January Drop-in UCLA Botanical Garden Tour
2026-01-17 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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

Free Food from UCLA Dining Halls!
2026-01-22 22:00, 2026-01-27 22:00, 2026-01-28 22:00, 2026-01-29 22:00, 2026-02-10 22:00, 2026-02-11 22:00, 2026-02-12 22:00, 2026-02-18 22:00 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!

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

Future Foods @ UCLA, Words Matter: Communicating Science and Policy
2026-01-30 14:00 - 16:00 | UCLA Mildred E Mathias Botanical Garden, La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Dr, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
Join future food experts Jack Bobo, Janet Tomiyama, and Michael Roberts for a conversation moderated by David Welch as they discuss effective communication strategies for translating the science and real-life applicability of novel foods.
REGISTER HERE

Shigeru Ban at The Hammer - Talk and Book Signing
2026-01-30 19:30 - 21:30 | Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, United States
Shigeru Ban stands as one of contemporary architecture’s most radical humanists, fusing structural innovation with profound social commitment. A 2014 Pritzker Prize laureate, Ban pioneered the structural use of recycled cardboard tubes, beginning in the mid-1980s with exhibition designs and evolving into disaster relief architecture deployed across five continents. His Paper Log Houses, first realized for Vietnamese refugees after the 1995 Kobe earthquake, exemplify architecture’s capacity for urgent social response. The 2013 Cardboard Cathedral in Christchurch—at 79 feet tall—demonstrates how “temporary” materials can achieve civic monumentality and community permanence. Ban’s philosophy, “I don’t like waste,” encapsulates his practice—transforming material economy into architectural poetry while maintaining unwavering commitment to humanitarian crises from Rwanda to Ukraine.
Shigeru Ban will be available for a book signing after the talk. Copies of Shigeru Ban: Timber in Architecture (Rizzoli) and Shigeru Ban. Complete Works 1985–Today (Taschen) will be available to purchase at the Hammer Store between 11am – 8pm and, supply depending, outside the theater after the talk. Book purchase does not guarantee entry.
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, limit one per visitor. Box office opens one hour before the event.
MORE EVENT INFO HERE

Time Series Foundation Models (TSFMs) for Carbon-Aware Research and Sustainability
2026-02-02 10:00 - 12:00 | HYBRID – OARC Portal MS 5628 and Online, 5628 Math Science Building
This hybrid workshop will introduce the UCLA research community to the emerging class of Time Series Foundation Models (TSFMs) and their application to sustainability challenges such as electricity grid carbon intensity forecasting. Participants will gain hands-on experience with TSFM frameworks, open-source datasets (e.g., ElectricityMaps), and computational tools designed to enable accurate, generalizable forecasting without requiring extensive region-specific data. The workshop will emphasize reproducible workflows, integration with high-performance computing, and the potential for interdisciplinary applications across energy, environment, and policy domains.
MORE INFO HERE
REGISTER HERE

WEBINAR - Water Knows No Borders: Transboundary Water Sources in the Middle East
2026-02-03 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
This event is part of the UCLA Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for Israel Studies series “Scientific and Environmental Diplomacy.”
Join a webinar with Professor Eilon Adar, who will be discussing the significance of integrated water management between nations in the Middle East, and how this reality can either be a trigger for conflict or a catalyst for cooperation. Professor Emeritus Adar is founder of the Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.
MORE INFO HERE
REGISTER HERE
After registering, you will be emailed an RSVP confirmation. If you do not receive your email confirmation, please check your spam or junk mail folders.

Defensa contra Incendios para Profesionales de la Construcción
2026-02-04 15:00 - 17:30 | Online
El Programa de Capacitación para la Certificación en Defensa contra Incendios Forestales de USGBC-CA fue desarrollado para educar a profesionales de la construcción y paisajistas en cómo reforzar mejor los hogares y paisajes contra incendios a través del uso de materiales, prácticas de mantenimiento y diseños adaptados para reducir el riesgo de daños por fuego. La intención de esta capacitación es preparar el camino para que el mercado privado impulse la adopción de mejores prácticas contra incendios y genere un cambio cultural dentro de la industria de la construcción.
La capacitación destaca recursos existentes e incluye un pequeño grupo de asesores diversos en prevención de incendios, diseño de edificios y paisajismo para fomentar la conciencia y transferir conocimientos sobre las mejores prácticas líderes en la industria para reducir el riesgo de incendios en hogares y paisajes.
RSVP HERE

