UCLA Sustainability

Open House: Towards a Carbon-Free Future from Ocean to Atmosphere
2024-07-17 10:00 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, 2451 Signal St, Los Angeles, CA, 90731, United States
Join for an exciting Open House at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles. AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles is a leader in the Blue Economy that strives towards sustainable and responsible use of ocean resources to promote economic growth, improve livelihoods, and ensure the health of ocean ecosystems to address environmental and social challenges within our communities.
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Featured Speakers:
Erika La Plante – an Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California, Davis.
Éowyn Lucas – a Sr. Membrane and Electrodialysis Engineer at Captura
Will be presenting on TRACER: Electrochemical Removal of Carbon Dioxide from Oceanwater: Field Validation
The TRACER team plans to develop a transformative electrolytic carbon dioxide removal approach that employs the ocean-air equilibrium of CO2 and the enormous abundance of alkaline cations in seawater. These attributes are leveraged during a continuous process to permanently lock CO2 within stable carbonates and hydroxides, and/or as aqueous bicarbonates/carbonates. The team’s proposed strategy will have the potential for implementation at a global scale and will be capable of much higher rates of carbon mineralization and CO2 removal than existing negative emissions technologies. The approach can be performed cost-effectively and is not dependent on the creation of supportive policy and de-risking because it ensures permanence of CO2 storage.

Heat Relief 4 LA Community Campaign Launch 2024
2024-07-16 14:00 - 15:00 | Online
The City of LA’s Chief Heat Officer, Marta Segura, on behalf of the Climate Emergency Mobilization Office (CEMO) and the Board of Public Works, invites you to join the virtual launch of the 2024 Heat Relief 4 LA Community Campaign!
The panelists will be partners from non-profit organizations and the City, who together will discuss the importance of culturally-relevant and multilingual campaigns through trusted partner networks, community health educators, especially in target community languages, to reduce the risks of extreme heat in low-income areas that lack air conditioning, and awareness about how heat waves are longer in duration and more frequent.
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Plastics Redesign for Biorenewable Circularity
2024-07-15 10:00 - 11:00 | HYBRID: UCLA California NanoSystems Institute auditorium, 570 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Everyone is welcome to attend this Keynote address, given by Dr. Brett Helms, Senior Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The BioPACIFIC MIP Summer School offers a week-long opportunity to learn about scalable production of bio-derived building blocks and polymers.
One of the goals of a circular economy is to design-out waste by re-orienting industry around materials that can be reused and recycled. For polymers used in plastics, elastomers, and thermosets, those in use today were never designed to be recycled. As a result, they have accumulated in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems throughout the world in such alarming quantities that a global plastics treaty is under development, regulating future plastics use. If circularity is to be realized, new polymer chemistries are needed for deconstructing both simple and complex products, such that monomers, additives, fillers, and other materials may be reused without loss in performance or aesthetics. I will describe our efforts to address these challenges using polydiketoenamine resins (PDK), which undergo reversible polymerization using atom- and energy-efficient processes. I will describe how the building blocks of PDK resins can be produced from renewable feedstocks using biosynthesis using engineered proteins and microorganisms. These biorenewable PDK resins lay the groundwork for how to commodify polymers as highly valuable, renewable resources for a circular economy.
Brett A. Helms is a San Francisco-Bay Area native. He received his B.S. from Harvey Mudd College in 2000 and his Ph.D. in 2006 at the University of California, Berkeley with Jean M. J. Fréchet in designing branched polymer architectures for catalysis. His postdoctoral research was conducted at the Technische Universiteit Eindhoven with E. W. (Bert) Meijer where his focus was on supramolecular chemistry. In 2007, he began his independent career at Berkeley Lab and has since risen to the rank of Senior Scientist. His research program there is devoted to materials discovery and development to solve outstanding challenges in energy and sustainability. He is the co-founder of two deep-tech Bay Area Start-Ups: Sepion Technologies and Cyklos Materials.

