UCLA Sustainability

InterActions LA 2025: Advancing Housing And Transportation Solutions
2025-03-10 09:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | California Endowment, 1000 N. Alameda Street, Los Angeles, California, 90012, United States
To achieve California’s ambitious goals of addressing the housing crisis, improving the transportation system, enhancing people’s lives, and mitigating climate change, governments and agencies need to adopt new approaches to longstanding policy challenges. Academic research offers some solutions, but how to best implement these solutions remains a tricky question. At InterActions LA, the Lewis Center strives for answers from people who have been successful in their own cities.
By bringing together local leaders with policymakers and government officials from outside of Los Angeles and California, InterActions LA ignites conversations and exchanges ideas to increase equity and sustainability in the state’s housing and transportation sectors.
Registration
Regular: $50
Students & Nonprofits: $10-25
Registration fee includes day’s programming, plus breakfast, lunch and reception.
REGISTER HERE

High Impact Tea speaker series - "Social Impact Consulting: Bridging Perspectives"
2025-03-11 16:30 - 18:30 | Crown Family Auditorium, Marion Anderson Hall 3rd level, UCLA Anderson School of Management, 110 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, 90095, United States
4:30-5:30 pm (Discussion), 5:30-6:30 pm (Reception)
Join to explore the transformative power of social impact consulting from both consultant and client perspectives. In celebration of 20 years of UCLA Anderson’s commitment to driving community change, this High Impact Tea event will bring together seasoned consultants and nonprofit executives to provide a comprehensive view of the consulting journey from both sides of the table. Through real-world examples, we’ll discuss project scoping, relationship building, communication and creating actionable solutions to drive positive change.
REGISTER HERE

Exhibition Walk-through: Taming the Desert
2025-03-12 18:00 - 19:00 | Fowler Museum
Solsiré Cusicanqui will discuss the fantastic creatures, powerful ancestors, and mythological beings found in this exhibition, which illustrates how ancient Andean societies looked for spiritual meaning and numinous help in an unpredictable and challenging world.
Taming the Desert: Resilience, Religion, and Ancestors in Ancient Peru (November 10, 2024–April 13, 2025) showcases 34 Moche and Nasca ceramics and textiles from LACMA and the Fowler Museum at UCLA, and explores how ancient Andean societies used religion and ritual to navigate the challenges of the Peruvian desert coast. Despite scarce resources and climatic extremes, the region fostered urbanism, trade, and advanced crafts. The exhibit highlights these artistic expressions while drawing parallels to modern issues of climate change and resilience.
REGISTER HERE

Stanford Energy Seminar: Karen Scrivener | Realistic Strategies for Decarbonizing Construction
2025-03-14 10:00 - 10:50 | HYBRID: Shriram Center, Room 104, and Online, 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA, 94305, United States
The Stanford Energy Seminar has been a mainstay of energy engagement at Stanford for nearly 20 years and is one of the flagship programs of the Precourt Institute for Energy.
Talk abstract: “Construction” contributes around 20% of human related GHGs every year. This is from the embodied emissions of materials, the transportation and construction processes. These embodied emissions occur mainly “upfront” before the building or infrastructure is even in use and is then effectively “locked in”. This means it has become the most important part of emission from buildings and infrastructure in the coming decades, especially in light of the climate emergency we are facing. Furthermore, most new construction (about 80%) in the next 25 years will occur in the global south. In the light of this background, I will talk about strategies which have a realistic prospect to reduce emission fast and at scale. Large scale reduction can be made, even with existing technologies, especially if these are deployed in combination. LC3, limestone calcined clay cement stands out for the scale and comparative ease with which it can be implemented, but even here we have an uphill struggle due to lack of incentives. Nevertheless I feel now the tide is turning and we need to think how we can accelerate this process in the future.
Speaker Bio: Karen Scrivener is Professor of construction materials at EPFL Switzerland. A Materials Scientist by training, she has more than 40 year’s experience of research in the field of cement and concrete. She has more than 250 journal publication and was made a fellow of the UK Royal Society of Engineering in 2014. She is also a member of the UN Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET) and the “10 Member Group” overseeing the UN STI mechanisms. She is the inventor of LC3 (limestone calcined clay cement) which has the potential to save around 40% of CO2 compared to conventional cement.
Anyone with an interest in energy is welcome to join one seminar or all of them! You can enjoy seminars in the following ways:

