UCLA Sustainability

HBCU Lunch & Learn Series - Biomimicry
2023-10-25 12:30 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Join Laura McAlister from LA Sanitation and Environment for an enlightening presentation on “Thinking Biomimicry.” Explore the fascinating world of biomimicry, discover how nature’s solutions can shape a sustainable future, and learn practical tips for incorporating biomimicry into everyday life. Don’t miss this opportunity to reconnect with nature and unlock its potential for a greener, more sustainable world.
Discover how you can make a difference in the environment through the work that you do. This series is specifically designed for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) students, but all are welcome to attend.
Learn about sustainable practices, innovative technology, environmental initiatives, and nature-based solutions in a fun and interactive way. Connect with professionals in the field and gain valuable insights.
Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge and network. Grab your lunch and join us online!
REGISTER HERE

Free Food from the Dining Halls
2023-10-25 22:00, 2023-10-26 22:00, 2023-10-31 22:00, 2023-11-01 22:00, 2023-11-02 22:00 | Conference Room 1 in the Student Activities Center Basement, 220 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Get a plate of free hot dining hall food in the SAC basement. Please bring your own containers and utensils. We are operating Tuesdays, Wednesdays, AND Thursdays this quarter.

Charting Progress: Regulator Actions on Climate Financial Risks
2023-10-26 08:00 - 09:00 | Online
Climate change poses a significant and growing threat to the stability of financial institutions and markets of all sizes. Ceres’ annual Climate Risk Scorecard assesses the actions that U.S. federal financial regulators have taken within their existing authority to address the systemic impacts of climate-related financial risk. How have these 10 agencies already integrated climate risk into their regulatory activities? And what could they be doing to better protect the U.S. financial system from the impacts of the climate crisis?
In this webinar participants will:
– Interpret the assessments in the 2023 Climate Risk Scorecard
– Identify the actions financial regulators have taken in the past 18 months to manage climate risk
– Define what else is needed from regulators to keep the U.S. competitive, in step with global peers, and our financial institutions safe and sound
REGISTER HERE

Lunch with the Pritzker Award Finalists
2023-10-26 11:30 - 13:30 | La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Find out why the Pritzker award community thinks the world should know these emerging change-makers.
All under the age of 40, the finalists are building strong relationships between human communities and the natural world on three continents.
Food will be provided.
REGISTER HERE
Agenda:
-11:30am PT: guests arrive and grab lunch
-12:00pm PT: panel discussion with the finalists
-12:45pm PT: Q & A with the audience

GRID Talks | Charging Latinx Communities
2023-10-26 12:30 - 13:30 | Online
In this month’s GRID Talk, we close out Latinx Heritage Month by discussing what people-first solutions are needed to ensure a clean energy future that is equitable and sustainable for Latinx families and individuals.
With last year’s passing of the Inflation Reduction Act, $500 billion in new spending and tax breaks aim to boost clean energy projects and incentives across the US. GRID Talks will host a panel of Latinx leaders working in environmental justice to discuss how Latinx communities can benefit from this historical bill and what steps and actions are needed to execute community-first solutions.
Why do Hispanic/Latinx populations install rooftop solar at a 30% lower rate than other minority groups? And why do they also pay 20 percent higher energy bills than the median family in the United States? Join us, and let’s find solutions toward a clean energy future that includes everyone.
REGISTER HERE

Livestream: UCLA Innovation Showcase
2023-10-26 16:00 - 18:30 | Online
The UCLA Innovation Showcase livestream features pitches from cross-campus UCLA founders and an expert panel on the impact of AI across industries. Winning startups will receive up to $100,000 in investment capital from the Draper family, UCLA alumni in venture, and $350,000 in Google service credits for their product portfolio.
Startup Pitches: 4:00-5:30p
Panel: 5:30-6:15p
Awards: 6:15-6:30p
WATCH HERE

Environmental Students Networking Reception
2023-10-26 17:00 - 19:00 | Luskin School of Public Affairs, Third Floor Commons and Patio
All UCLA graduate students interested in environmental justice, sustainability, and resilience are invited to a free, cross-campus networking reception. Learn about environmental organizations, student funding opportunities, jobs, internships, and other resources across campus while mingling with fellow students who share your passion for the environment.
With food and drinks provided, this reception will provide a relaxed and informal atmosphere, fostering meaningful conversations and potential collaborations. You’ll have the chance to meet professionals and experts in the field who can offer valuable insights and advice. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make connections that could help shape your future in the environmental sector.
Mark your calendar and get ready to network, learn, and have a great time at the Environmental Students Reception!
REGISTER HERE
UCLA Collaborators:

