UCLA Sustainability

WELL Webinar: Water at the Crossroads — Policy Shifts, Local Impacts, and Community Resilience
2026-08-20 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online
Public policy changes at the state and regional levels are reshaping the future of water management across California, with significant implications for affordability, reliability, and long-term planning. As communities navigate a changing regulatory landscape, understanding these shifts is critical to addressing both immediate and long-term water challenges.
The webinar will examine how changes in water policy and supply affect local reliability, service delivery, ratepayers, economic development, and community resilience. Participants will explore how decisions in one region can create ripple effects across the state and what these shifts mean for cities, counties, schools, water districts, and the residents they serve.
REGISTER FOR WEBINAR HERE

Pathways to Impact: Growth and Opportunity in the Green Space (Santa Ana)
2026-09-03 17:00 - 20:00 | La Colmena, 1901 West Walnut Street, Santa Ana, CA, 92703, United States
Connect Emerging Professionals with sustainability leaders for career insights, networking, and a lively mixer with food, drinks, and Q&A.
Join the USGBC-CA Orange County Regional Leadership Advisory Board and the Emerging Professionals Committee for an evening of networking, professional development, and meaningful conversation with leaders shaping the future of green building and sustainability in Orange County.
The evening will begin with a moderated panel featuring local industry professionals who will share insights on career growth, emerging trends, and opportunities in the built environment. Following the discussion, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in an open Q&A, connect with panelists and peers, and continue the conversation over appetizers and drinks.
Whether you’re an emerging professional, student, or experienced practitioner looking to expand your network, this event offers a welcoming space to build relationships, gain career insights, and engage with Orange County’s sustainability community.
REGISTER HERE
This event is sponsored by U.S. Green Building Council | USGBC

Wildfire Defense Certificate for Construction Professionals
2026-09-10 15:00 - 17:30 | Online
Get certified in Wildfire Defense Practices to protect your home and community today and earn GBCI/AIA CEUs!
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. This training intends to prime the pathway for the private market to drive the adoption of fire-wise best practices and create cultural change within the building industry.
This educational program is built directly upon the foundation of our USGBC-CA Wildfire Defense Toolkit, the core resource designed to help professionals implement these strategies in the field. To support your learning, the training highlights industry-leading insights from a diverse advisory group of fire prevention, building, and landscape design experts, such as CalFire, FEMA, and the NFPA.
REGISTER HERE

UCLA Stunt Ranch Reserve California Biodiversity Day Bioblitz
2026-09-12 09:30 - 13:00 | UCLA Stunt Ranch Santa Monica Mountains Reserve, 1201 Stunt Rd, Calabasas, CA, 91302, United States
Celebrate California Biodiversity Day at UCLA Stunt Ranch Reserve by participating in their annual bioblitz! On Saturday, September 12th, visit Stunt Ranch for a fun-filled morning of group hiking to explore the reserve to document the diverse plants and animals along its trails. This event is open to all ages and the public is welcome! Please RSVP to claim your spot.
*This free event is open to all ages and all participants will be required to sign a liability waiver before entering the reserve. Participants under 18 years old will need to have parent or guardian sign this wavier.*
LEARN MORE AND RSVP FOR BIOBLITZ HERE

UCLA Luskin Lecture: Keeping Climate in the Conversation
2026-09-28 17:00 - 18:30 | UCLA Luskin Conference Center, 425 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
This UCLA Luskin Lecture, presented with the Luskin Center for Innovation, welcomes renowned atmospheric scientist Katharine Hayhoe.
World-renowned as both an atmospheric scientist and communicator, Katharine Hayhoe will share insights about incorporating climate change into public decisions and private conversations during a time when climate action in California and beyond is at a crossroads.
Registration is free but required for all guests.
REGISTER FOR LUSKIN LECTURE HERE

The 2026 La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science Public Lecture
2026-10-18 15:00 - 17:30 | Boyer Hall (Room 159), 611 Charles E Young Dr., Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Join for a public discussion of recent advances in ocean conservation and a chance to interact with current UCLA conservation researchers at the 15th Annual La Kretz Center Public Lecture. The Center is honored to have two Bruin alums, the father/son team Zack and Mark Gold, speak about their work monitoring and protecting California marine ecosystems.
REGISTER FOR LECTURE HERE
California’s coastal waters are some of the most biodiverse, productive, and valuable on earth. However, they face tremendous stress from a changing climate, habitat loss, pollution, disease, and historical overharvesting. UCLA alumnus Mark Gold has been working across governmental and non-governmental agencies for three decades to protect our marine resources. More recently, Bruin Zack Gold has developed and implemented advanced, cutting-edge environmental DNA (eDNA) tools to monitor conservation actions and inform management.
Please join us for an update and discussion on how eDNA is being used in marine conservation in California–finding the last remaining sunflower sea stars in Northern California, providing cost-effective, early warning indicators of invasive “killer algae”, and unlocking hidden patterns of climate’s impact on our oceans. The Golds will also discuss the current state of California Ocean Health, marine conservation challenges, and solutions for better protecting marine biodiversity off our coast. Afterwards, stay for refreshments and informal discussions with the speakers, current La Kretz Center postdoctoral scientists, and UCLA student researchers to see the work we’re supporting to promote conservation science across California.
Speakers:

Dr. Zack Gold – Lead Molecular Ecologist w/ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory.
Dr. Mark Gold – Director of California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations.

This free event is open to all ages and is sponsored by the UCLA Institute of the Environment & Sustainability.
The La Kretz Center for California Conservation is managed by UCLA and connects a diverse network of UCLA faculty, postdoctoral scientists, and students with a variety of conservation groups who work to protect and restore California’s biodiversity. Visit the Center website to learn more about it and affiliated groups.
Please direct any questions related to the Public Lecture to lakretz@ioes.ucla.edu.