Attend live. The auditorium may change quarter by quarter, so check each seminar event to confirm the location. Explore the current quarter’s schedule.
Watch live in a browser livestream if available. Check each seminar event for its unique livestream URL. WATCH THIS EVENT HERE

Sand Acknowledgment in Action: Lazaro Arvizu Jr.
2025-03-16 13:00 - 14:30 | Fowler Museum
The second iteration of Sand Acknowledgment in Action with artist Lazaro Arvizu Jr. will focus on an artist-facilitated meditation and workshop centering on the creation of your own sand painting, in response to the exhibition Fire Kinship: Southern California Native Ecology and Art.
Lazaro Arvizu Jr. is an artist, educator, musician, and researcher dedicated to the culture of the first people of Los Angeles. Born in the Los Angeles Basin, he is knowledgeable about the landscape and cosmology of the Gabrieleno culture. For over 20 years, he has facilitated creative and meaningful cultural experiences for people of all ages and walks of life, in many venues.
REGISTER HERE
Image Courtesy of the Artist

Ireland's Clean Energy Revolution
2025-03-18 11:30 - 12:30 | Crown Family Auditorium, Marion Anderson Hall 3rd level, UCLA Anderson School of Management, 110 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, 90095, United States
Join Ireland’s Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy and Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien for an exclusive talk on Ireland’s latest cleantech advancements and future initiatives. Discover how innovation, policy, and investment are shaping a greener Ireland—and how you can be part of it.
Presented by: UCLA Anderson’s Energy and Cleantech Association (ECA)
In collaboration with: the Consulate General of Ireland and UCLA Anderson’s European Business Association (EBA)
RSVP required
REGISTER HERE
Darragh will give a short lecture, followed by Q&A moderated by Josh Rothermel, President of ECA. ECA and EBA will be providing lunch for current UCLA Anderson students, who should be signing up via CampusGroups event to be accounted for in the lunch headcount.
*Please bring your ID to check in to the event for security purposes*

Climate of Contempt: A Book Talk with David Spence
2025-03-18 13:30 - 15:00 | UCLA School of Law, Room 1314, 385 Charles E Young Dr E, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
The U.S. was struggling to reduce carbon emissions even before the second Trump administration and David B. Spence offers a compelling voter-centric explanation for the bitter partisanship that has complicated America’s clean energy transition. His timely new book Climate of Contempt: How to Rescue the U.S. Energy Transition from Voter Partisanship explores the effects of polarization and propaganda on energy policy and shows a path forward for cooperation on this crucial issue. Spence is an energy law and regulation professor from University of Texas at Austin. Join us Tuesday, March 18 for this lunch talk at UCLA Law with Professor Spence in conversation with UCLA Law Professors William Boyd and Ann Carlson .
Spence’s book will be availiable for purchase at this event.
Lunch will be provided for those who RSVP by Saturday, March 15.
REGISTER HERE

Webinar - Natural Disasters and Community Well-Being: A 360-Degree View of Health, Wealth, and Environmental Justice in the Wake of Los Angeles County Wildfires
2025-03-20 14:00 - 15:00 | Online
Join the Latina Futures 2050 Lab on March 20, for a discussion on community-led response to natural disasters examining the intersection of community preservation, environmental justice, and systemic inequality. This event will feature the voices of key experts and community leaders working on the ground to address the multifaceted challenges posed by these catastrophic events.
The panel will explore the essential roles that community-based organizations, mutual aid networks, and trusted messengers play in relief, recovery, and resilience-building efforts in a climate of uncertainty and political polarization. The discussion will highlight not only the direct environmental impacts—such as devastating air quality issues and post-fire health concerns—but also how these disasters disproportionately affect marginalized communities, including immigrant workers, domestic laborers, and generations of BIPOC families that sought refuge from systemic oppression.
REGISTER HERE

2025 BECAP Summit - Tides of Transformation: Advancing Workforce Solutions in the Blue Economy
2025-03-26 08:00 - 17:00 | UCLA Luskin Conference Center, 425 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
The 2025 Blue Economy Climate Action Pathways (BECAP) Summit will feature inspiring keynotes, insightful panels and collaborative breakout sessions. This dynamic gathering will focus on advancing workforce development, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and strengthening connections among participants from industry, government, NGOs and higher education—including the California Community Colleges, CSUs, UCs, and private institutions.
This event offers a unique platform for collaboration, innovation and knowledge exchange to address the pressing environmental challenges and opportunities ahead while shaping the future of the blue economy.
REGISTER HERE

