In memoriam: John Wasson, 86, cosmochemist and co-creator of the UCLA Meteorite Collection
John Wasson, a world-renowned expert in meteorites and lunar rocks who had a mineral named after him, died at home in Los Angeles on Sept. 7. He was 86. The professor emeritus of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences helped devise modern chemical classifications for the space debris that can fall to Earth as brief fireballs or “bolides” big enough to create an impact crater.
Wasson co-created the UCLA Meteorite Collection — the largest collection on the West Coast. Click here to read more.
UCLA ranked No. 1 public university for fourth straight year
UCLA once again sits atop the list of the nation’s public universities in U.S. News & World Report’s annual “Best Colleges.”
This is the fourth consecutive year UCLA has captured this honor.
Click here to read more, including additional high rankings bestowed on UCLA.
Marilyn Raphael takes helm at UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
Marilyn Raphael, professor of geography, is the new interim director of UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. Raphael has been at UCLA since the 1990s and has been part of the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability since its formation more than 20 years ago.
Raphael is an expert in climate change, sea ice variability and atmospheric dynamics around Antarctica. Click here to read more.
Click here to read more news stories from UCLA’s Division of Physical Sciences
Events
New Student Welcome Events
The Division of Physical Sciences is presenting intimate online gatherings for incoming freshmen and transfer students to ask questions of current Physical Sciences undergrads, alumni, and faculty, and hear advice about making the most of being a student in the sciences at UCLA. Click here to read more and sign up if you’ll be joining us as a new student this year!
Updates on COVID-19 from UCLA
The Division of Physical Sciences is working to provide faculty, students, and families with the most helpful resources and information during this time.
Click here for updates from the Division, the UCLA Newsroom, and the Daily Bruin.
Remote Teaching, Learning, and Wellness Resources
UCLA Physical Sciences Remote Learning Resource Page
Science and technology have never been more critical. UCLA and the Division of Physical Sciences are working hard to offer as many tools and helpful connections for our students and faculty to ensure the level of educational excellence for which UCLA is known.
Click here for our online resource page, which will be continually updated as new services and initiatives are announced.
Alumni Spotlight: Jiaxing Huang to develop self-sanitizing medical face mask
Alumnus Jiaxing Huang received funding to develop a new-self sanitizing medical face mask that deactivates viruses on contact. Huang’s team will investigate antiviral chemicals that can be safely built into masks to self-sanitize the passing respiratory droplets.
Huang a professor at Northwestern University. His research team was provided funding by a rapid response research grant from the National Science Foundation, which has called for immediate proposals that have potential to address the spread of COVID-19.
Click here to read more.
Spotlight: Video Page
The Physical Sciences Video Page features learning tools, research updates, science talks, and more.
Alumni Spotlight: Kennen MacKay
Kennen MacKay, a UCLA Chemistry and Biochemistry alumnus and RBC biotech analyst, has been tracking the COVID-19 virus and the impact of social distancing. He spoke with CNBC about the patterns he has seen, including some worst- and best-case scenarios.
Read about MacKay’s projections by clicking here. Click here to watch his interview with CNBC.
Successful Remote Learning Efforts: Physics Labs
After UCLA announced that the entirety of spring quarter would be taught remotely because of COVID-19, professors in the physics and astronomy department including Katsushi Arisaka, made great efforts to create meaningful physics labs virtual.
Students in the Physics 4AL, 4BL, or 5CL classes were able to order affordable equipment to allow them to get started with designing their own programming and robotics experiments from their bedrooms and over Zoom. Professor Arisaka has always tried to find new ways to prepare students for future success, and the restructuring of this class was just one of them.
Giving
Our world-changing research is helped by your gifts. Read about the ways your donation to the Division of Physical Sciences will further discoveries and student opportunities by clicking here.
Latest giving news:
Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Department to receive $4.1 million
Professor emeritus gives $1 million to bring visiting mathematics faculty to UCLA
