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UCLA
Forward Thinker Archive
Catch up on UCLA people, places and projects on campus and in the news.
Keeping It Cool to Create Power
Aaswath Raman engineers new technologies to cool buildings and generate electricity using a little-studied natural phenomenon.
Apr 1, 2020
Aaswath Raman engineers new technologies to cool buildings and generate electricity using a little-studied natural phenomenon.
Apr 1, 2020
Move Along
Through UCLA’s Dancing Disability Lab, choreographer Victoria Marks brings international artists to campus to study and help shape the future of disability in dance.
Jan 1, 2020
Through UCLA’s Dancing Disability Lab, choreographer Victoria Marks brings international artists to campus to study and help shape the future of disability in dance.
Jan 1, 2020
The Human Animal
Professor of Medicine Barbara Natterson-Horowitz studies animals to make better sense of humans. One thing she knows for sure: Adolescence is dangerous for both.
Oct 1, 2019
Professor of Medicine Barbara Natterson-Horowitz studies animals to make better sense of humans. One thing she knows for sure: Adolescence is dangerous for both.
Oct 1, 2019
Making Magic
Engineering Professor Leonard Kleinrock had his first technological “aha moment” at age 7. But the big one came when he and one of his students sent the first computer-to-computer message, giving birth to the Internet.
Jul 1, 2019
Engineering Professor Leonard Kleinrock had his first technological “aha moment” at age 7. But the big one came when he and one of his students sent the first computer-to-computer message, giving birth to the Internet.
Jul 1, 2019
A Voice for the Marginalized
Professor Gina Kim is using virtual reality to subvert Hollywood stereotypes of Asians, women and others.
Dec 14, 2018
Professor Gina Kim is using virtual reality to subvert Hollywood stereotypes of Asians, women and others.
Dec 14, 2018
Everything in Moderation
Sarah Roberts studies people who screen social media platforms for obscene and violent content and reveals the toll this work takes on their lives.
Sep 14, 2018
Sarah Roberts studies people who screen social media platforms for obscene and violent content and reveals the toll this work takes on their lives.
Sep 14, 2018
Law and Order
Professor Kelly Lytle Hernández’s groundbreaking research reveals the true cost of mass incarceration in Los Angeles.
Jul 1, 2018
Professor Kelly Lytle Hernández’s groundbreaking research reveals the true cost of mass incarceration in Los Angeles.
Jul 1, 2018
Head and Heart
Professor Jeff Burke is melding technology with storytelling, artificial intelligence with live theater.
Mar 14, 2018
Professor Jeff Burke is melding technology with storytelling, artificial intelligence with live theater.
Mar 14, 2018
Climate and Community
Jon Christensen’s passion is for people and how they understand and are affected by the environment.
Jan 1, 2018
Jon Christensen’s passion is for people and how they understand and are affected by the environment.
Jan 1, 2018
A Digital Difference
Ramesh Srinivasan wants to reimagine our digital technology to better serve diverse users around the world.
Oct 1, 2017
Ramesh Srinivasan wants to reimagine our digital technology to better serve diverse users around the world.
Oct 1, 2017
Stage Presence
Professor José Luis Valenzuela stood up for multicultural theater, even when it meant living as a hostage for 11 days.
Jul 1, 2017
Professor José Luis Valenzuela stood up for multicultural theater, even when it meant living as a hostage for 11 days.
Jul 1, 2017
Religious by Nature
In these turbulent times, UCLA Center for the Study of Religion director Carol Bakhos does not see people losing their faith — but becoming increasingly interested in spirituality.
Apr 1, 2017
In these turbulent times, UCLA Center for the Study of Religion director Carol Bakhos does not see people losing their faith — but becoming increasingly interested in spirituality.
Apr 1, 2017
Secrets of the Past
The Fowler’s new chief curator says we have much to learn from the ancient Americans.
Jan 1, 2017
The Fowler’s new chief curator says we have much to learn from the ancient Americans.
Jan 1, 2017
Mirror Image
UCLA neuroscientist Marco Iacoboni studies mirror neurons — the brain cells that make us love watching sports, say yes to persuasive salespeople and be quick to empathize with others.
Oct 1, 2016
UCLA neuroscientist Marco Iacoboni studies mirror neurons — the brain cells that make us love watching sports, say yes to persuasive salespeople and be quick to empathize with others.