Food and Film: The Automat
2025-03-29 19:30 - 21:30 | Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, United States
Food and Film is a quarterly series designed to delight the senses and inspire the mind. Curated with renowned chef, activist and cinephile Alice Waters, who will be in-person with filmmaker Lisa Hurwitz, each program in the series draws on Waters’ philosophy that eating, like art, is a political act and that exploring the intersections between the culinary and moving image arts can help illuminate the path toward building more sustainable, thriving communities together.
Ticketing: Admission is free. Your seat will be assigned to you when you pick up your ticket at the box office. Seats are assigned on a first come, first served basis. Box office opens one hour before the event.

Cultural Fire Webinar - Cultural Burn Agreements Senate Bill 310
2025-04-01 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
Please join a webinar to learn more about the landmark cultural burn agreement with the Karuk Tribe and the new law, Senate Bill 310 (Dodd 2024), granting authority to the California Natural Resources Agency and local air districts to enter into cultural fire agreements with federally recognized tribes to honor tribal sovereignty, to heal from the historical wrong of criminalizing tribal cultural burning practices, and to expand the use of beneficial fire to strengthen California’s resilience to wildfire and climate change.
REGISTER HERE
A recording of this webinar will be posted as part of the Tribal Stewardship Policy Toolkit and can be found online at https://resources.ca.gov/Cultural-Burn-Agreements.
Read more about the landmark Karuk Tribe California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) agreement here.

Free Food from UCLA Dining Halls!
2025-04-02 22:00, 2025-04-09 22:00, 2025-04-10 22:00 | Conference Room 1 in the Student Activities Center Basement, 220 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Join Bruin Dine for our food recovery events every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 10PM in the SAC Basement! Bring your utensils, containers, and appetite!
Hit the follow button (https://www.instagram.com/uclabruindine/) to see what we’re serving up each week!

LA Foodscapes: Tech-Powered Solutions for an Inclusive & Resilient Food System
2025-04-03 10:00 - 12:00 | LACI, 525 S Hewitt St, Los Angeles, CA, 90013
As food insecurity rises, climate change accelerates, and the retail food economy shifts, how can technology be leveraged to expand food access, support small food businesses, and build climate resilience? This panel conversation will explore the intersection of food justice, innovation, and climate adaptation. The event will feature entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and community leaders discussing ethical tech solutions—from digital food assistance platforms to data-driven urban agriculture, climate-smart logistics, and worker-centered automation. Discussions will also focus on how inclusive, community-centered innovations can better serve historically marginalized communities and ensure equitable access to food and economic opportunity. Join to discover how technology can be a force for equity and resilience in Los Angeles’ evolving food landscape.
REGISTER HERE

Kelp Kulture seminar: Learning and Living among California's Kelp Forests
2025-04-03 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Marco Mazza is a UCSB graduate who specializes in underwater photography and cinematography. With a truly comprehensive understanding of the ocean and its ever-changing waters, Marco has established himself among top watermen (and women) in the rough seas of Northern California. With a camera in hand and passion at heart, Marco aims to document the natural beauty of our world in ways that inspire others and help to promote environmental awareness and conservation.
Please RSVP to receive the Zoom link. We’ll see you there!
RSVP HERE

