictions and 58% had never faced charges. Fewer still had ever been accused of crimes of violence. This analysis, based on data obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests, highlights the profile of those arrested and trends in immigration enforcement, indicating a significant increase in arrests compared to previous years and a shift in the profile of those apprehended. This information fuels a larger debate over who is
being targeted for deportation and what impact those deportations have on communities in and around Los Angeles.
Latino contributions propel California's economic growth
California's Latino GDP exceeded $1 trillion in 2023, significantly contributing to the state's overall GDP of nearly $3.9 trillion and maintaining California's status as the fifth-largest global economy (now fourth-largest, having surpassed Japan earlier this year). New research from UCLA and California Lutheran University highlights that Latinos, who make up a labor force growing at 15 times the rate of non-Latinos, enhance the state’s economic output across diverse sectors, including finance and real estate. UCLA co-author David Hayes-Bautista emphasized the need to invest in Latino youth for sustained economic growth, asserting that support for education and health of this vital demographic group is crucial for California's future.
Where do UC alumni end up?
The University of California has unveiled a new data tool, in collaboration with labor market research firm Lightcast, that highlights where alumni secure jobs and which skills employers prioritize. Further enhancing the value of that education is that so many UC graduates emerge with degrees and without debt. Nearly two-thirds of in-state undergraduates graduate without debt, a crucial advantage in today's financial landscape. Within six years, half of UC bachelor’s degree holders earn more than $79,000, with major employers like Google, Amazon, Kaiser Permanente, and school districts hiring graduates for roles that include doctors, lawyers, software engineers, teachers and many others.
Examining AI’s opportunities and challenges in education
The Advisory Committee on AI in Teaching and Learning was established at UCLA in 2025 to evaluate the impact of artificial intelligence on education, as 66% of students reported using generative AI tools according to the 2024 University of California Undergraduate Experience Survey. Comprising faculty, students, and staff, the committee will provide guidance on integrating AI into teaching, develop new resources through the UCLA Teaching and Learning Center, and address AI literacy, accessibility, and instructor training. UCLA senior leaders emphasize the need for cohesive strategies across campus to responsibly utilize this evolving technology in classrooms.
Watch the panel discussions from the California and AI conference
On July 8, Capitol Weekly and the University of California Student and Policy Center hosted the California and AI conference to explore the state's strategy for regulating artificial intelligence. As a leader in AI technology, California is searching for effective legislation that fosters innovation while creating guardrails that protect those who live and work here. That places a challenge before lawmakers, who are eager to balance those interests within a responsible framework. The day-long event featured three panel discussions and a keynote by Senator Scott Wiener. Ramesh Srinivasan from UCLA’s School of Education & Information Studies participated in the opening panel, The Here and Now: A Levelset
, alongside experts Mona Pasquil Rogers from Meta and Camille Crittenden from CITRIS, among others.
Seven world-changing UC innovations spawned from federal research investments
On October 29, 1969, in UCLA's School of Engineering, grad student Charley Kline sent the first message between two networked computers, marking the beginning of internet communication. Leonard Kleinrock, a key figure in the ARPANET project funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, and his university collaborators developed foundational technologies that later brought the internet into homes. Federal investments in science during the mid-1960s significantly supported these advancements, leading to innovations that transformed medicine, technology, and agriculture – and continue to shape every aspect of modern life and culture.
Funding cuts threaten UCLA student research opportunities
UCLA student researchers face significant challenges due to proposed cuts in federal funding, including a recommended $4.7 billion reduction to the National Science Foundation (NSF) and potential elimination of the National Endowments for the Humanities and Arts. This uncertainty impacts their academic and career plans, with concerns about the future of research opportunities and the socio-economic diversity of doctoral candidates. Additionally, the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program has reduced its awards, further affecting students’ prospects in various fields, including clean energy and technology.
UCLA launches a postdoctoral fellowship program
Physicist and philanthropist Mani L. Bhaumik has pledged $3 million to establish a postdoctoral fellowship program at UCLA, enhancing research in physics, astronomy, chemistry, and biochemistry. This initiative, matched by an additional $1.5 million from UCLA's Division of Physical Sciences, will recruit four postdoctoral fellows each year for four years, supporting their research and public engagement activities. The program will foster interdisciplinary collaboration and provide career development opportunities, aiming to cultivate the next generation of scientific leaders and researchers.
3D-printed smart pen may help diagnose Parkinson’s
UCLA researchers have developed a smart, self-powered magnetoelastic pen that detects early signs of Parkinson’s disease by analyzing handwriting. This tool uses a soft silicon tip and ferrofluid ink to convert writing motions into quantifiable signals. In a pilot study, the pen was accurate 96% of the time in identifying individuals with Parkinson’s. This affordable and accessible device could transform how primary care physicians screen for neurodegenerative conditions, allowing for quicker referrals and treatment.
Understanding memory segregation in the brain
Researchers from UCLA and Columbia University have discovered that a small region in the brain called the locus coeruleus acts like a memory reset button, helping us distinguish between meaningful events. This tiny area becomes especially active during transitions between events, preventing our memories from blurring together, which can lead to memory issues found in conditions like PTSD and Alzheimer’s disease. Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the study involved volunteers who listened to changing sound tones while undergoing brain scans. Scientists found that moments of context change trigger the locus coeruleus, which in turn signals the hippocampus to mark the start of new memories. These findings suggest that this neural mechanism plays a crucial role in
how we organize our experiences into distinct and coherent memories.
On July 15, a panel of legal scholars convened to discuss the implications of pivotal Supreme Court rulings on issues such as executive power, racial gerrymandering, gender-affirming care, and religious rights in public schools.
In the wake of the LA wildfires, discussions on recovery shift towards long-term resiliency and equitable redevelopment. Dr. Minjee Kim from UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs provides insights into effective governance structures recommended for rebuilding efforts.
UCLA's Rajit Gadh explores the science of microgrids, highlighting how this innovative technology functions, as well as its potential to address our energy challenges.
Scientists create first mini-lungs with built-in blood vessels UCLA researchers have created the first vascularized lung organoids with functioning blood vessel networks, closely mimicking natural lung development. This breakthrough allows for new insights into congenital lung disorders that traditional models cannot provide, enhancing the study of lung diseases and drug testing. The team plans to further develop these organoids to better resemble mature human lungs.
Homeless Healthcare Collaborative changes trajectory of man's life Jose Morales, overwhelmed by homelessness and alcohol addiction, found hope through the UCLA Health Homeless Healthcare Collaborative (HHC), which offers vital support and resources for individuals in similar situations.
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 UCLA Health Homeless Healthcare Collaborative (HHC)delivers innovative health equity and clinical care to unhoused adults and children across Los Angeles County. Since launching in January 2022, the program has conducted more than 50,000 patient encounters, provided 12,000 medical and mental health evaluations, and dispensed 14,000 medications, all free of charge regardless of insurance or immigration status. Through a unique street medicine model, mobile clinics operate seven days a week across Downtown L.A., South and West Los Angeles, and North Hollywood, offering trauma-informed primary care, psychiatric services, and housing referrals with support from dedicated teams of doctors, nurses, and social workers
