UCLA Sustainability

Free Food from UCLA Dining Halls!
2025-11-19 22:00, 2025-11-20 22:00, 2025-12-03 22:00, 2025-12-04 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-01-14 22:00, 2026-01-15 22:00, 2026-01-22 22:00, 2026-01-27 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) and 1 more date | Conference Room 1 in the Student Activities Center Basement, 220 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Join Bruin Dine for food recovery events every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 10PM in the SAC Basement (unless otherwise announced)! Please bring your own tupperware and utensils!
Follow https://www.instagram.com/uclabruindine/ for additional updates!

Animal Law Society presents: A Conversation with Damien Mander
2025-11-20 12:15 - 13:15 | UCLA Law School, Room 2448, 385 Charles E Young Dr E, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
The Animal Law Society at UCLA is proud to welcome Damien Mander to kick off their 2025/2026 conversation series. After serving as a diver in the Royal Australian Navy and a special operations sniper, Damien founded the International Anti-Poaching Foundation where he works with communities in Africa to fight poaching. View his TED Talk here.
Damien is a fierce and dedicated activist focused on ending poaching, committed to animal conservation and combatting climate change through community centered activism. He will be delivering a lecture on his experience and ethics in these spaces, and then having a discussion with attendees.
This event is open to the public. A vegan lunch will be provided.
REGISTER HERE

Livestream Panel: AI and the Politics and Extraction
2025-11-20 14:00 - 15:30 | Online
This is an external event, not hosted by UCLA, which may be of interest to our community
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence has brought renewed urgency to questions of climate justice. The massive resource extraction required to build and power data center infrastructure is having profound impacts on local communities and ecosystems. At the same time, the large-scale monetization of data raises complex political and ethical issues, with far-reaching consequences for democracy, human rights, and the environment.
In this public discussion, Professors Naomi Klein (University of British Columbia – Vancouver, UBC-V), Stephanie Dick (Simon Fraser University), Wendy Wong (UBC-Okanagan) and Hamish van der Ven (UBC-V) will explore questions around the implications of AI for climate justice, the governance of AI and protection of users, and which beneficial models of AI could and should be explored. Moderated by Professor Carol Liao (UBC-V)
REGISTER HERE – Zoom link will be sent to registrants closer to event date

Double Feature: RISE and PAPA BUKA Film Screening
2025-11-25 19:00 - 21:30 | James Bridges Theater, 235 Charles E Young Dr E, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Join UCLA Theater, Film & Television (TFT) Professional Programs in James Bridges Theater for screenings of two Oscar qualifying films from two different TFT Professional Programs alumni: the short film RISE—the first Zimbabwean film to qualify for the Oscars, written and directed by Screenwriting and Writing for Television alum Jessica Rowlands; followed by a screening of the feature PAPA BUKA—the official submission for the Oscars from Papua New Guinea in the Best International Feature Film category, starring Acting for the Camera alum Ritabhari Chakraborty.
The evening’s screenings are for the Academy members, as well as friends and alum of TFT, and will be followed by a Q&A with actors and the creative teams.
REGISTER HERE
Please arrive early to this event. The screenings will begin promptly at 7pm.
Parking is located in Parking Structure 3 right next to the James Bridges Theater at UCLA.
PLEASE NOTE that although the screening is free, parking at UCLA is never free, even for TFT staff and faculty, so make sure to follow the parking payment instructions in Parking Structure 3 to avoid getting a ticket (make sure to park in visitor parking and pay at the pay station).
Contact professionalprograms@tft.ucla.edu with any questions.

Botany of the Holidays
2025-12-04 12:00 - 13:00 | La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
‘Tis the season for Botany of the Holidays! Join the UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden for its annual event exploring the botanical origins of holiday traditions. Delight in the Garden’s very own holiday tradition as you explore the fascinating stories of poinsettias, maize, and persimmons with speakers Jesse Gomez, Heidi Yang, and Sara Pedraza.
This event is free and open to the public, no RSVP required.