Climate Forward Conference 2025
2025-04-03 12:00 - 16:00 | University of Southern California, Town & Gown, 665 W Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, United States
In celebration of Earth Month, the USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability and the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future are hosting a series of conversations around advancing climate change issues.
Please join the sixth annual Climate Forward conference, which focuses on finding practical solutions to climate change and identifying the political obstacles to implementing those changes.
The conference is FREE. You can participate in person, via Zoom, or via livestream. Lunch is provided. Space is limited. Registration is required.
IN PERSON – REGISTER HERE
ZOOM – REGISTER HERE
Schedule:
12:00PM – 1:00PM: Lunch Buffet, Climate Fair, and USC Student Art Exhibit, “A Sea Change” by Callianne Jones (Artist) and Allison Agsten (Curator)
1:00PM – 1:20PM: Welcome Remarks from CPF Director Bob Shrum, Wrigley Institute Director Joe Árvai, Dornsife Divisional Dean for the Social Sciences Bill Deverell, and USC President Carol Folt
1:20PM – 2:25PM: “Boom, Not Gloom: A Battle Plan for the Next Four Years of Climate (In)Action” Panel
Jennifer Granholm: Former U.S. Secretary of Energy and First Female Governor of Michigan; One of Time’s Most Influential People 2024
Joe Árvai: Director, USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability
2:30PM – 3:00PM: “The Politics of Electric Vehicles: Red State and Blue State Trends” Panel
David Hill: Director of Hill Research Consultants; Republican Pollster
Mike Murphy: Co-Director, USC Center for the Political Future
3:00PM – 4:00PM: “Climate Policy and the Two Parties: The Search for Common Ground” Panel
Barbara Boxer: Former U.S. Senator (D-CA)
Garret Graves: Former U.S. Representative (R-LA)
Bob Shrum (Moderator): Director, USC Center for the Political Future
The mission at the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future is to advance civil dialogue and research that transcends partisan divisions and finds solutions to pressing national and global challenges. The mission at the USC Dornsife Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies and Sustainability is to work toward sparking meaningful, nonpartisan change to save our planet.

Climate Equity LA Series: Advancing Shade Equity for a Cool, Healthy LA
2025-04-03 15:30 - 17:00 | Online
The City of Los Angeles’ Climate Emergency Mobilization Office (CEMO), Board of Public Works, invites you to join its next Climate Equity LA (CELA) Series virtual event: Advancing Shade Equity for a Cool, Healthy LA!
The event speakers are Edith de Guzman, PhD, Cooperative Extension Specialist, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources / UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation; Monica Dean, Climate and Sustainability Practice Director, USC Dornsife Public Exchange; Rachel Malarich, City Forest Officer, Office of Forest Management, Board of Public Works, City of Los Angeles; and Marta Segura, MPH, Chief Heat Officer and Director of CEMO, Board of Public Works, City of Los Angeles.
Submit any questions in advance via the Zoom registration form. Spanish, Korean, and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be available during the event. The webinar recording will be shared following the event on YouTube and the CEMO website.
REGISTER HERE

Future Food Symposium
2025-04-04 13:00 - 17:00 | Hershey Hall Salon, 801 Hilgard Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
The Future Food Symposium will explore the opportunities and challenges of sustainable novel proteins, from perspectives of science and engineering to regulatory and policy. Our speakers span the private and public sectors, with experts from academia, non-profits, and California leaders in the cultivated meat industry, as well as our first inaugural cohort of UCLA Future Food Graduate Fellows. The future of food systems – especially in the state of California—is a critical issue for the health of Californians, and to ensure nutritious food is accessible for all, especially in the face of extreme events that disrupt food supply chains. The symposium will celebrate our research achievements and Future Food Fellows training program that launched with state funding support.
Join the UCLA community for a critical dive in to novel proteins research, developments in the field, and its role in the future of local, national, and global food systems with Jimmy Fremgen, Director of Policy at Food Solutions Action; David Welch, Chief Scientific Officer and Co-Founder at Synthesis Capital; Sanah Baig, Former White House Senior Policy Advisor and USDA Deputy Under Secretary; Eric Schulze, Founder of GoodHumans; and UCLA ‘s Future Food Fellows: Corinne Smith, Rebecca (Ceci) Cohen, Maria Trubetskaya, Erika López-Lara, and Justine Kim. The symposium will be moderated by Amy Rowat, UCLA Professor and RFI Faculty Director, with closing remarks by Jack Bobo, RFI Executive Director.
Everyone is welcome. Refreshments will be served.
REGISTER HERE
Parking is encouraged in UCLA’s Parking Structure 2 located at 719 Hilgard Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024. Visitor parking is located on the first and second floors.
Please note you will be attending an event where photography, audio, and video recording may occur. The Rothman Family Institute for Food Studies will highlight this event, which means your name, image or video (video and/or audio) may appear on our website, social media, or other media formats. By attending the event, you consent to the Rothman Family Institute for Food Studies photographing, filming and using your image and likeness.

Guided Botanical Garden Drop-in Tour – April 5
2025-04-05 10:00 - 11:00 | UCLA Mildred E Mathias Botanical Garden, La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Dr, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
Join a Garden Guide for a tour of a living museum featuring collections of plants from around the globe!
You’ll hear the stories of selected plants in the Garden and their relevance to human society. All ages are welcome. Tours meet at the La Kretz Garden Pavilion at the northern end of the Garden and are given a grace period of 5 minutes.
Tours are free.