Advanced Nuclear Energy – Electricity and Beyond
2024-07-11 11:00 - 12:00 | Online
Are you looking to learn more about recent developments in nuclear reactor design, demonstration, and legislation? The advanced reactors being designed and demonstrated today will be capable of doing more than just producing electricity. Hear how nuclear energy, when integrated with other generating sources, can be an enabling technology for local economic development. In this webinar, the panel will discuss new technologies and the status of demonstrations, future energy systems that include the integration of multiple generating sources, and the role of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and national laboratories in bringing these technologies to market.
Immediately following the webinar, you are invited to an optional informal networking session with the panelists, providing a chance for more Q&A, interaction, and career-path-based questions and advice. When registering for the webinar, please indicate if you are interested in the networking session to receive the separate networking session Zoom link.
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Themes in World History: Environmental Transformations & Their Impact K-12 Teacher Professional Development Workshop
2024-07-01 09:00 - 2024-07-02 12:00 | Online
This free two-day virtual K-12 teacher professional development workshop will focus on environmental issues in China and Central America to align with themes of “Environmental Transformations” in world history curriculum under the CA History Social Science (HSS) Framework. This PD workshop aims to provide area studies content and pedagogy training to K-12 teachers in California to help with the classroom instruction of these themes. The workshop will give educators an opportunity to hear lectures from scholars to gain more historical knowledge, work with model lessons developed by teacher leaders, and receive training for designing lessons to align with the HSS Framework.
Eligibility & Requirements:

No cost and open to all K-12 teachers.
Online registration required.

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Ciclovía at 50: Changing Street Cultures Across the World
2024-06-26 09:00 - 11:30 | Online
A Mini-Symposium from UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies
December 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the ciclovía in Bogotá, Colombia, the original “open streets” event. Ciclovías close streets to cars and open them to people-powered mobility, creating what co-founder Jaime Ortíz Mariño calls the “world’s largest outdoor classroom.” The ciclovía covers over 75 miles every Sunday in Bogotá, and has spread to over 450 cities around the world. In this online event, we will hear from organizers in different cities about what the model has meant for their street cultures. Scholars will share their research on the event and its participants. Experts from the fields of public health and transportation will talk about the challenges and opportunities in funding non-infrastructure programming like this. Explore what cities around the globe have learned from the model, its role as a catalyst in changing street cultures in particular cities, and how ciclovías can help shift people to sustainable transportation.
Part 1: Telling the Story (75 minutes)
In the first half of the mini-symposium, we’ll focus on telling the story. A moderated discussion with ciclovía creators will reflect on the goals of open streets models and how ciclovías have changed transportation culture in specific cities. Following this, there will be mini lectures from scholars who have studied ciclovías and similar events in different national contexts.
Part 2: Learning Together (75 minutes)
The second half of the mini-symposium will consist of a workshop where participants will choose breakout rooms and join a facilitated discussion.
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Flowing Toward the Future: Water’s Role in Decarbonizing Southern California’s Electrical Grid
2024-06-25 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Are you passionate about sustainability and the future of our water resources? Do you want to learn how water management intersects with the decarbonization of Southern California’s electrical grid? If so, join an enlightening webinar hosted by the Southern California Water Coalition (SCWC).
About the Webinar:
In this session, we will delve into the critical role that water management plays in supporting and advancing the decarbonization of our electrical grid. As the urgency to address climate change grows, understanding the intersection of water and energy becomes increasingly vital. This webinar will provide insights into innovative strategies and technologies that leverage water resources to create a more sustainable and resilient energy infrastructure.
Meet Our Esteemed Speakers:
Liz Crosson – Sustainability, Resiliency, and Innovation Officer at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Liz brings a wealth of experience in sustainability initiatives and will share her vision on how water agencies can contribute to a greener future.
Don Bunts – Deputy General Manager at the Santa Margarita Water District. Don’s extensive background in water management will provide a practical perspective on the challenges and opportunities in integrating water and energy solutions.
Shea Hughes – Vice President of Business Development at Scale Microgrids. Shea will discuss the latest advancements in microgrid technology and how they can be harnessed to decarbonize the electrical grid through effective water management.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be at the forefront of water and energy innovation. Register today to secure your spot for the SCWC June 2024 Webinar.
REGISTER HERE

Making LA Sustainable: housing strategies that fight climate change
2024-06-22 10:00 - 12:00 | Lehrer Architects, 2140 Hyperion Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90027, United States
Abundant Housing LA, Urban Environmentalists, Livable Communities Initiative, Los Angeles Climate Reality Project, and Sunrise Movement LA bring you a panel of experts discussing how climate-conscious urban planning and infill housing can combat climate change while promoting equity.
Be part of this critical conversation and help shape a just and equitable future for all Angelenos. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with leaders in the field and make a difference. The event is open to all!