Oct 1, 2016
An Inconvenient Vision
UCLA Professor Catherine Opie has done one thing masterfully her whole life — capture provocative images of the everyday that make us take another look at the icons around us.
Jul 1, 2016
UCLA Professor Catherine Opie has done one thing masterfully her whole life — capture provocative images of the everyday that make us take another look at the icons around us.
Jul 1, 2016
For Abel Valenzuela, inequality isn’t just academic; it’s personal.
The Modern Mismatch
Peter Whybrow says our culture is fundamentally at odds with the way our brains work.
Jan 1, 2016
Peter Whybrow says our culture is fundamentally at odds with the way our brains work.
Jan 1, 2016
Punk Professor
Trap Girl guitarist and UCLA Assistant Professor Jessica Schwartz teaches the aesthetic, compositional, performance and political history of punk music.
Oct 1, 2015
Trap Girl guitarist and UCLA Assistant Professor Jessica Schwartz teaches the aesthetic, compositional, performance and political history of punk music.
Oct 1, 2015
Homes with Heart
When the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and subsequent tsunami wiped out UCLA architecture and urban design chair Hitoshi Abe’s hometown of Sendai, Japan, he resolved to make the reconstructed city more people-friendly than the one destroyed.
Jul 1, 2015
When the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and subsequent tsunami wiped out UCLA architecture and urban design chair Hitoshi Abe’s hometown of Sendai, Japan, he resolved to make the reconstructed city more people-friendly than the one destroyed.
Jul 1, 2015
Movement and the Mind
UCLA Dance Professor Janet O’Shea found a second love — an obsession, really — in martial arts. She discovered that both forms require thinking with your body, organizing movement and learning to adapt.
Apr 1, 2015
UCLA Dance Professor Janet O’Shea found a second love — an obsession, really — in martial arts. She discovered that both forms require thinking with your body, organizing movement and learning to adapt.
Apr 1, 2015
A Tale of New Cities
When Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris came to the U.S. from Greece, she noticed that Americans don’t really use their cities’ outdoor spaces. Working as an architect, she soon felt compelled to get outside of structures, so she transitioned into urban design. Today the urban planning professor’s interests span from the smallest places in a city, such as parklets, to larger infrastructures, such as high-speed rail.
Jan 15, 2015
When Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris came to the U.S. from Greece, she noticed that Americans don’t really use their cities’ outdoor spaces. Working as an architect, she soon felt compelled to get outside of structures, so she transitioned into urban design. Today the urban planning professor’s interests span from the smallest places in a city, such as parklets, to larger infrastructures, such as high-speed rail.
Jan 15, 2015
Art as Activist
After David Gere saw that art could change people's thinking, he created "Make Art/Stop AIDS" to intervene in the HIV epidemic.
Oct 1, 2014
After David Gere saw that art could change people's thinking, he created "Make Art/Stop AIDS" to intervene in the HIV epidemic.
Oct 1, 2014
A Healthy Regard for L.A.
Jonathan Fielding is an acclaimed UCLA professor and the top public health official for the County of Los Angeles.
Jul 1, 2014
Jonathan Fielding is an acclaimed UCLA professor and the top public health official for the County of Los Angeles.
Jul 1, 2014
From Test Tubes to YouTube
Professor Neil Garg finds novel ways to reach budding scientists.
Apr 1, 2014
Professor Neil Garg finds novel ways to reach budding scientists.
Apr 1, 2014
Sustaining L.A.
Bruin Mark Gold leads the discussion on "green" issues in Southern California.
Jan 1, 2014
Bruin Mark Gold leads the discussion on "green" issues in Southern California.
Jan 1, 2014
Amy Rowat teaches the tasty side of science.
Mark Kleiman is the go-to guy on issues related to drug policy.
Popular Scientist
He leads a team of students in creating inexpensive and breakthrough technological devices.
Apr 1, 2013
He leads a team of students in creating inexpensive and breakthrough technological devices.
Apr 1, 2013
The World Until Yesterday
In his latest book, Professor Jared Diamond looks at what we can learn from traditional societies.
Jan 1, 2013
In his latest book, Professor Jared Diamond looks at what we can learn from traditional societies.
Jan 1, 2013
On the Campaign Trail
In her new book, Lynn Vavreck brings academic insight into the hurly-burly of an American election.
Oct 1, 2012
In her new book, Lynn Vavreck brings academic insight into the hurly-burly of an American election.
Oct 1, 2012