Botanical Art Class with Konstanze Rausch
2025-04-05 13:00 - 15:00 | UCLA Mildred E Mathias Botanical Garden, La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Dr, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
Dive into the world of botanical-inspired art with this workshop led by artist and instructor Konstanze Rausch!
Join the Garden for this hands-on experience to explore a variety of captivating mediums and innovative techniques. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to unleash your inner artist!
This event is free. Supplies are not provided.
REGISTER HERE

Food Day - LA Climate Week
2025-04-07 10:00 - 18:30 | Fiesta Hall, West Hollywood, 1166 North Vista Street, West Hollywood, CA, 90046, United States
Join LA Climate Week Food Day, a full day of networking, expert panels, and delicious plant-based meals, all focused on how food can drive climate action. This event, held at Fiesta Hall in West Hollywood, is part of LA Climate Week, a series of dozens of events promoting sustainability across the region.
What to Expect:
• Three Impactful Panels: Explore youth advocacy, public policy, and cultural shifts in plant-based food with council members, nonprofit leaders, and celebrities leading the charge for a sustainable future.
• Networking Opportunities: Connect with city leaders, ESG professionals, sustainability experts, activists, business leaders, and influencers.
• Free Plant-Based Meals: Enjoy complementary breakfast, lunch, and refreshments throughout the day.
Whether you’re a climate advocate, policymaker, or simply curious, this event is your chance to engage with the growing movement for sustainable, plant-based food—right in the heart of Los Angeles.
REGISTER HERE

Climate Case Study Workshop: "Fact or Fiction? Evaluating Corporate Sustainability Through Disclosed Data"
2025-04-08 15:00 - 17:00 | Marion Anderson Hall Grand Salon, 110 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
As California moves forward with mandatory corporate climate disclosures (SB 253 & SB 261), how can we tell which companies are truly leading on sustainability — and which are just greenwashing?
​Join an interactive workshop hosted by the Center for Impact at UCLA Anderson, and UCLA Open for Good Initiative, to explore real corporate sustainability data and tackle key challenges in evaluating environmental performance and transparency. Using actual S&P 500 disclosure data, participants will examine how companies report on climate risks, GHG emissions, and net-zero targets — and what these disclosures reveal about corporate climate action.
​What you will do:

Analyze real sustainability data using an interactive dashboard
Discuss challenges in evaluating data quality, comparability, and credibility
Consider how selective disclosure and greenwashing complicate sustainability assessments
Work in small groups to develop and debate rankings of company performance

​Who should attend:
This workshop is ideal for industry practitioners, investors, MBA students, and anyone interested in climate strategy, sustainability reporting, and corporate accountability — especially as California’s new climate disclosure laws take effect.
​Workshop lead: Tyson Timmer, Case Writer and Corporate Sustainability Researcher, UCLA Open for Good Initiative
​Join us to be part of the conversation shaping the future of corporate sustainability in California!
REGISTER HERE
We encourage you to bring:

your laptop
reusable water bottle

An exciting speaker event to follow at UCLA Anderson directly after this event – to be announced soon!

Habitability and Multispecies Flourishing: From Local to Planetary
2025-04-08 15:00 - 17:00 | La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Join an enlightening panel discussion on the harmonious coexistence of humans and non-human species, with a special focus on Los Angeles, urban biodiversity, and the concept of rewilding.
Explore how our local environment in Los Angeles can support thriving ecosystems and enhance habitat diversity. Our expert panel will delve into the importance of urban biodiversity, strategies for rewilding urban spaces, and the ethical dimensions of human-non-human interactions in a planetary perspective.
​Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in discussions that are crucial for the future of our planet and the well-being of all species. Whether you’re passionate about environmental sustainability, urban planning, or simply curious about our interconnected world, this event promises to inspire and inform.
REGISTER HERE
​Organized by Better Earth Productions with the support of LA Climate Week, Re:wild your Campus and Berggruen Institute.