Habitat Restoration Day
2024-06-22 08:00 - 11:00 | 6100 Woodley Ave, 6100 Woodley Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 91406, United States
Join Friends of the LA River, California Native Plant Society, and San Fernando Valley Audubon for a morning of invasive plant removal and bird walks in the Sepulveda Basin!
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Birding with Pride! - Guided Bird Walk
2024-06-15 08:00 - 10:00 | Del Rey Lagoon, 6520 Pacific Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90293, United States
Friends of Ballona Wetlands invites 2SLGBTQ+ communities to join a birding nature walk in honor of Pride Month. The Ballona Wetlands is the second largest open space and the last coastal wetlands in Los Angeles. Outdoor spaces, like Ballona, should be a space where people of any identity feel safe and welcomed. Meet us in parking lot on the west side of the Del Rey Lagoon.
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Registration: Registration is required. You must also sign the digital waiver.
Ages: Activities are recommended for ages 7 and up. Youths 15 and under should be accompanied by an adult.
What to wear: Close-toed shoes are required! We recommend dressing in weather-appropriate layers, along with a hat. Long pants are also recommended to protect against occasional prickly plants.
What to bring: Bring a full water bottle to stay hydrated. There are no water fountains on site. Also, sunscreen, bug spray, and a snack if needed.
Arrive on time: The ecological reserve gates are LOCKED during all Saltwater Marsh events and late arrivals will find themselves locked out.

TransportationCamp LA 2024
2024-06-08 09:30 - 17:00 | Luskin School of Public Affairs, room 2355, UCLA
TransportationCamp LA is an open venue for sharing and learning about the region’s transportation issues and successes. TransportationCamp LA aims to be an open, forward-thinking event that brings together people of all facets of the transportation world.
TransportationCamp is not a formal conference — rather, as an unconference, it is driven entirely by attendees’ interests and experiences. At TransportationCamp, there is no set agenda prior to the event. Sessions are determined at the beginning of the day and are drawn from proposals and ideas that attendees submit. A session can be any format: a presentation, an open discussion, a demonstration, a panel, or even a group exercise or game.
TransportationCamp covers urban transportation issues in all their forms, including economic, social, public health, and environmental impacts. Session topics in the 2019 TransportationCamp LA ranged from “Congestion Pricing & Increasing Transit Ridership,” to “Mobility with Kids Under 5,” to “Latest Buzz from Cycle-friendly Cities” and change every year to reflect the latest research and questions of the moment.
Have thoughts on mobility and access for carless households in LA, or battery replacement and disposal strategies for transit agencies? Get your own session started here just with an oversized Post-It note.
This event is open to advocates, professionals, community members, and everyone passionate about mobility in Los Angeles and Southern California.
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First Fridays at the LA Natural History Museum: How We Multiply
2024-06-07 17:00 - 22:00 | Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90007, United States
Featuring Live Music from Wallice and Niia, DJ set from Gingee, Discussion with Dr. Aradhna Tripati of UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability hosted by Dr. Yewande Pearse, Sensory Lounge featuring LAVA (Los Angeles Video Artist), Femme House, ChocoVivo, Herbalaria, and more!
If you are interested in learning more about 2024 First Fridays series, click First Fridays 2024: From Feelings to Pheromones.
Featured Discussion.
DISCUSSION | LEVEL 2, NORTH AMERICAN MAMMAL HALL | 6:30–7:30 PM
The Population Problem and Possible Solutions: The Earth’s human population has reached 8 billion. What does that mean for this planet? Is it catastrophe or more possibilities for solutions? Examine the connections and misunderstandings regarding population and climate change. How can we address data in terms of societal impact, policies, and equitable solutions?
*Seating is limited. Please arrive early.
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North Central - 2024 LASAN Open House
2024-06-01 10:00 - 14:00 | LASAN North Central District Yard, 452 North San Fernando Road, Los Angeles, CA, 90031, United States
LA Sanitation & Environment (LASAN) holds six free Open Houses events each year, opening our district yards to the public. The Open House program showcases LASAN’s residential curbside collection programs with an emphasis on proper recycling practices and bulky item collection while strengthening partnerships with City residents.
Each Open House will feature trash trucks and equipment demonstrations in addition to facility tours, information booths, recycling games, and a free lunch. All children receive a special hat at registration and have the opportunity to operate the controls on the trucks. Parents go home with vegetable plants. Our 360 degree video booth is free for all to enjoy!
There is no charge for admission and all ages are welcome, but pets are requested to be left at home for safety. Free food, beverages, and giveaways are available while supplies last.
Learn more at www.lacitysan.org/openhouse or call our 24-hour Customer Care Center at 1-800-773-2489.
This is a Zero Waste event! Please consider bringing your own reusable water bottle, utensils, etc. We’ll have composting and recycling bins out to capture waste. Our staff will be ready to assist you if you’re unsure what goes in each bin.
* Registration is strongly recommended but not required.
REGISTER HERE