Fire Tender: Documentary Screening and Discussion
2026-02-10 12:15 - 13:15 | Center for the Study of Women, 1500 Public Affairs
An exploration and discussion on Indigenous fire stewardship
Join the UCLA Center for the Study of Women | Streisand Center for a screening of the short film Fire Tender, directed by Roni Jo Draper (Yurok) and Marissa Lila, followed by a discussion.
Fire Tender tells the story of Yurok tribal members returning to traditional fire practices as an essential form of land stewardship. The film centers on Margo Robbins—grandmother, cultural educator, healer, and Indigenous fire practitioner—who is leading efforts to restore Yurok fire sovereignty: the right to use fire for tribal land care, a practice outlawed under settler colonial policies. Through her work, Robbins challenges more than a century of environmentally destructive anti-fire policies that have endangered Yurok lands and restricted access to the natural resources necessary for clean water, food, and traditional lifeways.
The screening highlights Indigenous-led efforts to reintroduce prescribed fire as an essential land management tool, connecting environmental health, cultural continuance and climate resilience in fire-adapted landscapes.
Seating is first come, first served. No registration required.
Attendees are welcome to bring their lunch for the 30-minute screening and discussion to follow.
Learn more about the film. This event is part of programming for Thinking Gender 2026: “Feminist & Queer Ecologies.” Register for the conference.

100 Lecture Series LIVESTREAM: L.A. From the Viewpoint of A Walker with Alissa Walker
2026-02-11 10:30 - 11:45 | Online
Perloff Lecture Series on 100 Years of Transportation Research
Presented by UCLA Urban Planning and UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies
L.A. From the Viewpoint of A Walker
Alissa Walker has been observing Los Angeles as a pedestrian and journalist since before Twitter existed. How people learn about their community has changed, and Alissa now works on a newsletter and podcast to inform Angelenos about transportation, housing, urban design, and governance. Her project Torched.LA covers the civic investments and policy decisions that Los Angeles is making in preparation for its megaevent-hosting era.
WATCH THE TALK LIVESTREAM HERE
ALISSA WALKER is a writer based in Los Angeles where she has covered transportation, housing, urban design, public space, and environmental policy for two decades. She edits the newsletter Torched, which tracks the legacy improvements that LA is making for the 2028 Summer Olympics. Alissa is the 2021 recipient of the Steven Heller Prize for Cultural Commentary for her writing on design and urbanism, and played herself on the traffic safety episode of Adam Conover’s show Adam Ruins Everything, “Adam Ruins a Murder.” She lives in L.A.’s Historic Filipinotown neighborhood, where she is the co-host of LA Podcast, an avid ice cream consumer, and a mom to the city’s two most enthusiastic public transit riders.

100 Lecture Series LIVESTREAM: Investing in Sidewalks and Streets with Jessica Meaney
2026-02-18 10:30 - 11:45 | Online
Perloff Lecture Series on 100 Years of Transportation Research
Presented by UCLA Urban Planning and UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies
Investing in Sidewalks and Streets
Jessica Meaney is the Executive Director of Investing in Place. Investing in Place imagines a Los Angeles that cares for its sidewalks, streets, and parks as everyday expressions of dignity, equity, and belonging. Public spaces are planned and maintained as the foundation of community life, where investment and care reach every neighborhood.
Jessica has professional experience in Los Angeles, spanning transportation planning for safe streets, administration of philanthropic grants, and management of mission-driven organizations.

WATCH THE TALK LIVESTREAM HERE

JESSICA MEANEY is the founder and executive director of Investing in Place, a leading voice for reimagining Los Angeles’ public realm—sidewalks, streets, and infrastructure. For two decades, Jessica has led efforts in LA to promote inclusive decision-making and equitable resource allocation in public works and transportation funding to create accessible and well maintained public spaces that enhance quality of life.

On-Campus Farmers Market
2026-02-18 13:30 - 16:30 | Bruin Plaza, 308 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Come grab some fresh produce and bread in Bruin Plaza.

2026 City of Calabasas Environmental Forum: “Butterflies in Bloom”
2026-02-19 18:00 - 20:00 | Founder’s Hall, 200 Civic Center Way, Calabasas, CA, 91304, United States
The City of Calabasas Environmental Commission invites the community to the 2026 Annual Environmental Forum: “Butterflies in Bloom”, a public forum on pollinators, biodiversity and local conservation efforts. Admission is free and open to all.
The City of Calabasas hosts an annual public Environmental Forum, organized by the Environmental Commission, to engage the community on pressing and relevant environmental topics. This event typically occurs in February and features expert panels, educational exhibits, and opportunities for public participation.

February Beach Cleanup | Santa Monica Beach
2026-02-21 09:00 - 12:00 | Lifeguard Tower 20 Santa Monica, 20 Bicknell Ave, Santa Monica, CA, 90401, United States
Join this upcoming monthly beach cleanup at Santa Monica Beach, Lifeguard Tower #20. All events will take place from 9AM – 12PM.
REGISTER HERE
