UCI Community & Government Relations

A new study funded by a NASA grant awarded to the UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health has found that public parks in underserved areas of Los Angeles can reach dangerously high temperatures, in some cases hot enough to cause pain or burns, because of the materials used to build them.

UC Irvine researchers mapped urban heat from space and uncovered a stark disparity across Los Angeles parks: more than a third of parks in South LA reached or exceeded the human thermal pain threshold, while none in West LA did.

The difference was that South LA parks contained far more heat-retaining materials like artificial turf and concrete, while West LA parks were more likely to feature natural turf and vegetation.

Now, researchers have partnered with Communities for a Better Environment and the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust to develop community-led, nature-based solutions and infrastructure improvements to help address unequal urban heat exposure.

University of California, Irvine

Image Description: Senior author Jason A. Douglas conducts fieldwork measuring the surface temperature of park equipment

UC Irvine was glad to attend the South Orange County Economic Coalition’s “State of the Fifth District” luncheon.

OC Sheriff Don Barnes and OC Supervisor Katrina Foley shared progress reports on Olympics preparations and public safety initiatives that included e-bike safety efforts, a countywide nitrous oxide ban, and more.

It was a valuable opportunity to connect with regional leaders and discuss the issues shaping Orange County’s future including public safety and economic development, as well as education and community partnerships. The event reflects the importance of collaboration between higher education, local government, and community organizations in driving innovation and strengthening our region. Thank you to SOCEC for hosting this meaningful event.

University of California, Irvine

Image Descriptions:

Photo 1: Community and business leaders gather for a group photo.

Photo 2: Katrina Foley and Sheriff Don Barnes addressing attendees on stage.

Photo 3: OC Sheriff Don Barnes addresses attendees, sharing updates on public safety and county initiatives.

Photo 4: Program booklet for the South Orange County Economic Coalition’s State of the Fifth District Luncheon.

A new study led by UC Irvine researchers has found that using digital devices to calm or distract very young children was linked to increased behavior problems over time.

The team, comprising scholars from six universities including lead author Stephanie M. Reich, University of California, Irvine professor of education, followed 210 families from when children were 9 to 30 months old in the study.

For mothers, higher parenting stress was linked to more frequent use of devices to calm or distract young children. That increased use was associated with more behavior problems in toddlerhood.

Much of the public conversation around children and media focuses on total screen time. This study points to something different: how and why devices are used.

Read more at this Link:
https://news.uci.edu/2026/04/23/parental-reliance-on-digital-devices-to-calm-youngsters-is-linked-to-behavior-problems/



Image Description: Two children sit closely together, looking at a tablet.

University of California, Irvine was delighted to be a part of OC Forum’s recent conversation on higher education and the thought-provoking conversation on the value of a college degree.

The conversation with university leaders and an industry expert examined how higher education and workforce needs are shaping our region’s economy, workforce, and health. The panelists agreed that colleges are critical not only for students, professors, and administrators, but for the world.

The program was moderated by Sherry Main, Vice Chancellor of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs at UC Irvine, and featured UC Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman as a speaker.

Image Descriptions:
Photo 1: Photo of (from left) Moderator Sherry Main and panelists Jeffrey Ball, Michael A. Thomas, Ronald S. Rochon, and Howard Gillman.



Photo 2: Panelists and Moderator sit in chairs, Howard Gillman speaks out to the crowd.

Photo 3: Three attendees smile at the camera.

The Future of Private Business at The UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business brought together leading voices from industry and education for an engaging conversation on the evolving future of privately held and family-owned enterprises in today’s rapidly changing business environment.

As a signature program within the School’s Future Series, the event created space for meaningful dialogue around leadership, innovation, growth, and long-term impact, while also strengthening connections across the broader business community.

The event reflected Merage’s continued commitment to convening leaders, advancing conversations, and building partnerships that shape the future of business.

University of California, Irvine

Image Descriptions:
Photo 1: Dean Ian Williamson speaking into the microphone standing in front of the monitor reading “Future of Private Business.

Photo 2: Five-person panel at the front of the room being interviewed by Dean Ian Williamson, with the monitor introducing panel.

Photo 3: Panel at the front with monitor reading “How Merage Supports Private Businesses”

University of California, Irvine neurobiologists have found a critical link between obstructive sleep apnea during the rapid-eye-movement stage of sleep and early signs of brain changes associated with cognitive decline. Their study suggests that low oxygen levels during REM sleep may contribute to injury in brain regions vital to memory, even in older adults without cognitive impairment.

Researchers included Bryce A. Mander, associate professor of psychiatry and human behavior at UC Irvine; Michael Yassa, UC Irvine professor of neurobiology and behavior and director of the campus’s Center for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memory; and Destiny Berisha a doctoral researcher in neurobiology and behavior at UC Irvine.

The study took 37 people with an average age of 73 who participated in overnight sleep studies.The researchers discovered that lower oxygen levels during REM sleep – not just the number of breathing interruptions – were most strongly linked to increased white matter hyperintensities, especially in the frontal and parietal lobes. These brain regions are highly active during REM sleep and especially vulnerable to low oxygen.

The research raises questions about how obstructive sleep apnea is typically diagnosed and treated and the researchers believe their findings could help explain how untreated sleep apnea may raise Alzheimer’s risk over time.

Read more at this link: https://news.uci.edu/2025/05/07/study-links-rem-sleep-apnea-to-brain-changes-memory-loss-in-older-adults/

UC Irvine School of Medicine Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

Image Description: (from left) Destiny Berisha, Bryce Mander, and Michael Yassa in front of a sign for the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

Thank you to our University of California, Irvine students, faculty, staff and leadership, who came together to reinforce the work the UC system does to launch research, and help solve community problems, while creating pathways for success for our students.