C-Solutions
Emmett Institute
Graduate Student Water Resources Group
Impact@Anderson
IoES, Leaders in Sustainability Graduate Certificate Program
Sustainable Grand LA Challenge
UCLA Sustainability

Occidental Presents: Responsibility & Reciprocal Relationships with the Land
2023-10-26 18:00 - 19:30 | OXY ARTS, 4757 York Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90042, United States
O﻿ccidental’s Community Book Program Presents: Responsibility and Reciprocal Relationships with the Land: Indigenous Knowledge, Conservation, and Land Return.
Join Oxy Professor of Biology Gretchen North, Celestina Castillo, Executive Director of the Center for Community Based Learning, artist and scientist Samantha Morales Johnson, Tina Calderon, Tongva Language Committee member, Bryce Lewis-Smith, Research Assistant at UW’s Center for American Indian & Indigenous Studies, and Jesus Alvarez, president of the Tataviam Land Conservancy for a dynamic conversation around indigenous knowledge, conservation and land return. This panel was curated by Celestina Castillo and Professor Gretchen North.
REGISTER HERE

Trails & Treats: Plant Sale and Giveaway
2023-10-27 09:00 - 16:00 | UCLA Mildred E Mathias Botanical Garden, La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Dr, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
Head to the UCLA Botanical Garden for its annual plant sale and giveaway!
Trick-or-Treat along Garden paths with delightful Garden Guides. Stop by the pavilion to grab a photo in front of our autumnal photo wall. Don’t forget to visit the plant shop to take home some Garden merch and maybe even a new plant friend.
Are you a Garden Member? Get early access to the plant sale starting at 9 a.m. Your first plant is on us! Additional plants available for purchase. Not a Garden member? Sign up here.
9﻿am to 10am: Members Only Hour – Members get a free plant and are entered to win a water bottle and tote bag!
1﻿0am to 4pm: Open to the public – Join us for candy, photo ops, merch, music, our plant sale, and themed trails.
REGISTER HERE

58th Annual UCLA Art History Graduate Symposium, "In/On/Across Bodies of Water"
2023-10-27 09:30 - 16:30 | Hammer Museum
The 58th Annual UCLA Art History Graduate Symposium, In/On/Across Bodies of Water, will explore bodies of water as media of expression, spaces of connection, frameworks of thoughts, and systems of cultural exchanges in art history. Examples of topics include The Indian Ocean World; Atlantic Ocean; Pacific Ocean; The Mediterranean Sea; Inland seas; Piracy; Transatlantic/oceanic/pacific crossing; Maritime Silk Routes; Shipwrecks; Chinese treasure ships; Slave ship; Age of Exploration.
In/On/Across Bodies of Water will be an in-person symposium.
REGISTER HERE

Victor Seow - "Fossil-Fueled Developmentalism: Carbon Technocracy in Modern East Asia"
2023-10-27 16:00 - 17:30 | Social Sciences Building (SOS), 250, 3502 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, United States
How might we make sense of the origins of the fossil fuel turn, and how might our understanding of this past inform our present, as we confront the ongoing crisis of climate change? In this talk, Victor Seow will draw upon his recently published Carbon Technocracy: Energy Regimes in Modern East Asia (University of Chicago Press, 2022) to discuss how modern states of different stripes, from imperial Japan to communist China, came to embrace strikingly similar forms of science-driven, coal-fired developmentalism amid an international order that was being reshaped by the carbon energy transition. What is revealed in this connected and comparative account is the extent to which interstate competition and statist preoccupations around economic growth, national security, and resource autarky have driven the intensification of fossil fuel production and use across political modalities, at great human and environmental cost.
REGISTER HERE

Sustain-O-Ween at the Backyard Farm
2023-10-28 18:00 - 21:00 | SOW Collective Backyard Farm, 13625 Sunburst Street, Los Angeles, CA, 91331, United States
Get ready for a spooktacular evening at the Backyard Farm! Embrace the spirit of sustainability while celebrating Halloween in style.
At Sustain-O-Ween, we believe in having a frightfully good time while being mindful of our planet. This unique event brings together eco-conscious individuals like yourself to enjoy a night of fun and sustainability.
Don’t miss the costume contest where you can showcase your most creative and fashion foward upcycled attire. Prizes await the winners!
Indulge in delicious organic treats andsip on refreshing beverages. Immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere, surrounded by like-minded people who care about our planet.
Whether you’re a sustainability enthusiast, a Halloween lover, or simply looking for a unique experience, Sustain-O-Ween at the Backyard Farm is the place to be. Mark your calendar and join us for an evening of spooky sustainability!
Ticket Includes
Entrance into Costume Contest
Free Drink & Snacks
Ways to Purchase Your Ticket

