UCLA College of Letters and Science

More News about The College

Two College faculty receive <br>Presidential Early Career Awards

Two College faculty receive
Presidential Early Career Awards
Three exceptional UCLA scientists -- including two from the College of Letters and Science -- have been honored with Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers by President Barack Obama.

College scientists find H1N1 flu virus prevalent in African animals
Life scientists from the College and their colleagues have discovered the first evidence of the H1N1 virus in animals in Africa. In one village in northern Cameroon, a staggering 89 percent of the pigs studied had been exposed to the H1N1 virus, commonly known as the swine flu.

David Schaberg appointed <br>interim dean of humanities

David Schaberg appointed
interim dean of humanities
David Schaberg, chair of the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, has been appointed interim dean of the Division of Humanities. Schaberg assumes the post from Tim Stowell, who has served leadership roles in the Humanities for three decades and will return to the faculty in the Department of Linguistics.

Being small has its advantages,<br> if you are a leaf

Being small has its advantages,
if you are a leaf
The size of leaves can vary by a factor of 1,000, but until now, the reason why has remained a mystery. A new study by an international team led by UCLA life scientists goes a long way toward solving it.

Marcus Garvey movement owes large debt to Caribbean, historian finds
A new book by a historian in the College makes the case that Caribbean influence -- and not the politics and culture of the Harlem Renaissance -- was a major key to success for Marcus Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association, which advocated self-help and the unity for blacks in the early 20th century.

What is war good for? Sparking civilization, suggest UCLA archaeology findings
A new study produced by scholars in the College suggests that warfare between the fifth century B.C. and the first century A.D. likely shaped the development of the first settlement that would classify as a civilization in the Titicaca basin of southern Peru.

Dawn spacecraft, UCLA-led science team begin study of the asteroid Vesta
The Dawn spacecraft, with a science team directed by UCLA principal investigator Christopher Russell, has started its observations of the second-largest asteroid in our solar system with a stream of dazzling photographs.

The Past is Present
Chris Johanson from the Department of Classics takes his studies of ancient Rome into the electronic realm, using powerful digital technology to study historical phenomena.

Genesis mission reveals new views about formation of the sun and planets
The sun and the solar system's inner planets, including the Earth, may have formed differently than previously thought, according to UCLA scientists and colleagues analyzing samples from the NASA's Genesis mission.

Breaking the chain: 'Molecular cap' blocks processes that lead to Alzheimer's, HIV
A new advance by biochemists in the College has brought scientists one step closer to developing treatments that could delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease and prevent the sexual transmission of HIV.

College website features video and photos from 2011 Commencement ceremony
Visit the home page for the College's Commencement home page to see video of the full 2011 ceremony, plus highlight photos.

CityLab: "Feeling like Watson and Crick"
Through the College's CityLab Program, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, undergraduates bring students from low-performing high schools to UCLA, and in five hours make science both understandable and appealing.

Award-winning book, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks," chosen for the Common Book Program
The best-selling book about a poor black farmer and how the cells taken from her became some of the most important tools in medicine has been chosen for the university's 2011 Common Book Program, a reading experience that involves every new UCLA student in their first week on campus.

Grant from National Italian American Foundation to fund Da Ponte Library Series
The Da Ponte Library Collection at UCLA -- the first of its kind in North America -- has received a three-year grant from the NIAF that will help fund the Library's goal of preserving Italian American culture and heritage through translating and publishing works by Italian authors.

Three College students receive humanitarian awards for volunteer efforts
Jonathan Ditty, Gabriel Gomez, and Andrew Kaddis were honored with the 2011 Charles E. Young Humanitarian Award for their outstanding commitment to public service.

Three College professors elected to the National Academy of Sciences
Geochemist T. Mark Harrison, molecular biologist Steven Jacobsen, and astronomer Edward L. Wright have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest honors awarded to a scientist in the United States.

UCLA study identifies cell of origin for squamous cell cancer
Squamous cell cancers, which can occur in multiple organs in the body, can originate from hair follicle stem cells, according to biologist and senior study author William Lowry. The finding could result in new strategies to treat and potentially prevent the disease.

Two College scholars elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Biologist Jeffrey H. Miller and archaeologist Lothar Von Falkenhausen are among the 212 new fellows chosen nationally this year for distinguished contributions to their fields of study.

College alumna Kay Ryan wins Pulitzer Prize for poetry
Kay Ryan, who received her B.A. and M.A. in English at UCLA, won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for poetry for her book showcasing 45 years of work, "The Best of It: New and Selected Poems."