Guided UCLA Botanical Garden Tour
2024-06-01 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 free tour. Explore 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.

Challenges to mitigating climate change drivers and associated risks of surpassing lower emission targets
2024-05-31 11:30 - 12:30 | Online
IDRE is proud to present an upcoming talk by IDRE Fellow Dr. Robert Fofrich. He will discuss the challenges associated with attaining lower climate warming targets and the potential repercussions for global agriculture and human well-being if these targets are exceeded.
REGISTER FOR ZOOM HERE

Free Food from the Dining Halls
2024-05-30 22:00, 2024-05-29 22:00, 2024-05-22 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.
Follow @uclabruindine for updates.

Where Drawdown solutions and high-quality offsets meet
2024-05-30 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Refrigerant management is one of Project Drawdown’s top “emergency brake” climate solutions. Learn from Brown, Duke, and Second Nature partner Tradewater about the role refrigerant management has in mitigation and the high-quality offsets refrigeration destruction can create.
In this webinar, you’ll hear from Jessica Berry, the Assistant Vice President in the Office of Sustainability and Resiliency at Brown University, and Matthew Arsenault, the Assistant Director in the Office of Sustainability at Duke University, about climate action at their universities. Jess and Matt will talk through the role high-quality carbon offsets play in their university climate action plans, how they vetted and chose the offsets projects they bought, and how they are collaborating with Tradewater. Tradewater is a B-Corp and carbon project developer who has partnered with Second Nature to enable universities to take action, both on their own campuses and through the carbon market, to mitigate emissions from the world’s most potent non-CO2 greenhouse gases. Ray Rieling, Tradewater’s Partnerships Manager, will be on hand to present Tradewater’s refrigerant inventory, collection, and destruction services and how campuses can partner with Tradewater to develop their own supply of high-quality carbon offsets by destroying legacy refrigerants instead of letting them leak into the atmosphere. Participants will walk away with an understanding of the pivotal role of refrigerant management in mitigating climate change, hard-earned lessons from sustainability leaders in higher education, and renewed clarity on carbon offsets.
Speakers:
Jessica Berry, Assistant Vice President, Office of Sustainability & Resiliency, Brown University
Matthew Arsenault, Assistant Director, Office of Sustainability, Duke University
Meredith Leigh, Climate Programs Manager, Second Nature
Ray Rieling, Partnerships Manager, Tradewater
Eli Etzioni, Partnerships Manager, Tradewater
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**CANCELED** - Botany Brown Bag Public Lecture - "Amazing Hawaiian Plants in the UCLA Botanical Garden," with Dr. Tom Gillespie
2024-05-30 12:00 - 13:00 | UCLA Mildred E Mathias Botanical Garden, La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Dr, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
Unfortunately, Dr. Tom Gillespie is out sick and today’s Botany Brown Bag talk is CANCELED. We will miss you and we hope to see you soon at our upcoming events. Thank you for your understanding.
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Join a new Botany Brown Bag lunch and learn series!
This free public lecture series is continued by Dr. Tom Gillespie, who will give a talk entitled “Amazing Hawaiian Plants in the UCLA Botanical Garden” on May 30 at 12pm. Stop in on your lunch break and take home some exciting insights about the Hawaiian section of UCLA’s Botanical Garden.
This is a BYOL (bring your own lunch) event!
RSVP not required.