Purchase ticket via Eventbrite, please consider paying fee as Eventbrite keeps a percentage of all ticket sales
Purchase ticket via Zelle by sending at stephanie@sowcollective.org

All Ticket Purchases are a Donation and are Tax Deductible You Will Receive a Receipt with our EIN Number
REGISTER HERE

Film Screening: "Stepping Softly on the Earth"
2023-10-30 15:00 - 17:00 | UCLA Glorya Kaufman Dance Theater, Kaufman Hall 200, 120 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Filmed on location in Peru, Colombia and Brazil, the documentary Stepping Softly on the Earth (2022) provides a vision for a possible future for humanity, with an alternative to destruction that is based on the ancestral life of native populations. The film focuses its narrative on three Indigenous leaders who are survivors of the capitalist war in the Amazon and struggle to keep their ways of being alive and coexisting in the world without destroying it.
The film will be followed by a Q&A moderated by Susanna Hecht (Center for Brazilian Studies) and Alexander Ungprateeb Flynn (Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance).
Free and Open to the Public

A Guide for Businesses: California's New Climate Disclosure Legislation
2023-10-31 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed two landmark climate disclosure bills into law, SB 253 and SB 261. These bills will require thousands of public and private companies that do business in the state to report all greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related financial risks. Join California state Senators Scott Weiner (SB 253) and Henry Stern (SB 261), and our Ceres experts for a robust discussion on what comes next in California and what these new laws mean for your company.
Attendees will:
– Discuss the new disclosure legislation with Senators Wiener and Stern
– Review the implementation timeline and reporting requirements
– Outline the technical requirements of both bills
– Identify the next steps in California and need for continued supportive corporate support
REGISTER HERE

Sustainability Success Stories: Women at the Forefront Alumni Panel
2023-11-01 12:15 - 13:30 | Room 5391, Public Affairs Building, 337 Charles E Young Dr E, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
This panel will feature accomplished women alumni who have blazed trails in the sustainability arena. Their experience, expertise, and success stories will inspire and empower fellow alumnae, current students, and aspiring professionals.
What to Expect:
-Panelists will discuss their sustainability journey, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the path to success.
-They will share insights and strategies for lasting impact in sustainability and related fields.
-Networking opportunities with fellow panelists and attendees.
REGISTER HERE
Meet the moderator and panelists:
Moderator: Nurit Katz, MPP and MBA ’08
UCLA’s first Chief Sustainability Officer, Nurit Katz, is working to foster partnerships among academic, research, and operational departments to facilitate the creation of a world-class living laboratory for sustainability at UCLA. Nurit also served as Executive Officer for UCLA Facilities Management for six years and is an Instructor for UCLA Extension’s Sustainability Certificate Program. She also serves as Commissioner on the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Board. Nurit holds an MBA and a Masters in Public Policy from UCLA and a BA in Environmental Education from Humboldt State University and is pursuing a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Panelists:
Daniela Simunovic, MURP ’13
Daniela Simunovic is a recognized leader with 20 years of experience developing programs and policies to advance social, economic and environmental equity. Daniela currently serves as the Senior Director of Climate and Sustainability in the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, where she supports the implementation of the Mayor’s climate and sustainability goals. Simunovic previously served as a Senior Advisor on Environmental Equity to the California Air Resources Board Chair. Prior to that, Daniela was a Senior Policy Director at Better World Group. At the California Strategic Growth Council, Daniela led the development and implementation of the Transformative Climate Communities Program, a place-based initiative focused on investing in the State’s most vulnerable communities. As Deputy Director of Environmental Health and Justice at the Liberty Hill Foundation, she supported adopting and implementing the “Clean Up Green Up” ordinance. Daniela received her Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.
Holli Fajack, MURP ’14
Holli Fajack has a diverse background with experience in environmental education, policy analysis, sustainability consulting, communications and media, and fine art. As the Sustainability Manager at CSU Long Beach, Holli is responsible for implementing, developing, and coordinating campus sustainability practices and programs and engaging students, faculty and staff in those efforts. Holli’s previous positions include Policy Analyst for Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office of Budget and Innovation, Student Program Director at the environmental education non-profit Sustainable Works, and Project Assistant at the City of Santa Monica’s Office of Sustainability and the Environment. Holli has a Master’s degree in urban and regional planning from UCLA and a BFA in photography from The College of Santa Fe. Holli is motivated by her desire to develop smart environmental policies and programs that can make communities healthier and more resilient and empower people to become agents for positive change.
Kristen Torres Pawling, MURP ’12 : Bio Coming Soon