Two College scholars win 2011 Guggenheim Fellowships
Four UCLA professors -- including two from the College of Letters and Science -- are among 180 artists, scholars and scientists chosen from nearly 3,000 applicants to receive 2011 Guggenheim Fellowships on the basis of "prior achievement and exceptional promise."

Even in a crowd, you remain unique, UCLA life scientists report
It may seem paradoxical, but being part of a crowd is what makes you unique, according to UCLA life scientists Kimberly Pollard and Daniel Blumstein.

Opening of the Terasaki Life Sciences Building highlights innovations at UCLA
The new Terasaki Life Sciences Building, which opened last fall, is a new symbol of the dramatic changes transforming UCLA's Division of Life Sciences.

Funds redirected to maintain high quality of undergraduate education
With UCLA's largest freshman class projected for this fall, campus leaders have taken steps to ensure enough seats for first-year students in high-demand lower-division courses, including General Education courses, skill courses, and preparation classes for impacted majors.

Peace Corps director Aaron S. Williams will be the College's 2011 commencement speaker
Aaron S. Williams, director of the Peace Corps, will be the keynote speaker this June at the public service-themed commencement ceremony for the UCLA College of Letters and Science.

Effect of college on volunteering greatest among disadvantaged college graduates
UCLA sociologist Jennie Brand has found that a college education has a much greater impact on volunteering rates among individuals from underprivileged backgrounds than among those from more fortunate circumstances.

Chemical analysis confirms discovery of oldest wine-making equipment ever found
A UCLA-led team of scientists has confirmed the discovery of a wine production facility that dates back to 4100 bc, including grape seeds, withered grape vines, remains of pressed grapes, a rudimentary wine press, and even a cup and drinking bowl.

Making sense of our inner worlds
Shelley Taylor, winner of the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association, is a founder of three fields in psychology that explore the issues that profoundly affect mental and physical health.

College alumnus wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Richard Heck, who earned both his B.S. and Ph.D. in chemistry from UCLA, has won the 2010 Nobel Prize in chemistry, making him the sixth UCLA graduate to become a Nobel Laureate.

Universal magnetic fields discovered in deep space
Scientists from UCLA and Cal Tech have discovered evidence of "universal ubiquitous magnetic fields" that have permeated deep space between galaxies since the time of the Big Bang.

Acclaimed book on Hurricane Katrina highlights the UCLA Common Book Program
Each year, new Bruins participate in a shared learning experience by reading one common book to explore world issues and social justice. This year, new Bruins will be reading Zeitoun, the best-selling book by Dave Eggers.

Unveiling the complex, surprising history of Liberty Bell
UCLA Historian Gary Nash has unearthed a trove of new information about the Liberty Bell, and how the symbol of American patriotism narrowly missed the scrap heap.

Researchers develop magnetic molecular machines to deliver drugs to unhealthy cells
A team led by chemist Jeffrey Zink and scientists from UCLA's California NanoSystems Institute, partnered with Korea's Yonsei University have developed an innovative method that enables nanomachines to release drugs inside living cancer cells when activated remotely.

What went wrong with the economy?
An acclaimed new book by UCLA economist Roger Farmer explores the evolution of the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression, and proposes how similar crises can be avoided.

UCLA joins Southern California Marine Institute to revitalize marine research in Los Angeles
UCLA has entered a collaboration with the Southern California Marine Institute that will streamline marine research operations and expand research opportunities for UCLA students and faculty.

Spacecraft will enable scientists to study the environment around the moon and Earth
Two spacecraft are now beginning to study the moon's environment as part of NASA's ARTEMIS mission, whose principal investigator is Vassilis Angelopoulos, a UCLA professor of Earth and space sciences.

Amgen Foundation gives UCLA a $1-million grant for undergraduate science research
The four-year grant will continue the Amgen Scholars Program at UCLA, which provides hands-on laboratory experience to undergraduates.

Scientists at UCLA find cell of origin for human prostate cancer
A UCLA research team lead by senior author Owen Witte has identified a cell of origin for human prostate cancer, a discovery that could result in better diagnostic tools and the development of more effective targeted treatments for the disease.

UCLA book 'Black Los Angeles' chronicles city's African American history, issues
"Black Los Angeles: American Dreams and Racial Realities," delves into the long and rich history of African Americans in Los Angeles and presents a snapshot of contemporary issues affecting the community.

