University of California Los Angeles
Recent News About University of California Los Angeles
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U7+ Alliance of World Universities urge G7 to increase access to higher education
UCLA Chancellor Gene Block and Vice Provost Cindy Fan recently participated in the U7+ Alliance of World Universities meeting in Milan, Italy. The alliance, consisting of over 80 university leaders from 18 countries, adopted the 2024 U7+ Statement on Global Access to Higher Education.According to the U7+ Alliance of World Universities, the statement encourages the G7 to collaborate with the alliance to develop high-quality, inclusive education systems from primary through higher education. It also calls for support in investment in higher education in low- and...
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Degrees: EPA in the courts and on “forever chemicals” in drinking water
Apr 11 2024From vehicle emissions to PFAS, it’s a busy week for EPA watchers. UCLA experts weigh in below.On Tuesday, a federal appellate court in Washington, D.C., upheld California's authority to regulate vehicle emissions more strictly than the federal government. Ann Carlson, UCLA environmental law professor and former acting administrator of NHTSA, expressed her satisfaction with the decision in Ohio v. Environmental Protection Agency, emphasizing the significance of California's role in combating air pollution and climate change: "California’s authority to...
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Advance in light-based computing shows capabilities for future smart cameras
Researchers at the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA have made a significant breakthrough in optical computing technology that could revolutionize the field of visual information processing. The team has developed a transparent device that operates under low-power ambient light, offering nonlinear operation essential for processing visual information efficiently.In a study published in Nature Communications, Aydogan Ozcan, the Volgenau Professor of Engineering Innovation at UCLA, expressed the significance of this advancement, stating, “Optical nonlinearities are...
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UCLA Receives $5 Million Grant to Align Neuroscience and Societal Needs
UCLA and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science have secured a $5 million grant to establish a multidisciplinary research center focused on leveraging neuroscience for the benefit of society. The institutions are matching the grant funding to kickstart the initiative.The partnership, supported by the Dana Foundation, is aimed at maximizing the potential of neuroscience for public good. The collaborative effort will bring together experts from various fields such as neuroscience, social sciences, education, policy, and the humanities to collaborate with local...
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People make more patient decisions when shown the benefits first
UCLA psychologists have found that the way choices are presented can significantly impact decision-making processes. According to a recent study published in Nature Communications, the order in which information is provided to individuals can influence whether they opt for immediate gratification or exercise patience for larger rewards in the future.Lead author of the study, Ian Krajbich, highlighted the importance of framing choices by stating, "The takeaway message is that people can be impatient or exhibit a lack of self-control for many reasons." The research...
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Report Outlines Path for Theaters' Sustainability in Post-Pandemic World
The U.S. theater industry may find a path to a more sustainable future by adopting practices learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report by UCLA professor Barbara Fuchs and Rhonda Sharrah, a UCLA doctoral candidate in English. Fuchs emphasized the importance of collaboration among theater companies, producers, and stakeholders to attract greater public and private support, stating, “The pandemic accelerated that crisis yet also led to unprecedented government funding, which demonstrated how much money could be made available for the sector.”The report...
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UCLA Health Acquires West Hills Hospital and Medical Center
UCLA Health has acquired the 260-bed West Hills Hospital and Medical Center and related assets from HCA Healthcare. The transaction, which was finalized on March 28, will help address hospital inpatient capacity needs, allowing UCLA Health to provide world-class care to more patients across the region. The hospital has been renamed UCLA West Valley Medical Center.“We are pleased to welcome West Hills staff members as UCLA Health employees as we work together to serve the community. I thank HCA Healthcare leaders for their efforts in completing this transaction with us,”...
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Changes to U.S. data collection on race, ethnicity could be a boon to public health
The Biden administration's recent announcement regarding changes in how the government collects information about people's race and ethnicity has been met with both praise and concern from various groups.Ninez Ponce, director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, expressed enthusiasm for the revisions, stating, “As our society evolves to become ever more multicultural and multiethnic, these new rules are a crucial step toward recognizing that and toward achieving health equity.” Ponce and other leaders at the center provided detailed recommendations to the White...
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UCLA Library Welcomes New Senior Fellows Cohort
UCLA Library has announced the incoming cohort for its 2024 UCLA Library Senior Fellows program, consisting of 20 top managers of academic libraries from across the nation. The program, which will take place in July, aims to provide a platform for strategic thinking and practical approaches to the challenges faced by academic libraries, preparing the fellows for advanced leadership roles in the field.Reflecting on her experience as a 2018 fellow, Athena Jackson, the Norman and Armena Powell University Librarian, expressed the value of the program in building a supportive...
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Drinking Water in U.S. Prisons Potentially Contaminated with PFAS
A new study published in the American Journal of Public Health has raised concerns about the quality of drinking water in U.S. prisons, highlighting potential contamination with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The research, led by senior author Nicholas Shapiro from UCLA and co-author Lindsay Poirier from Smith College, reveals alarming findings regarding the presence of PFAS in the watersheds surrounding carceral facilities across the country.The study indicates that 47% of America’s prisons, jails, and detention centers are situated in watersheds that are...
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Craving snacks after a meal? It might be food-seeking neurons, not an overactive appetite
A new study conducted by UCLA researchers has uncovered a fascinating connection between food-seeking behavior and specific brain cells in mice. The research, published in the journal Nature Communications, reveals that these cells, located in a part of the brainstem associated with panic, play a crucial role in driving animals to seek out food, even when they are not hungry.Corresponding author Avishek Adhikari, a UCLA associate professor of psychology, explained, "Activation of the entire PAG region causes a dramatic panic response in both mice and humans. But when we...
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Speaking without vocal cords, thanks to a new AI-assisted wearable device
Bioengineers at UCLA have invented a thin, flexible device that adheres to the neck and translates the muscle movements of the larynx into audible speech."People with voice disorders, including those with pathological vocal cord conditions or who are recovering from laryngeal cancer surgeries, can often find it difficult or impossible to speak." "A team of UCLA engineers has invented a soft, thin, stretchy device... that can be attached to the skin outside the throat to help people with dysfunctional vocal cords regain their voice function.""The new bioelectric...
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UCLA Anderson Forecast: Higher Interest Rates and Restrained Growth, U.S. Recession Fear Fades
The UCLA Anderson Forecast released its latest report which highlighted key economic trends and projections for the near future. The forecast painted a positive picture, stating that the fear of a U.S. recession had diminished due to various factors, including fiscal policies and consumer spending.According to the report, despite a slight decline in January 2024 retail sales and housing starts, the cause was attributed to severe weather conditions in the eastern United States rather than a decrease in consumer or builder activity. The forecast also mentioned that hiring...
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UCLA Sees Surge in 2024 Transfer Applications, Uptick in First-Year California Applicants
UCLA has experienced a significant increase in applications for fall 2024 admission, with a total of 173,400 applicants vying for a spot at the prestigious university. Among these applicants, 146,250 were first-year applicants, while 27,150 were transfer applicants, marking a 2% rise compared to the previous year.Gary Clark, UCLA’s associate vice chancellor for enrollment management, expressed excitement over the surge in transfer applications, stating, “We are very excited to see such a robust increase in applications from transfer students. It’s encouraging that...
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UCLA Data Equity Center Aims to Provide Data Expertise to Those Who Need It
The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research has launched the Data Equity Center to help ensure that historically marginalized populations and their needs are more accurately represented in the vast pools of information government, business, and philanthropy are using to make crucial decisions.According to AJ Scheitler, director of the Data Equity Center and also the director of development, engagement, and strategic planning at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, the center aims to provide consulting services that promote data equity and support systems in becoming...