Designing our Future: Environment, Community and Technology - A DataX Workshop
2023-11-01 12:30 - 14:30 | HYBRID: Collins Conference Room, James West Alumni Center AND Online, James West Alumni Center at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
DataX presents Professor of Information Studies, Ramesh Srinivasan, in conversation with an interdisciplinary set of UCLA professors focused on environmental issues such as climate change and their intersection with questions of justice and voice in relation to the proliferation and use of big data. This new series will feature a hallmark event each quarter!
Registration required for in person or online participation. Lunch will be provided to onsite participants.
REGISTER HERE

Building the Energy-Gender-Climate Nexus: The Role of Decentralized Renewable Energy Access
2023-11-02 11:00 - 12:30 | Online
Energy poverty, gender inequality, and climate change are three of the gravest threats that face people and planet alike. Decentralized renewable energy access is precisely the kind of solution that will deliver a Just Energy Transition and bring power to the people in the Global South as well as communities in the Global North. Yet, big energy and infrastructure are dominating the Energy Transition agenda. With a focus on rapidly reducing carbon emissions, large-scale renewable systems—many centrally controlled—are being prioritized, leaving hundreds of millions of people—especially women—in rural and marginalized communities without access to energy, increasing their climate vulnerability. Join four C3E Award winners to hear their experience in accelerating energy access in the Global South, followed by a discussion on how delivering energy access through decentralized renewable energy enables climate, gender, and development benefits and upcoming opportunities for further innovation and scale in Africa, Asia, and the United States.
There will be an optional 30-minute discussion and networking session immediately following the webinar at 3:00pm ET.
REGISTER HERE

Fall 2023 Conference: "Architecture After the Green New Deal"
2023-11-03 09:00 - 2023-11-04 13:00 | Perloff Hall, 1317 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
UCLA Architecture and Urban Design (AUD) is pleased to convene the Fall 2023 “Architecture After the Green New Deal” conference, taking place in Perloff Hall Decafe on Friday, November 3 (9 am to 4 pm) and Saturday, November 4, 2023 (10 am to 1 pm).
Please register in advance for the conference. You may reach out to the event organizers, AUD’s Shota Vashakmadze (svashakmadze@ucla.edu) and Dexter Walcott (dwalcott@ucla.edu), with any questions or requests.
This two-day event is part of the ongoing research initiative “Architecture After the Green New Deal,” exploring climate change and the built environment. The effort aims to build upon AUD’s existing interest and enthusiasm for these issues, and to develop critical aspects of the strategic plan formulated by the School of the Arts and Architecture, as well as UCLA’s wider strategic planning, in response to the climate crisis.
The “Architecture After the Green New Deal” conference will include workshops for students and faculty as well as structured opportunities to engage with urgent questions. The two-day event will take place in Perloff DeCafe and in Perloff Courtyard, and will be live-streamed for remote viewing.
REGISTER HERE

Exploring Your Universe 2023
2023-11-05 12:00 - 20:00 | UCLA Court of Sciences, 617 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Exploring Your Universe (EYU) is an all-ages science festival at the UCLA Court of Sciences and the largest science outreach event at UCLA. We will be hosting science booths and science talks with subjects ranging from astronomy, biology, geology, chemistry, sustainability, psychology, and more! All activities are interactive experiences led by experts and scientists and geared for all ages (K-12+) and backgrounds.
Last year’s booths included hands-on experiments such as strawberry DNA extraction, looking at muscle cells under a microscope, and exhibits such as the Meteorite Gallery and more. Talks will include Fun with Plastics, When Earth was a magma ocean, Why does Earth’s magnetic field point north? and more!
REGISTER HERE

Unveiling Company Progress on Water Stewardship
2023-11-07 08:00 - 09:00 | Online
The global water crisis—the result of decades of mismanagement, population growth, and climate change—is getting worse, and so are the financial risks facing companies. It’s clear: corporate water management approaches must adapt to the changing state of water resources. The new Valuing Water Finance Initiative benchmark assesses where 72 companies from four water-intensive industries—food, beverage, apparel, and high-tech—are on this journey to protect their bottom lines and help ensure a water-sustainable future for all by 2030.
In this webinar, participants will:
– Review key takeaways from the benchmark demonstrating how the 72 focus companies are performing against six Corporate Expectations for Valuing Water
– Discuss how leading practices can be an opportunity for all companies to elevate their efforts to reduce water risk
– Explore the significance of the benchmark as a unique and comprehensive tool for both investors and companies working to raise their ambition to protect freshwater resources
Featuring:
Kirsten James, Senior Program Director, Water, Ceres
Shama Perveen, PhD, Director, Water, Research, Ceres
Additional speakers to be announced
REGISTER HERE