Paul Terasaki donates $50 million to the Division of Life Sciences
Paul Ichiro Terasaki - a UCLA alumnus and faculty member who developed the test that became the international standard method for tissue typing - has given $50 million to the Life Sciences in the UCLA College of Letters and Science.

Study finds new pattern in DNA methylation, with implications for cancer, stem cell lines
Researchers Matteo Pellegrini and Steve Jacobsen have uncovered a previously unknown pattern in DNA methylation. The finding could have implications for preventing some cancers and correcting defects in human stem cell lines.

Three professors from the College elected to National Academy of Sciences
Chemist Kendall Houk, sociologist Robert Mare, and anthropologist Charles “Chip” Stanish receive one of the highest honors awarded to a scientist in the United States.

Four College faculty named winners of Guggenheim Fellowships for 2010
The four scholars from the humanities and social sciences received their Guggenheim Fellowships for "achievement and exceptional promise for continued accomplishment."

Can math and science help solve crimes?
UCLA scientists are working with the Los Angeles Police Department to identify and analyze crime "hotspots."

Six UCLA faculty elected fellows in the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Six UCLA scholars have been selected as fellows in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), for their distinguished efforts to advance science.

Evolutionary biologist Victoria Sork named dean of life sciences
As a student, Victoria Sork conducted her high school honors project at UCLA. Now, she is the first woman to become dean of a UCLA science division, having taken the helm of UCLA's Division of Life Sciences on Sept. 1.

UCLA molecular biologist reports major insights into evolution of life
James Lake has discovered the process that ultimately resulted in the presence of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere.

UCLA political scientist identifies the two surest roads to the White House
Barack Obama's 2008 win did not surprise political scientist Lynn Vavreck, whose new book explains the two critical routes to the White House.

Anthropologist named dean of social sciences
Alessandro "Sandro" Duranti, a linguistic anthropologist, has been appointed dean of Social Sciences, the largest academic division in the UCLA College of Letters and Science.

UCLA scientist leads NASA mission's effort to map Moon temperatures
David Paige will head the mission's Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment, which will perform the first global survey of the temperature of the lunar surface and search for evidence of water.

Close social ties make baboons better mothers, study finds
Baboons whose mothers have strong relationships with other females are more likely to survive to adulthood than those with less social mothers, according to a new study by UCLA researchers and colleagues.

Two College faculty elected to National Academy of Sciences
Three UCLA scholars -- including two from the College -- have been elected to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences "in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research."

Six professors in the College elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The new fellows join one of the nation's most prestigious honorary societies and independent policy research centers.

The world is a classroom? Thanks to technology, it can be
Molecular biologist Robert B. Goldberg is teaching an honors course on genetic engineering that is being attended in class at UCLA and through fiber optic connection to UC Davis, 370 miles away.

Biologists solve mystery of black wolves
Why do nearly half of North American wolves have black coats while European wolves are overwhelmingly gray or white?

U.S. Civil War illustrates costs and benefits of diversity
Diversity can create many outcomes, say two UCLA economists who explored a surprising set of subjects: soldiers who served in the U.S. Civil War.

Shining new light on the surge in Iraq
What does a satellite study of neighborhoods in Baghdad tell UCLA geographers about the effectiveness of troop increases in Iraq?

Discover magazine names two UCLA faculty among "brightest people alive"
Mathematics professor Terence Tao and assistant professor of mathematics Joseph Teran have been named two of the 50 "Best Brains in Science" by Discover magazine.

Plate tectonics started over 4 billion years ago, geochemists report
A new picture of the early Earth is emerging, including the surprising finding that plate tectonics may have started more than 4 billion years ago — much earlier than scientists had believed.

Two UCLA students named Rhodes Scholars for 2009
A UCLA senior and a recent graduate have been chosen as winners of prestigious Rhodes Scholarships, the oldest and best known award for international study.

Extinct sabertooth cats were social, found strength in numbers
The sabertooth cat, one of the most iconic extinct mammals, was likely to be a social animal, living and hunting like lions today, according to new UCLA research.

Exploring the American Political Mind
UCLA political scientist Lynn Vavreck is one of the founders of the only nationwide presidential poll conducted exclusively on the Internet - a project that reaches one of the largest groups of U.S. voters ever fielded in a study of a U.S. presidential race.

UCLA faculty inducted into American Academy of Arts and Sciences October 11
Five scholars from the UCLA College of Letters and Science were inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious honorary societies.

Online bullying: A Common Problem
Nearly three in four teenagers say they were bullied online at least once during a recent 12-month period, according to a new study by UCLA researchers.