Building the Future: A Live Inevitable Podcast with Patrick Maloney
2025-04-08 17:00 - 19:00 | Crown Family Auditorium, Marion Anderson Hall 3rd level, UCLA Anderson School of Management, 110 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, 90095, United States
Join My Climate Journey (MCJ) Managing Partner and Host, Cody Simms, for a live recording of the Inevitable podcast. Cody will share the stage with Patrick Maloney, the Co-founder and CEO of CIV.
​This event offers a deep dive into climate tech from a seasoned entrepreneur, exploring the future of critical infrastructure, nuclear energy, and the evolving landscape of climate innovation. Expect candid insights, bold ideas, and a thought-provoking discussion on what it takes to build and scale transformative companies in this space. Stick around after the recording for a networking happy hour.
4:45pm – Doors open, check-in
5:00pm – Recording starts (at Crown Auditorium)
5:45pm – Q&A with the guest
6:00pm – 7:00pm – Networking reception (in D Atrium)
Please arrive early!
Best parking to access UCLA Anderson is at Parking Structure 4, off of Sunset blvd
REGISTER HERE
​

Emmett Institute Symposium - Charging Ahead: Cutting Vehicle Pollution in the New Trump Years
2025-04-09 09:00 - 17:00 | UCLA School of Law, Room 1347, 385 Charles E Young Dr E, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
9am-4pm, reception to follow
This is an in-person event.
There’s no going back. Federal climate policies face deep uncertainty, but California remains committed to cutting air pollution and climate emissions from transportation and is obligated to do so by statutes like the Clean Air Act. States and localities are once again at the forefront of transportation and electric vehicle strategies. California has unique authority to create more ambitious motor vehicle emissions standards than the federal government, but even those powers are under attack. Given all this, what are the most promising — and durable — state and local strategies to focus on?
This all-day symposium will explore a range of creative approaches available to cities, counties, and states to cut pollution from cars, trucks, and other transportation sources in light of threats to tailpipe emission standards. The event will also examine ways to ensure that the transition to cleaner vehicles benefits disadvantaged communities. This symposium is co-sponsored by the Environmental Law Section of the California Lawyers Association and is part of the 2nd Annual LA Climate Week.
A keynote speaker will set the table for the day’s discussions and rally our spirits for what’s to come. Three expert panels will look beyond traditional emission standards and include a wide range of innovative policies aimed at vehicles, infrastructure, and pricing mechanisms. This day-long event at the UCLA School of Law is free and open to the public. The event is FREE but you must RSVP.
REGISTER HERE
Check back soon for the day-of schedule and details about all the speakers and panels.

From Origin to Opportunity: The Watch Duty Story
2025-04-09 16:00 - 17:00 | UCLA Anderson, Korn Convocation Hall, 110 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
In an era where climate change drives increasingly frequent and devastating wildfires, access to reliable, real-time information can mean the difference between safety and disaster for communities on the frontlines. Watch Duty is a non-profit, non-partisan, and non-government organization focused on disseminating public safety information about nearby wildfires and firefighting efforts in real-time from verified sources.
Join an insightful conversation with John Mills, CEO and Cofounder of Watch Duty, as we dive into the critical intersections between technology, public safety, and mission-driven innovation.
We will explore key topics including:

Watch Duty’s Origin Story: Discover the inspiration behind the app and the journey from concept to reality.
Delivering Real-Time Wildfire Information: Understand the challenges, lessons learned, and future steps in providing critical updates.
Business and Operational Strategies for Growth: Learn about the strategies that fuel Watch Duty’s expansion and impact.
Watch Duty’s Role in LA Wildfires: Gain insights into the app’s crucial role during recent wildfires and the team’s key takeaways.
Future Vision and Public-Private Partnerships: Explore Watch Duty’s vision for the future and the potential for strategic collaborations.
Philanthropy and Sustainable Funding: Discuss innovative funding models and solutions for supporting impactful initiatives.
The Role of Future Business Leaders: Understand how business acumen, technology, and entrepreneurial thinking can address critical social and environmental challenges.

Whether you’re a student passionate about social entrepreneurship, a future founder with a vision for tech for good, or a corporate professional exploring mission-driven innovation, this conversation will provide valuable insights, inspiration, and opportunities to engage!
REGISTER HERE
*Please bring your ID to check in to the event for security purposes*
About John Mills, Watch Duty’s CEO and Cofounder
John has changed the way we live with fire through his 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Watch Duty. John spent many years in Silicon Valley focusing on underserved markets that had been overlooked by technologists. In 2012 he founded Zenput as CTO, focused on retail food services operations which was acquired in 2022. After living in San Francisco for 16 years, he moved off-the-grid to Sonoma County in 2020 where he was faced with the terrifying reality of life in the wildlands without the information needed to make informed decisions. Having developed software for over 30 years beginning at age 8, John found himself with a life or death problem he had to solve not only for himself, but for his community. He spent more than a year understanding the problems and then together, with his team, created Watch Duty in just 80 days. Today Watch Duty has a team of over 200 active and retired wildland firefighters, dispatchers, first responders, and reporters supporting millions of citizens and first responders who rely on the Watch Duty App across the American West to stay safe.

