20th Annual Luskin Day at City Hall
On January 23, the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, in partnership with UCLA Government & Community Relations and the Office of Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, hosted the 20th Luskin Day at City Hall. This annual event offers 25 Luskin graduate students an opportunity to connect with city and county leaders, including community and business representatives. This year, the day included a policy panel on local governance reform with members of the LA County Governance Reform Task Force and the City of LA Charter Reform Commission, as well as an immigration policy discussion that included City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez and representatives of the city, county and chamber of commerce. The day concluded with a policy and career roundtable discussion.
Mayor Karen Bass delivers State of the City address
On February 2, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass delivered the first of two planned 2026 State of the City addresses at Expo Center in Exposition Park. The event kicked off with performances from the UCLA and USC marching bands. Her speech focused on the theme of unity, urging Angelenos to come together as the city prepares for major global events, including the World Cup this year, the Super Bowl in 2027, and the Olympics in 2028.
UCLA chancellor meets with government officials in Sacramento
Chancellor Julio Frenk recently engaged with state legislative offices and the state treasurer to discuss UCLA's budget priorities amidst Governor Gavin Newsom's proposed 2026-2027 state budget. The governor’s budget is generally positive for the University of California, as it proposes a strong base budget for UC. However, it defers funding that the state promised to the university to enable UC campuses to enroll more California students. UC has met its end of this “compact” and we need our state leaders to honor their commitment to UC and California students. As the budget process moves forward, UC urges lawmakers to fulfill the compact and fully fund the University of California.
UCLA students in Sacramento
On February 9, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs graduate and undergraduate students visited Sacramento. They met with Assemblymembers Josh Hoover and Mike Fong, both Bruins, and toured the Assembly and Senate floors. Former Assemblymember Catharine Baker, who is also the director of the UC Student and Policy Center, led a Capitol tour.
UCLA honored as a top producer of student Fulbright winners
With 12 students and recent alumni selected for Fulbright scholarships this year, UCLA ranks among the nation's top universities for those prestigious honors. The Fulbright scholarships support students and graduates to teach English or conduct research in more than 140 countries. Founded in 1946, the Fulbright Program fosters global understanding, advances careers in fields such as medicine, education, and ecology, and strengthens international connections.
UCLA alumnus Jake Heggie wins Grammy Award
The composer received a Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording for his work “Intelligence,” which he composed for the Houston Grand Opera. The award, announced at the 68th Grammy Awards held on February 1, highlights Heggie's significant contributions to contemporary opera and illustrates the impact of his UCLA education on his career. Heggie also recently returned to UCLA to deliver the commencement address for the Herb Alpert School of Music, celebrating four decades since he earned his bachelor’s degree.
Who’s impacted by science?
Siobhan Braybrook, an associate professor of molecular, cell, and developmental biology, combines her passion for science and her curiosity about plant and seaweed growth mechanisms. To her, science resembles magic, as it reveals phenomena once thought mysterious. In a recent episode of Science Interrupted, she discusses how her work could lead to resilient crops and healthier oceans and emphasizes the importance of academic freedom for curiosity-driven research.
Dampening the fuzz of electronics
A team of UCLA researchers found a way to make electronic noise much quieter using special super-thin wires. The innovation helps dampen annoying fuzz that messes up phone calls, hurts sensitive sensors, and makes quantum computers hard to build. In these new wires, electrons team up with heat vibrations and ride them smoothly like expert surfers, so the noise decreases as the electric current increases. This breakthrough improves the usual limits of today's electronics and could lead to clearer phone signals, sharper sensors, steadier quantum computers that don't need extreme cold, and better chips for future AI and super-fast computing.
Black History Month
Dive into a curated selection of stories from across the UCLA campus spotlighting Black voices, histories and research. Leading UCLA scholars weigh in on podcasts and panels, through art and the combing of archival material at the university’s special collections. Together, these professors and others reflect on UCLA’s rich intellectual, cultural and political contributions in the realm of Black history.
Latino-owned businesses fuel U.S. economic growth
UCLA and Cal Lutheran researchers found that Latino-owned businesses grew nearly seven times faster than non-Latino ones from 2007 to 2023, accounting for 38.8% of all U.S. business growth. Their numbers surged 157.9% while non-Latino businesses increased by 23.7%. Latino-owned firms large enough to employ workers expanded especially rapidly, growing more than 7 percentage points per year faster than others and driving major job creation. This resilience, highlighted in the
UCLA Latino GDP report, strengthens the entire U.S. economy and boosts opportunities for everyone.
UCLA’s online engineering master’s program again ranked No. 1 by U.S. News
UCLA Samueli's Master of Science in Engineering Online program was named the top-ranked online engineering master’s program in the U.S. for the fourth consecutive year. With more than 1,800 graduates since 2007, the program offers a flexible curriculum across 17 specializations and certificates, taught by the same faculty as on-campus classes, allowing mid-career professionals to earn their degrees while working. The program continually evolves based on feedback from students and industry partners to ensure relevancy and excellence.
Henry Samueli joins National Inventors Hall of Fame
UCLA engineering school namesake Henry Samueli joins the 2026 National Inventors Hall of Fame class for his pioneering work in broadband communications. The three-time UCLA alumnus holds more than 75 U.S. patents and developed key technologies that made affordable high-speed internet and digital data transmission widely available to homes and businesses. While at UCLA, he built a research program in integrated circuits that created chips for digital broadband and sparked the co-founding of Broadcom Corp in 1991. His inventions transformed cable modems, set-top boxes, and Ethernet networks, and he continues to lead as Broadcom board chairman while generously supporting UCLA with more than $189 million in gifts.
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UCLA Health
UCLA scientists target solid tumors
A UCLA research team has developed a new type of immunotherapy using specially engineered immune cells called NKT cells, which can penetrate solid tumors more effectively than traditional therapies. They tested four different targeting systems, known as CARs, to see which one works best at directing these cells to attack various cancers, including ovarian and pancreatic tumors. This study is a significant step forward, as it helps identify the optimal CAR design needed for a more effective and sustained attack against solid tumors, ultimately moving closer to clinical use.
Understanding Alzheimer’s
A recent study from UCLA and UC San Francisco reveals why some brain cells resist the harmful buildup of tau, a toxic protein associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The team identified a protein complex that helps tag tau for destruction, suggesting that enhancing its function could lead to new treatments. They also discovered that stress on cells can produce dangerous tau fragments, which may worsen the disease. This research opens up new avenues for developing therapies to combat neurodegenerative conditions.
New mineral sunscreen that reduces white residue
UCLA researchers have developed a new type of mineral sunscreen that uses zinc oxide particles shaped like tiny four-armed structures called tetrapods. This innovative design helps reduce the white, chalky cast that often turns people away from mineral sunscreens. The new sunscreen still offers strong protection against harmful UV rays, and by improving its appearance, the researchers aim to encourage more consistent use, which could help prevent skin cancer.
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
Founded in 2009, the Black Male Institute (BMI)
is an initiative housed within the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools (CTS). BMI is dedicated to advancing educational equity by exploring and addressing the barriers that disproportionately impact Black male students. The initiative has welcomed more than 500 middle and high school students to the UCLA campus, offering inclusive enrichment experiences designed to inspire academic achievement and college-going aspirations.