Guided Botanical Garden Drop-in Tour – December 6
2025-12-06 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.

Evidence-Based Ecological Medicine: From Where We Are to Where We Must Go
2025-12-09 16:00 - 17:00 | HYBRID: Semel B8-225 and Online, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
In this talk, Dr. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz brings together the evidence for mechanisms underlying the influence of temperature, light, barometric pressure, social proximity, and other ecological factors on our bodies and minds.
REGISTER HERE

WEBINAR - Policymaking Under Uncertainty: Zone 0 and Vegetation Clearance
2025-12-12 12:00 - 13:30 | Online
The Sustainable LA Grand Challenge invites you to join Living with Future Fire: Getting to Research-Informed Policymaking for Fire-Resilience, a series of three webinars featuring experts unpacking the complicated natural and institutional dynamics at play as we work toward a more fire resilient Southern California.
The first webinar is titled “Policymaking Under Uncertainty: Zone 0 and Vegetation Clearance.”
Moderated by Nurit Katz, UCLA Chief Sustainability Officer
Featuring:

Edith de Guzman, Water Equity and Adaptation Specialist, UC Cooperative Extension
Travis Longcore, Senior Associate Director, UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
Max Moritz, Statewide Wildfire Specialist, UC Cooperative Extension
Alessandro Ossola, Associate Professor, UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences

This series is made possible by a generous gift from the Anthony Pritzker Family Foundation.
REGISTER HERE

"Why Narrative Matters in the Fight Against Climate Change" - A conversation and live LENS podcast recording with Sammy Roth
2026-01-09 10:00 - 11:30 | Kaplan Hall 193, 415 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Please join the Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies (LENS), in collaboration with the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, for a conversation with Sammy Roth and live recording of a new episode of the LENS podcast “Changing Stories for a Changing Planet.”
REGISTER HERE
Presented by LENS, the Emmett Institute at UCLA Law, and the Liberty Hill Environment + Justice Donor Circle.

FAC Fest!
2026-01-09 17:00 - 20:30 | Sunset Village, 330 De Neve Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, United States
IT’S TIMEEEE… FOR FAC FEST! In honor of the start of Winter quarter, the USAC Facilities Commission (FAC) is putting together a night of fun, activities, games, and more with a focus on our core principles: accessibility, sustainability, transportation, and environmentalism!
Come check out BruinDine and Swipe Out Hunger’s food recovery efforts, what UCLA Transportation and ITE are cooking up this year, and even what the Center for Accessible Education, Autism Advocacy, and Disabled Student Union have to offer! Peruse through our booths and fun games as you are serenaded by the performers of UCLA Radio and treated to some pumpkin spice chai (you are encouraged to bring your own mug)!
So come join FAC and so many more partners this Winter quarter to ring in the new year (sustainably and accessibly)!

Advancing adaptation: Mapping costs from cooling to coastal defenses
2026-01-13 08:00 - 09:00 | Online
The benefits of adaptation far outweigh its costs, yet the world today spends just one-third of what’s needed to protect everyone exposed to hazards to developed-economy standards. With warming projected to reach 2°C by 2050, new McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) research gives a pixel-level, geospatial look at what that warmer world really means, which regions are most exposed, and what adapting to extreme weather events would look like.

Join MGI for a virtual event to explore the findings of their new report, Advancing adaptation: Mapping costs from cooling to coastal protection, featuring a presentation by the report authors and a panel discussion with leaders on this topic.

The session will explore:
➢ How will a 2°C warmer world reshape the pattern of climate risks between today and 2050?
➢ Where is exposure to climate hazards largest, and how is it shifting over time?
➢ What adaptation measures offer the most cost-effective and scalable path to closing protection shortfalls?
➢ How much will it cost to implement adaptation measures? And what will it take—institutionally and financially—to accelerate the pace of climate adaptation?

Once registered, you will receive an email confirmation and can add the event to your calendar. Registrants who can’t attend live will receive a recording of the event.