IoES seminar series 2024-25 Focus on the Environment and Sustainability - "Managing the Mid-Transition from Fossil to Clean Energy," Prof. Emily Grubert, University of Notre Dame
2025-04-10 14:00 - 16:00 | James West Alumni Center Founder’s Room, 325 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Emily Grubert
Associate Professor of Sustainable Energy Policy in the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame.
Emily Grubert is a civil engineer and environmental sociologist who studies how we can make better decisions about large infrastructure systems, particularly related to justice-centering decarbonization of the US energy system.
Prof. Emily Grubert from the University of Notre Dame will discuss just energy transitions, and decarbonization, especially as related to energy, water, and infrastructure systems.
Key Discussion Topics

The industrial transformation needed to phase out fossil fuels
How to restructure energy systems to deliver services without greenhouse gas emissions
The “mid-transition” period — where neither old nor new systems fully sustain energy needs
Challenges in safety, reliability, flexibility and planning
The role of justice-centered decarbonization in reshaping the U.S. energy system

2:00 — 2:30 pm | Refreshments
2:30 — 3:30 pm | Seminar
3:30 — 4:00 pm | Q&A
For inquiries, contact Claire Griffiths at cgriffiths@ioes.ucla.edu.
REGISTER HERE
Abstract
Responding to climate change requires rapid and deep industrial transformation, particularly related to phasing out fossil fuels and restructuring energy systems to deliver services without greenhouse gas emissions. This transformation presents a critical opportunity not only to decarbonize, but to remake the way we provide energy services with emphasis on justice.
The period of remaking is a multi-decade effort that requires both phasing out the majority of the existing energy system and phasing in a new system — all while continuing to provide energy services effectively, despite the growing challenges of climate change and deep inequality.
The “mid-transition” period during which existing and new systems are each too small to provide all services on their own, but too large to avoid constraining the other, poses special challenges of safety, reliability, flexibility, measurement, and other considerations. A successful transition will require extensive coordination and planning, especially due to the dynamism imposed by both technology and climate changes.

Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Eudaimonia 2025 Award presentation
2025-04-10 16:30 - 18:30 | UCLA’s Semel Institute, B-floor Deck, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, United States
The Semel Healthy Campus Initiative (HCI) Center at UCLA & the MindWell team invite you to its annual Eudaimonia Awards 2025 Ceremony! The HCI Eudaimonia Award is an annual recognition award given to a member of the UCLA community past or present who exemplifies a life full of purpose and meaning.
This year, the theme is: “Gift of Giving” which is to acknowledge UCLA community members who exemplify this theme, have committed to bringing good to society, and who build up community members through care, service and advocacy.
Youlonda Copeland-Morgan is a nationally recognized leader in higher education and President and CEO of The CopelandMorgan Group, LLC. Copeland-Morgan’s 44-year career is a testament to her lifelong commitment to access, equity, diversity, and inclusion in K-12 and higher education. She has been honored by the United States Congress, the California State Legislature, and the City of Los Angeles.
The event reception starts at 4:30pm, and the program starts at 5pm. Food and refreshments will be served!
REGISTER HERE

Grow LA Victory Garden Workshop 1: Planning Your Garden
2025-04-12 10:00 - 11:00 | jane b semel Healthy Campus Initiative Community Garden, Sunset Canyon Recreation Center, 111 Easton Dr, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, United States
Led by Master Gardener James Bassett, learn all about how to plan your garden, perfect for beginners and experienced gardeners alike.
Explore the best plant choices for your space and growing conditions. Discover how to maximize productivity and sustainability in an urban setting. Get started on creating a garden that fits your lifestyle and goals.
Part of a 4-part workshop program on the basics of urban gardening, this session offers the chance to learn from Master Gardner Dr. James Bassett. Attend individual workshops that interest you, or attend all 4 and receive UC Victory Gardener Certification!
REGISTER HERE
