UCI Community & Government Relations

Thank you to the Greater Irvine Chamber for bringing together leaders from across business, education, and government at Celebrate Irvine last week.

The event highlighted Irvine's continued leadership as a center of innovation and provided valuable insights into the economic trends shaping the months ahead. UC Irvine is proud to play a role in advancing research, workforce development, and partnerships that help our region adapt, grow, and thrive.

We were especially proud to see Dr. Ian Williamson, Dean of the UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business, contribute to the conversation as a panelist, sharing insights on leadership, talent development, and the evolving economic landscape.

Congratulations to the businesses and community leaders recognized for their contributions to Irvine's innovation, economy, and quality of life. We look forward to continuing our work together to strengthen our community and create opportunities for the future.

Also in attendance was Supervisor Don Wagner, Councilmember Melinda Liu, Irvine Councilmember William Go, Councilmember Betty Martinez Franco, Irvine Vice Mayor James Mai, Mayor Larry Agran, and Assistant City Manager Pete Carmichael.

University of California, Irvine

Image Descriptions:
Slide 1: Speaker on stage with backdrop that reads “Celebrate Irvine & Mid-Year Economic Calibration”

Slide 2: Panelists sit on stage and speak to crowd

Slide 3: Group of six people smile at the camera including Vice Mayor James Mai and Councilmember Betty Martinez Franco

Slide 4: Group of four people smile at camera including Councilmember Melinda Liu

Slide 5: Councilmembers Melinda Liu and William Go smile at camera with Supervisor Don Wagner

Graduate students from the The Henry Samueli School of Engineering at UC Irvine presented adaptation alternatives for San Clemente’s coastal wastewater system to San Clemente Mayor Rick Loeffler and other city officials at the city’s Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens. A wastewater pipeline running along the coast could be impacted by cliff failures and coastal erosion in future decades, especially as sea level rises and the shoreline retreats.

The students presented three possibilities for the future routing of wastewater that sparked rich discussion on resilience challenges

Read more at this link: https://engineering.uci.edu/news/2026/6/uc-irvine-students-present-wastewater-adaptation-plans-san-clemente-mayor

University of California, Irvine

Image Description: UC Irvine graduate student Manulya Gunasekera presents her proposal to San Clemente city officials at Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Garden.

UC Irvine was honored to attend the Chai Celebration hosted by the Merage JCC.

The event brought together community leaders and partners to celebrate the remarkable contributions of Howard Gillman, Chancellor of the University of California, Irvine, and Tamy Cohen, whose leadership has strengthened and enriched the Jewish community throughout Orange County.

Thank you to the Merage JCC for hosting an evening of meaningful connection, recognition, and community celebration. We are grateful for the opportunity to join in honoring these outstanding leaders and to continue fostering strong partnerships across our region.



Image Descriptions:
Slide 1: Chancellor Howard Gillman and Congressman Dave Min with certificate

Slide 2: Chancellor Howard Gillman speaking on stage with screen that reads “Chai Celebration 2026)

Slide 3: Vice Mayor James Mai presents certificate to Chancellor Howard Gillman

A year after launching an ambitious research effort to support dementia patients and caregivers, University of California, Irvine nursing researchers have moved into real-world care settings, collecting data directly from patients and using AI-driven technology to better understand agitation, sleep disruption and fall risk.

The interdisciplinary project – led by Adey Nyamathi, a Distinguished Professor in the UC Irvine Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, and supported by Amir Rahmani, professor of nursing and computer science, and the Susan and Henry Samueli Endowed Chair in Integrative Health – recently completed its initial pilot grant phase and is now preparing to submit a larger National Institutes of Health proposal to expand the work.

Read more about the study at this link: https://news.uci.edu/2026/05/15/a-new-approach-to-dementia-care/



Image Description:
Researcher adjusts AI-powered sensors, cameras and uses sleep-monitoring technology to study agitation, sleep disruption and fall risk in dementia patients living in residential care facilities.

Photo by Debra Curran

It was a pleasure to connect with the California Coastal Commission and Executive Director Kate Huckelbridge to highlight the exciting work underway with the Healthy Coasts Project being launched in Orange County.

Led by Brett Sanders, Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, and Urban Planning and Public Policy at UC Irvine and Director of the UCI Climate Collaboration, the project brings together partners from local, state, and federal agencies, public utilities, and community organizations to explore innovative ways to deliver sediment to California’s coast.

By using existing flood infrastructure, the Healthy Coasts Project aims to strengthen coastal resilience while also improving water quality, enhancing habitats, creating a more resilient water supply, and expanding parks and green spaces.

We’re proud to support collaborative, research-driven solutions that help build a more sustainable future for California.

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

Image Descriptions:
Photo 1: Coastal Commission Executive and collaborators pose after a Healthy Coasts project meeting.

Photo 2: Presentation of the Healthy Coasts project to staff and attendees.

Photo 3: Attendees listen to a Healthy Coasts project presentation.

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”