REGISTER HERE

LA Fires One-Year Reflection: Workers in Action
2026-01-15 16:00 - 18:00 | UCLA James Lawson Jr. Worker Justice Center, 675 S Park View St., Los Angeles, CA, 90057, United States
Join a panel discussion with the UCLA Labor Center, UCLA Labor Occupational Safety and Health (LOSH) Program, Instituto de Educación Popular del Sur de California (IDEPSCA), UCLA Center for Developing Leadership in Science, and others.
Event format: In-person. Snacks will be provided. Street parking is available.
REGISTER HERE

January Drop-in UCLA Botanical Garden Tour
2026-01-17 10:00 - 11:00 | UCLA Mildred E Mathias Botanical Garden, La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Dr, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
Explore a living museum, featuring collections of plants from around the globe! Join a Garden Educator for a free guided 1 hour tour, and hear the stories of a selection of plants in the garden, and their relevance to human society. All ages are welcome.
Meet at the La Kretz Garden Pavilion at the northern end of the garden. Restrooms are available there.

2025 LA Wildfires: An Economic Update #2 - Hosted by LAEDC and LA County DEO
2026-01-21 11:00 - 12:00 | Online
Los Angeles County continues to grapple with the wide-ranging impacts of recent wildfires. Join the LAEDC Institute for Applied Economics and the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) for the second in a four-part public webinar series providing real-time insights into the economic impact of the fires and the region’s economic recovery.
This session will offer a current economic snapshot of wildfire recovery in Los Angeles County, with a focus on the Palisades and Altadena impact areas. These briefings will highlight early recovery trends and assess impacts on businesses, workers, industries, and communities—taking care to examine disparities across race, industry, and geography.
The webinar series is part of the broader Economic Recovery and Resiliency Initiatives, an effort funded by the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). Led by LAEDC as the Regional Convener and the California Community Foundation as Fiscal Agent, this initiative provides economic analysis, recovery support, grant-writing assistance, community engagement, and targeted policy recommendations to strengthen resilience for wildfire-impacted communities.
Policymakers, community leaders, businesses, and stakeholders are invited to attend this free webinar to better understand how recovery is unfolding and what challenges and opportunities lie ahead.

REGISTER HERE

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

Policymakers and government agencies
Community and nonprofit leaders
Businesses and workforce partners
Researchers and stakeholders engaged in wildfire recovery

Smart Gardening Webinar - Intro to Composting
2026-01-21 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
Join a free, live webinar on how to compost your yard clippings and kitchen scraps. Create a nutritious, organic, soil-like fertilizer for your lawn and garden. Webinars are approximately 45 minutes followed by a 15-minute period to answer questions and take orders for compost bins.
REGISTER HERE

Wildfire Defense for Landscape Professionals
2026-01-21 15:00 - 17:30 | Online
The USGBC-CA Wildfire Defense Certificate Training Program was developed to educate professionals on how to best harden homes and landscapes to fires through the use of materials, maintenance practices, and fire-wise design practices known to reduce properties’ risk of fire damage.
The training highlights existing resources and includes a small group of diverse advisors across fire prevention and building and landscape design to instill awareness and transfer knowledge around industry-leading best practices to reduce fire risk in homes and landscapes.
The Wildfire Defense Certificate for Landscape Professionals is a 150-minute training followed by a certification test to be taken online via the USGBC-CA Learning Center.
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER HERE

WEBINAR - The Barn Owl Project: An Ecological Solution in Agriculture for Israel, Jordan and the Palestinians
2026-01-22 11:00 - 12:00 | Online
This event is part of the UCLA Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for Israel Studies series “Scientific and Environmental Diplomacy.”
Professor Yossi Leshem will discuss a groundbreaking initiative—begun in Israel and expanded to its neighbors—in which Barn Owls are used as biological pest-control agents of rodents in agriculture.
MORE INFO HERE
REGISTER HERE