Impact Investing Speaker Series: Approaches to Monitoring & Reporting on ESG
2023-11-07 17:00 - 18:00 | B313 Gold Hall, Anderson School of Management, 110 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Interest in environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing has grown significantly over recent years, with global ESG fund assets having reached approximately $2.5 trillion as of the end of 2022, according to Morningstar. Shannon O’Leary, chief investment officer at the Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation, will discuss:
– The tools and platforms that exist to support the monitoring of and reporting on ESG portfolios, as well as their limitations
– Approaches investors take to monitoring and reporting on ESG in public vs. private markets as well as across asset classes
– What has resulted from her organization’s work investing in this way
Moderated by Lisa Richter, Co-Founder and Manager, Avivar Capital
Food will be provided.
REGISTER HERE

Free Food from the Dining Halls
2023-11-07 22:00 | Conference Room 1 in the Student Activities Center Basement, 220 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Get a plate of free hot dining hall food in the SAC basement. Please bring your own containers and utensils. Bruin Dine is operating Tuesdays, Wednesdays, AND Thursdays this quarter.

GreenTech: Implementing the IRA and Accelerating the Energy Transition
2023-11-08 06:00 - 15:30 | HYBRID: Georgetown University Law Center and Online, 600 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20001, United States
$369 billion is set to be invested in the transition to a clean energy economy via the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and reaching net zero will require innovative legal and policy frameworks. Join the Georgetown Climate Center, the Environmental Law Institute, and the Georgetown Environmental Law and Policy Program for this day-long conference including keynote talks, engaging Q&A’s, plenary panels, and topic-specific breakout sessions.
In-person and virtual options are available.
REGISTRATION

Register to attend IN PERSON.

Registrants will attend at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC (600 New Jersey Ave NW).
Capacity is limited, so register early to confirm your seat.
Registration will close on NOVEMBER 1 or when capacity is reached, whichever comes first.

Register to attend via LIVE WEBINAR.

Webinar information will be emailed prior to the event date.
Please register by NOVEMBER 1. Registration will close after that date.

Webinar: What Is Sustainable Science, and How Can We Green Our Labs?
2023-11-08 11:00 - 12:00 | Online
The research and teaching conducted in university laboratories often has an outsized impact on a campus’ carbon footprint, due to the energy-intensive nature of lab air quality requirements, as well as the emissions associated with the building and operations. Water-intensive processes and hard-to-recycle wastes also challenge lab sustainability managers. To improve energy and water efficiency, decrease emissions, and reduce waste in labs, it’s essential to engage scientists in the green lab effort. The key is to empower students, researchers, building managers, purchasers, campus planners, and other leaders to support sustainable initiatives within their labs, buildings, and systemic change across the research enterprise.
During this webinar, attendees will learn how a green lab program can reduce resource use, emissions, and waste and promote sustainable science.
REGISTER HERE

Embracing Diversity Series: Representation in the Outdoors
2023-11-08 11:30 - 12:30 | Marion Anderson Hall Grand Salon, 110 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
UCLA Anderson Outdoor Adventure Club (OAC) is thrilled to invite you to the next event in our Embracing Diversity Series: Representation in the Outdoors!
This event will feature a panel of incredible community leaders: Jude Glenn and Sarina Pizzala from Queer Mountaineers, Christian La Mont from Latino Outdoors (“Yo Cuento” Initiative), and Jorge Vallecillos from Escalemos (Rock Climbing Collective) and will be moderated by our VP of EDI, Natalia Rodriguez Muxica (‘24).
We will explore the barriers that have historically prevented underrepresented groups from participating in outdoor activities and learn how these leaders and their organizations are working to increase outdoor accessibility for all.
REGISTER HERE

4th Annual NorCal Symposium on Climate and Health
2023-11-08 12:00 - 17:00 | Online
Climate change presents a critical challenge to medical education, as future medical professionals will be tasked with treating patients and managing healthcare systems in a constantly changing world. Join to discover how leaders in the field are incorporating climate change education at their institutions.
Agenda
Session 1: Trainee Movements: Bringing climate action to medical education
Session 2: How to include equity in climate and health education and garner institutional support
Session 3: Keynote: Our Children’s Trust
Session 4: Empowering Tomorrow: Cutting edge climate change and health education
Session 5: Leadership Panel: Stanford, UCD, & UCSF
REGISTER HERE
