March 18, 2026
The top Bruinvention of the 21st century (so far)
Our national Shade Map
Illustration by Vidhya Nagarajan
Our national Shade Map, created in partnership with American Forests, was listed as UCLA Magazine’s top 25 “Bruinventions” of the 21st Century (so far).
The new resource maps the amount of shade available (and unavailable) in more than 360 U.S. cities and towns. With extreme heat contributing to an estimated 12,000 premature deaths each year, our research responds to an urgent public health need.
It visualizes how shade from trees and buildings changes throughout the day, providing decision-makers with accessible data to identify “shade deserts” and prioritize investments to mitigate the impacts of heat.
Never before has it been this easy for communities in the U.S. to know how much shade they have, where it is, and whether the source is buildings or vegetation.
The top 25 Bruinventions, listed in the fall edition of UCLA Magazine, pays tribute to the long history of creativity and innovation by UCLA students, faculty, and alumni.
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EXPERTS
- Dr. V. Kelly Turner, Center Associate Director
- Lana Zimmerman, Center Associate Project Manager
- Isaac Buo, Center Research Staff Associate (former)
- Jean Claude Iradukunda, Center Data Scientist & Associate Project Manager
- Julia Twichell, American Forests, Senior Director, Data Design & UX
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