UCLA AUD Winter 2026 Events: Kai-Uwe Bergmann (MArch '93), "Materialism"
2026-01-22 17:30 - 19:00 | UCLA Perloff Hall, DeCafe, 365 Portola Plaza, Room 1302, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
By reclaiming the term materialism from the realm of empty consumerism, we aim to bring it back to the practice of formulating our future through form and matter. We will go on an odyssey through the material world through the works of BIG starting with solid rock and ending with the flow of electrons.
Kai-Uwe Bergmann, FAIA (MArch ’93) is a Partner at BIG who brings his architectural expertise to proposals around the globe, including work in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Kai-Uwe heads up BIG’s business development, which currently has the office working in over 40 different countries. He also oversees BIG’s Urban Scales projects and supports BIG’s Landscape projects. He is registered as an architect in the USA (15 states) and Canada.
Kai-Uwe most recently contributed to the resiliency plan BIG U to protect 10 miles of Manhattan’s coastline. First envisioned through the Rebuild by Design competition to develop proactive responses to Superstorm Sandy, it is now being constructed with a completion date in 2026.
REGISTER HERE

Lowell Milken Institute-Sandler Prize for New Entrepreneurs: January Meetup
2026-01-22 17:45 - 19:30 | UCLA Law School, Room 1430, 385 Charles E Young Dr E, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
The Lowell Milken Institute-Sandler Prize for New Entrepreneurs is a business pitch competition open to all UCLA students. Build a team, create a pitch, and compete for a chance to win $4000 per team member. No experience needed! Each team gets an industry mentor to guide them. Apply on the Lowell Milken Institute website with a team and an idea!
Join the Competition Platform HERE
The Spring Meetup is an opportunity to form teams with students from other schools at UCLA to compete for prize money!
(5:45 Info Session, 6:15 Pitches, 6:45 Reception)
REGISTER HERE
THIS EVENT IS FOR UCLA STUDENTS ONLY.
Learn more about the LMI Sandler Prize HERE

Building Your Career at the Intersection of Climate and Health
2026-01-28 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
With climate change already reshaping the health of communities, we need a public health workforce equipped to dynamically lead across professions, solve problems creatively, and translate science into practice. Join the Association of Schools & Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) for an energizing conversation designed for early- and mid-career professionals interested in exploring or advancing careers at the intersection of climate and health.
REGISTER HERE

Music Sustainability Alliance Panel
2026-01-28 13:00 - 14:30
Join a dynamic conversation as part of the Berry Gordy Speaker Series, hosted by Dr. Tiffany Naiman in collaboration with the Music Sustainability Alliance. This thought-provoking panel will feature David Koenig, Program Director, and Amy Morrison, CEO, Co-founder, and Board Member of the Music Sustainability Alliance.
Together, they will explore the intersection of the music industry, sustainability, and social impact, offering insights into how the music industry can be a force for environmental and cultural change. From sustainable touring practices to green studio innovations, the discussion will highlight actionable strategies and the critical role of education, advocacy, and industry collaboration. Dr. Naiman will guide the conversation through the lens of music history, future-forward thinking, and social responsibility.
This event is essential for students, artists, and professionals passionate about building a more equitable and sustainable music ecosystem. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with leaders shaping the future of the music industry and sustainability.

Net Zero Accelerator (NZA) Annual Demo Day 2026
2026-01-29 12:00 - 14:00 | Online
The NZA accelerates the adoption of impactful solutions in the built environment. The program helps growth-stage companies de-risk their offerings, align with market needs, and implement technologies through pilot projects across our community.
This year’s event will be virtual and will feature a keynote speaker, a panel discussion with investment partners, and live demonstrations of the 2025 cohort’s innovations in short form. This interactive format allows for facilitated and lively discussion throughout the program.
Demo Day highlights solutions from our newest cohort along with milestone updates from NZA alumni dating back to our 2019 inaugural year. The 2025 companies are advancing critical technologies that address the most pressing challenges in the built environment.
REGISTER HERE