UCLA mathematicians discover 13-million digit prime number
The team identified the first Mersenne prime number with more than 10 million digits.

UCLA astronomer Andrea Ghez named MacArthur Fellow
Professor of physics and astronomy Andrea Ghez on Tuesday was named a MacArthur Fellow for 2008 by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Study offers new insights into teenagers, anxiety disorders
Can scientists predict who will develop anxiety disorders years in advance? UCLA psychology professor Michelle Craske is evaluating 650 students to identify risk factors for the development of anxiety and depression — the most comprehensive study of its kind.

Unique nanoscale droplets have cancer-fighting potential
The droplets produced by UCLA scientists are much smaller than a human cell and have implications for the targeted delivery of anti-cancer drugs.

Alain Mabanckou: novelist, biographer, UCLA scholar
A former lawyer becomes an acclaimed writer and professor of French and Francophone Studies.

Scientists learn how what you eat affects your brain
In addition to helping protect us from heart disease and cancer, a balanced diet and regular exercise can also protect the brain and ward off mental disorders, according to a UCLA study.

Scientists solve 30-year-old aurora borealis mystery
UCLA space scientists and colleagues have identified the mechanism that leads to the explosive release of energy that causes the spectacular brightening of the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights.

New U.S. Poet Laureate is two-time UCLA Graduate
Kay Ryan, who July 17 was named the poet laureate of the United States, graduated with degrees in English from UCLA in the 1960s.

Student blogs offer inside view of archaeology digs
From late June through July, undergraduates on UCLA archaeological digs around the world will post blogs that provide ample chance for armchair Indiana Joneses to dig in.

Serotonin: Does it affect our sense of fairness?
The neurotransmitter serotonin, which acts as a chemical messenger between nerve cells, plays a critical role in regulating emotions such as aggression during social decision-making, new research by scientists at England's University of Cambridge and UCLA suggests.

Global warming will negatively impact tropical species, study shows
Global warming may affect the health of species living in tropical climates, according to a study by scientists from UCLA and the University of Washington.

College faculty elected to National Academy of Sciences
Two mathematicians were among three UCLA faculty who were elected to the NAS for excellence in original scientific research.

UCLA faculty elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Seven UCLA scholars, including five from the College of Letters and Science, were elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious honorary societies.

UCLA researchers design nanomachine that kills cancer cells
Researchers from the Nano Machine Center at the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA have developed a novel type of nanomachine that can capture and store anticancer drugs inside tiny pores and release them into cancer cells in response to light.

Two UCLA historians win 2008 Pulitzer Prizes
Scholars Saul Friedlander and Daniel Howe from the College have won Pulitzer Prizes for their books on the Holocaust and on U.S. History.

UCLA professor unearths, resurrects long-lost novel
A UCLA English professor has rescued from obscurity a 19-century American book that is being republished to rave reviews.

Former President Bill Clinton to speak at College Commencement
President Clinton will deliver the keynote address to the main commencement ceremony for the College of Letters and Science on June 13 in Pauley Pavilion.

Study shows blood stem cells originate are nurtured in the placenta
Solving a longstanding biological mystery, UCLA stem cell researchers have discovered that blood stem cells — the cells that later differentiate into all the cells in the blood supply — originate and are nurtured in the placenta.

Biochemists reveal details of mysterious bacterial microcompartments
UCLA biochemists and colleagues have answered an important question about the structure of microcompartments - the puzzling molecular machines that seem to be present in a wide variety of pathogens and other bacteria.

Archaeology Team Discovers 7,000-Year-Old Settlement
Researchers from UCLA and the University of Groningen have found the earliest evidence ever discovered of an ancient Egyptian agricultural settlement, including farmed grains, remains of domesticated animals, pits for cooking and even floors for what appear to be dwellings.

Exploring the Struggle for Social Justice
Ruth Milkman explores the evolving trends that make Los Angeles a catalyst for change in the American labor movement.

An Academic Gem Returns
After two years under wraps, the renowned collections of the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library are once again open to the public and to the scholars of the world.

A Master of Narrating the Incomprehensible
With an award-winning volume, historian Saul Friedlander brings to a close his work on Nazi Germany and the genocide of the Jews.

The book that brought tolerance to the Enlightenment
A digital project launched by UCLA and the Getty Research Institute revives Europe's first taste of religious tolerance.

High-energy particles from violent black holes travel to Earth
An international team of physicists and astronomers, including a UCLA research group, has discovered the source of the rarest, highest energy particles in the universe.

