INSTITUTE OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
Moving Science to Action
Launching global environmental solutions from urban Los Angeles
MAGAZINE
Air conditioning: Environmental loss, human win
With a warming climate, a key win-lose solution is air conditioning. In hotter conditions, workplace productivity suffers, students learn less, and mortality rates are higher. Fortunately, we have a way to avoid the worst of these effects: AC prevents around 3,000 premature deaths a year in the US. Win. But energy-intensive American AC usage also...
Discovery opens up new path in study of marine evolution and biodiversity
Two UCLA studies of ocean mollusks shed light on how new species develop
2020 environmental science students persevere through pandemic to graduate
The next day, classes and trips started getting cancelled. Within a week, UCLA was preparing to close to all but essential workers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The chancellor was quarantined. Transition to remote teaching had already begun. “Everything was normal and then suddenly it wasn’t,” Schaner said. “That was the last in-person class...
EVENTS
2020 GreenShorts Award Ceremony
With GreenShorts, high school students get a chance to sit in the director’s chair and win cash prizes. The contest invites two-minute-or-less films to showcase ideas, commentary and vision for cities and the world. This year, students submitted one short film in five categories: Climate Heroes, Watertopia, No Justice No Green, You Are What You...
2020 IoES Commencement
Information about the IoES commencement ceremony. Where: Live on YouTube When: Sunday, June 14th Time: Ceremony begins at 1:30 PM. Graduates should log into the Zoom 1:00 PM. Zoom Reception with faculty members after the commencement ceremony. 2020 Commencement Keynote Speaker: Iliza Shlesinger Iliza is one of today’s leading comedians with a fan base who show their...
EDUCATION
A Diverse, Practice-Based Education
This innovative, dual-component program offers both breadth and depth through a solid foundation in natural science and a focus on understanding environmental issues across earth, atmospheric, life, and social sciences.
Practicum Project
Drone-based damage assessment of utility scale photovoltaic solar facilities
Practicum Project
Assessing the strength of kelp and seagrass in mitigating ocean acidification
Senior Practicum
The program pairs teams of five to seven students with a faculty member or other environmental expert. Then it connects them with clients ranging from the Natural Resources Defense Council to Taylor Guitars.
RESEARCH
Generating Knowledge & Providing Solutions
We leverage connections and partnerships throughout the UCLA network to focus teams of diverse talents on today’s most urgent problems.
California Ecosystem Futures: The Future of California Drought, Fire, and Forest Dieback
In this project, we at the Center for Climate Science are using climate, vegetation, and fire observations and models to answer critical questions for California's future: Under climate change, what will happen to forests? How will fire risk change? How will climate, forest, and fire changes interact with and exacerbate one another — and what can we do to prepare?
Bird Genoscape Project
The Center for Tropical Research recently launched the Bird Genoscape Project, an effort to map the population-specific migratory routes of 100 species of migratory songbirds by harnessing the power of genomics.
Pangolin Trafficking Project
This project aims to answer key questions about the natural history and conservation requirements of giant pangolins, one of the world’s most trafficked animals.
GIVING
Support Us
State funding cannot cover everything we want to accomplish – we rely on endowments, grants and philanthropic gifts to make up the difference. These additional funds go to the programs, projects and outreach that would otherwise languish. We are immensely grateful for this support.