Sustainability Research Summit
2024-05-29 18:00 - 20:00 | Bruin Viewpoint Room, Ackerman Union at UCLA, 308 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90024, United States
The International Urban Sustainability Student Corps (IUSSC) is an interdisciplinary think tank at UCLA that participates in student-led sustainability research projects. IUSSC is hosting its second annual summit on UCLA’s campus open to anyone who would like to learn more about pressing sustainability issues and engage in greater discussions with peers. It will feature presentations from each of IUSSC’s research divisions, other sustainability organizations at UCLA, and other guest speakers.
REGISTER HERE
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out via email at iusscexec@gmail.com or via Instagram @ucla_iussc. Additionally, feel free to check out this linktree to learn more about IUSSC!

AltaSea's Grand Opening of Berth 58 Center for Innovation and Press Conference
2024-05-29 10:00 - 13:00 | AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, 2451 Signal St, Los Angeles, CA, 90731, United States
Join us at AltaSea’s Grand Opening of Berth 58!
AltaSea’s ocean research center will be celebrated this spring with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for part of a $30 million renovation of three historic waterfront warehouses. This section will be home to researchers from USC, UCLA and Caltech, as well as famed oceanographer and explorer Robert Ballard, credited with discovering the underwater wreckage of the Titanic.
REGISTER HERE

Environmental Education Program Leader Webinar: Risk Management and Compliance
2024-05-28 16:00 - 17:30 | Online
Join the California Environmental Literacy Initiative’s Community-Based Partner (CBP) Innovation Hub and Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education (AEOE) in an online webinar series for Program Leaders of organizations that work to advance environmental literacy. Learn valuable tips and strategies that will help your organization grow and thrive.
Risk Management and Compliance
What you need to know to protect your organization and staff as well as keep your program participants safe.
Part of the free webinar series:
Building a Strong and Resilient Organization
A Webinar Series for CBP Program Leaders – Spring 2024
REGISTER HERE
* Presentation will be recorded and shared with all registered participants.

*CANCELED*: Music in the Garden with Gabriela
2024-05-23 17:00 - 18:00 | UCLA Mildred E Mathias Botanical Garden, La Kretz Garden Pavilion, 707 Tiverton Dr, Los Angeles, CA, 90095
Gabriela Acosta’s senior capstone recital on 5/23 will be canceled. This decision was not made lightly, but rather upon reflection of the responsibility of her work. She had to prioritize student well-being right now (including herself and her collaborators). She will postpone her recital until it feels appropriate.

Ed Talks @CEILS: Learning Community Meetings, "Generative AI in 2024: Exploring Emerging Practices in Teaching and Learning"
2024-05-23 14:00 - 14:50 | Terasaki Life Sciences Rm 1100, 610 Charles E Young Dr S, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
It has been less than two years since the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, but rapid development of new AI tools has led to adoption by millions of users around the world, with full applications still unknown and untested. In this talk we will take a look at some of the emerging practices in higher education for teaching and learning that instructors can integrate into STEM courses here at UCLA and discuss potential future impacts as well as concerns related to AI.
About the presenter: Jess Gregg is a Senior Associate Director at the Center for Education and Innovation in the Sciences (CEILS). She collaborates with instructors and units across campus to develop and implement programs and initiatives that support student learning and reduce inequities in educational outcomes for the Life and Physical Sciences.
REGISTER HERE

UC ITS Webinar: Early Insights on How Mobility Wallet Programs Are Performing in Four California Cities
2024-05-22 10:00 - 11:00 | Online
Cities across California, such as Oakland, Stockton, Bakersfield, and Los Angeles, are experimenting with Universal Basic Mobility (UBM) initiatives that provide residents access to affordable transportation options regardless of where they live or their income level. While UBM initiatives can take many forms, one approach is the use of mobility wallets that provide residents with flexible spending to access transportation services (e.g., bikeshare, public transit, ridehail) or cover specific transportation costs (e.g., bike purchase and maintenance). This webinar will highlight mobility wallet initiatives in several cities across California, and share early insights on how these pilot programs are performing, including who is participating in these programs, how they are spending their transportation stipend, and how their travel is (or is not) changing.
REGISTER HERE