Study with more than 100 scientists provides new genetics insights
An international resarch project led by UCLA biochemistry professor Sabeeha Merchant has created a trove of information about a tiny green alga -- work that has implications for human disease.

Dawn spacecraft, with UCLA-led science mission, launched September 27
Professor Christopher T. Russell has spent 15 years working on NASA's Dawn mission to send a spacecraft to the asteroid belt. Russell, the principal investigator on the mission, was jubilant when the Dawn spacecraft launched successfully on September 27

Broad Foundation donates $20 million to UCLA Stem Cell Institute
The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation is donating $20 million to fund adult and embryonic stem cell research at UCLA.

Biologist Thomas Smith named acting director of UCLA Institute of the Environment
Thomas Smith, a conservation biologist and ecologist who has developed new theories on how species of birds and other animals evolve in rainforests, has been named acting director of the UCLA Institute of the Environment.

UCLA celebrates undergraduate education with week of events October 8-12
UCLA hosts an inaugural annual event to highlight innovations in undergraduate education.

Ancient wolves of Alaska became extinct 12,000 years ago
The ancient gray wolves of Alaska became extinct some 12,000 years ago, and the wolves in Alaska today are not their descendents but a different subspecies, an international team of scientists reports in the July 3 print edition of the journal Current Biology.

California NanoSystems Institute Partners With Abraxis BioScience to Develop New Nanobiotechnologies
The California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) at UCLA announced a partnership with the integrated global biopharmaceutical company Abraxis BioScience Inc. to collaborate on nanobiotechnology research for the advancement of new technologies in medicine.

New Fellowships for Doctoral Students in Humanities and Social Sciences to honor Emeritus Chancellor
Emeritus Chancellor Norman Abrams is being honored with a fellowship in his name funded under the auspices of David A. Leveton in his capacity as director of the Ann C. Rosenfield Fund at the UCLA Foundation.

Monkeys Learn in the Same Way as Humans, Psychologists Report
Monkeys seem to learn the same way humans do, a new research study indicates.

Plants That Produce More Vitamin C May Result From UCLA-Dartmouth Advance in Molecular Biology
Steven Clarke and Carole Linster of UCLA have identified a crucial enzyme in the synthesis of plant vitamin C, which could lead to Moreenhanced crops.

Putting Feelings Into Words Produces Therapeutic Effects in the Brain
Why does putting our feelings into words help us to feel better? A new brain imaging study by UCLA psychologists reveals why verbalizing our feelings makes our sadness, Moreanger and pain less intense.

“Virtual Qumran” Sheds New Light on Dead Sea Scrolls Discovery Site
The mysterious archaeological ruins located paces from where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered 60 years ago served first as a fortress before being adopted by Jewish religious sect, Moretwo UCLA researchers report.

Chemists From UCLA, Italy Produce Advance That May Solve Mystery of Lou Gehrig’s Disease
Chemists from UCLA and the University of Florence in Italy may have solved an important mystery about a protein that plays a key role in a particular form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, a progressive, fatal Moreneurodegenerative disorder.

Undergraduate Student Profile: Tom Clarke
While many undergraduates dream of one day becoming medical researchers who can cure or tame disease. A Howard Hughes Undergraduate Research Scholar, Tom Clarke is already well on his way Moretoward realizing that ambition.

UCLA Scientists Create Microscale Alphabet
UCLA scientists, including co-author Thomas Mason, have designed and mass-produced billions of fluorescent microscale particles in the shapes of all 26 letters of the Morealphabet.

Student is Oxford-bound, thanks to mentor
UCLA senior William Thomas Clarke has received a Marshall Scholarship, one of the most prestigious awards an undergraduate can receive.

Fraser Stoddart to be Knighted by Queen Elizabeth
UCLA professor J. Fraser Stoddart, director of the California NanoSystems Institute, will be knighted by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II for services to chemistry and molecular Morenanotechnology.

Kal Raustiala to Direct Burkle Ctr. for International Relations
Kal Raustiala, an expert in international law who studies and teaches about international cooperation and global governance, has been named director of the UCLA Ronald W. Burkle Center for MoreInternational Relations.

Exposing a National Disgrace

When nine undergraduates in the College began to understand the plight of sweatshop workers in Southern California, they collaborated to write a book to illuminate the subject.

Let There be Light
Professor Jack Judy teaches the Fiat Lux seminar on “Neuroengineering — the Technology That Could Enable ‘The Matrix’” — one of 200 seminars taught by faculty from across the university that are offered by the Fiat Lux Moreseminar program.