We enjoyed the opportunity to meet with our Sacramento delegation, including Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris, Senator Steven Choi, Assemblymember Diane Dixon, Senator Bob Archuleta, Assemblywoman Laurie Davies, Assemblyman Phillip Chen, and Assemblymember Avelino Valencia as well as staff for Senator Catherine Blakespear, Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva, Senator Tony Strickland, Assemblyman Tri Ta, Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez, and Senator Tom Umberg.

It was a productive UC Irvine advocacy day with many meaningful conversations on the importance of investing in public higher education and research.



Image Descriptions:
Photo 1: UC Irvine representatives with Assemblymember Corrie Petrie-Norris.

Photo 2: UC Irvine representatives with Senator Steven Choi.

Photo 3: UC Irvine representatives with Assemblymember Diane Dixon.

Photo 4: UC Irvine representatives with Senator Bob Archuleta.

Photo 5: UC Irvine representatives with Assemblymember Laurie Davies.

Photo 6: UC Irvine representatives with Assemblymember Phillip Chen.

Photo 7: UC Irvine representatives with Assemblymember Avelino Valencia.

Photo 8: Collage of four photos of UC Irvine Representatives with nameplate of the office of Senator Catherine Blakespear, nameplate of the office of Assemblymember Tri Ta, nameplate of the office of Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva, and staff of the office of Assemblymember Kate Sanchez.

UC Irvine Climate Collaboration researchers are studying the economic and environmental factors in transporting sediment by rail to Southern California beaches. UC Irvine faculty and students recently participated in a workshop organized by OC Supervisor Katrina Foley, which also included officials from several Orange County water and transportation agencies.

In attendance were also representatives from the offices of Representative Mike Levin, State Senator Catherine Blakespear, State Senator Tony Strickland, and Assemblywoman Laurie Davies.

The main focus of the workshop was managing sediment more effectively, and the follow-on study by students under Sanders’ mentorship in the UC Irvine Climate Collaboration will also target this matter.

University of California, Irvine The Henry Samueli School of Engineering at UC Irvine

The City of Irvine brought the community together for its third annual car-free open streets event, CicloIrvine, where residents strolled, biked, and rolled along a 1.3-mile car-free stretch of Irvine Boulevard between Culver Drive and Parkwood, celebrating community, connection, and clean air.

CicloIrvine highlights the city of Irvine’s City of Irvine City Hall’s commitment to community engagement, sustainability, and environmentally conscious means of travel. UC Irvine is delighted to partner with the city on this exciting day and enjoyed seeing hundreds of people flood the streets on bikes, skates, and scooters.

The event was also attended by Vice Mayor James Mai, Councilmember Kathleen Treseder, Councilmember Betty Martinez Franco, Irvine Councilmember William Go, Councilmember Melinda Liu, staff of Councilmember Mike Carroll, and staff of Irvine Mayor Larry Agran

Photos 1-6 by Steve Zylius

University of California, Irvine, UCI Health

Image Descriptions:

Photo 1: Crowd gathered in front of CicloIrvine main stage with banner that reads “CicloIrvine; An Open Streets Event”.

Photo 2: Councilmember Betty Martinez Franco, Councilmember Kathleen Treseder, Two UC Irvine and UCI Health representatives holding awards, Vice Mayor James Mai, and Councilmember William Go on stage, smiling at the camera.

Photo 3: Families with bikes, scooters, and roller skates gathered around UC Irvine game booth with yellow and blue UC Irvine anteater inflatable

Photo 4: A smiling student holds a small blue and yellow UC Irvine anteater figurine in front of UC Irvine backdrop.

Photo 5: People smiling and posing with Peter the Anteater mascot at CicloIrvine with inflatable UC Irvine decorations in the background

Photo 6: Five UC Irvine representatives posing and smiling at UC Irvine booth with 60th anniversary signage

Photo 7: Three UC Irvine representatives holding up anteater hand sign in front of a CicloIrvine banner that features UC Irvine and UCI Health as zone sponsors

University of California, Irvine was pleased to collaborate with the South Orange County Economic Coalition (SOCEC) in bringing together an insightful event on AI in the Workforce. The conversation explored the future of work in changing times and how to use artificial intelligence impactfully.

Heading the discussion and moderating the panel was Ian Williamson, Dean of UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business. Joining the panel was Vibs Abhishek, Associate Professor of Information Systems here at UC Irvine, and UC Irvine alumnus David Fanous, Southern California Edison Principal Manager.

Thank you to all who attended including staff of Senator Catherine Blakespear, staff of Vice Mayor James Mai, Mission Viejo Councilmember Trish Kelley (Trish Kelley Mission Viejo), and Laguna Woods Councilmember Carol Moore.

Image Description:
Photo 1: Event panelists Ian Williamson, Vibs Abhishek, David Fanous, and Gisele Hasman sitting on chairs answering questions.

Photo 2: Dean Ian Williamson at the front of the room with a monitor that reads “UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business” and “AI in the Workforce”

Photo 3: Professor Vibs Abhishek at the front with a monitor that reads “Who captures the value?”

Photo 4: Panelist David Fanous at the front with a monitor that introduces himself as a speaker

Photo 5: Monitor presents “AI in the Workforce” at the front of the conference room while attendees sit at tables listening and taking notes.

Photo 6: Group of attendees sitting and listening to conversation.

Photo 7: Table covered with blue UC Irvine tablecloth set up with neatly arranged brochures, booklets, pens, and anteater stress toys.