**CANCELLED** -- "Grand Theft Eco" Episode 1 Screening
2024-05-20 16:00 - 17:30 | Kaplan Hall 193, 415 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Given the uncertainty surrounding a possible UAW strike starting next week, we’ve made the decision to cancel the Monday, May 20 screening of Grand Theft Eco. Rest assured, we will hold an official launch event at a future date TBD for us to celebrate this vital project together.
We appreciate your understanding, and we will provide a new date when we have it.
Grand Theft Eco is a machinima series and pedagogical engine that repurposes the video game Grand Theft Auto to explore possible eco-futures of LA in the year 2050. Each episode offers an alternative to dominant dystopian narratives about climate change futures by developing nuanced storyworlds in which crucial environmental problems have been addressed, but issues of social inequality continue to trouble how the solutions are experienced.
This premiere screening shares the first episode of Grand Theft Eco, The iBear in the River, which focuses on a vibrant and revitalized LA River landscape that brings together two teenagers, Kerstin Connor and Yolanda Arellanos, in an adventurous chase to retrieve a lost electronic toy. As the girls explore the landscapes and neighborhoods along the river, they forge a temporary friendship that persistent inequalities ultimately drive apart.

Understanding the (Fake) Meat Debates: Examining Public Perceptions of Alternative Proteins
2024-05-20 13:00 - 14:00 | 2121 Murphy Hall, 410 Charles E Young Dr E, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
SUMMARY: The alternative protein landscape, comprised of both plant-based animal product alternatives and the emerging field of cellular agriculture (including cultivated meat), has become a flashpoint for contemporary food system debate. Drawing from a mix of interpretive and empirical methods – including stakeholder interviews, media analysis, public opinion surveys, and consumer focus groups – this presentation provides an overview of key points of contestation in the “fake meat” debates. Fundamentally, the research argues that consumer attitudes and behaviors toward alternative proteins cannot be reduced to traditional determinants of food choice alone – notably taste, price, and convenience. As relevant as those factors continue to be, public perceptions of alternative proteins are also influenced by a set of broader ideologies related to meat, animals, technology, and the industrial food system as a whole. Highlighting divergent perspectives between and among devoted carnivores, flexible omnivores, vegetarians, and vegans alike, the presentation reflects on the future of alternative protein in terms of its technological development, market activity, and public discourse.

*POSTPONED* - Bookish Biomes: Assembling Nature’s Histories at the Clark Library
2024-05-18 11:00 - 14:00 | William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, 2520 Cimarron Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90018, United States
Due to unforeseen circumstances, we regret to inform you that this event has been postponed. A new date will be listed here and shared with all registrants.
The event is free to attend and will be held in-person at the Clark Library. Registration will close on Wednesday, May 15 at 5:00 p.m. Walk-in registrants are welcome as space permits.
The Clark Library preserves and provides access to over 130,000 books, manuscripts, and artworks dating from the 15th century to the present. But there is a library of living things on the five acres of green space outside the library’s building, too. This event will bring together both our indoor and outdoor collections, as we explore nature’s histories – and its present!
Participants will learn about bees and beekeeping from the Bruin Beekeepers, go on bird walks with experienced guides from Los Angeles Birders, learn about how people in the past studied and collected the natural world through our library collections, and talk to representatives from other nature- and garden-minded local groups. Attendees will also be able to make their own field notebooks, participate in a Clark Library bioblitz to help expand our knowledge of the library’s outdoor collections, trade plant cuttings and seeds with other attendees, plant seeds to take home from our heirloom seed library – and more!
REGISTER HERE

**CANCELED** - Clarkia Festival
2024-05-18 10:00 - 16:00 | Botanical Garden, 707 Tiverton Dr
NOTE: This year’s Clarkia Festival, set to take place on May 18, 2024, is canceled.
If you were planning to attend the Clarkia Festival on May 18, we encourage you to visit the Gathering at Kuruvungna, the Clark Library’s Bookish Biomes event, and the Natural History Museum’s Bug Fair instead.
The UCLA Mathias Botanical Garden will have a wonderful Clarkia Festival next spring, and many other public programs throughout the year where you can celebrate nature in community. For now, we hope you can find peace and healing by visiting the Garden.
We look forward to seeing you at the Garden and at the 2025 Clarkia Festival.
