UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation

Smart Grid Energy Research Center (SMERC) Smart Grid - Opportunities and challenges in the creation of the 21st Century Power Grid
2012-03-05 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
About the Talk Major portions of the US electric grid are half a century old, and compared to other infrastructure, the adoption of new technology into the US grid has been relatively slow. This slow adoption of technology compared to other sectors such as telecommunications has been attributed to the reason that the existing grid is 99.97% reliable and therefore should not need upgrading. However, its structure and topology are relatively inflexible since its underlying framework was designed assuming unidirectional flow of power, control and information. As a result of this inflexible structure, integrating common renewable energy sources such as solar and wind into the grid is prohibitively expensive and unwieldy. Also, electric vehicles, now having been introduced in several markets of the country especially California, present major challenges when plugged into the grid. A smart grid would allow two-way power flow, two-way communications flow and two-way control flow. This will allow the grid to be more flexible, smart, self-healing, resilient, and efficient. To enable such a grid, a host of advanced technologies such as information technology, wireless and mobile devices, sensor and control systems, etc., have to be architected and integrated into the existing grid. Research at UCLA’s Smart Grid Energy Research Center (SMERC) focuses on the integration capability of such technologies between the medium voltage distribution grid and the consumer’s interface into the grid. Research is being performed on the creation of smart grid services that are aggregated from consumers and offered through a distribution network in a smart grid. The fundamental idea is to aggregate services at the consumer’s level with the permission and control of the consumer and then enable these aggregated services into utility-grade offerings. For example, if sufficient numbers of electric vehicle (EV) owners allow their local utility to extract power from their EVs during peak-demand periods, the utility should be willing to offer customers incentives to do so. An intermediate enterprise that aggregates 100 EVs with a nominal 6.6KW charging capacity / EV would be able to offer a 0.66MW Demand Response service into the local regulatory markets. Beyond this service, vehicles with bi-directional power flow can theoretically offer up to10x the power while discharging for short periods of time, which would imply a 6.6MW short-term, aggregation service capability. With 1000 EVs in a region, this capacity can in principle reach 66MW, which is approximately UCLA’s peak power consumption. With about 20,000 cars parked in UCLA on a typical day, if in the future 5% of its vehicles were EVs, UCLA could participate in a short-time period micro-grid market and should be able to completely operate off-the-grid for a window of time without cutting power consumption in its facilities. UCLA SMERC is been developing a wireless monitoring and control platform called WINSmartGridTM (Wireless Internet Smart Grid) that is currently being deployed in parts of UCLA called the UCLA Smart Grid Living Lab. Also, UCLA SMERC is a participant in a DOE-ARRA regional demonstration project and is experimenting with research concepts in Automated Demand Response, EV Integration (G2V and V2G) and Micro-grids using the WINSmartGridTM platform within the Living Lab. The research platform accepts inputs from electrical loads such as EVs or air-conditioners, ambient condition sensors such as temperature, humidity or occupancy sensors, and grid operator / grid condition input. It is the platform on which an EV monitoring, aggregation and control network has been developed. Research is being performed on models of aggregation under constraints of user, utility and facility, verification of such models, network architecture and performance verification for regulatory/market service, and, wireless-based monitoring and control systems and middleware in Smart Grids. The talk will present research and technical opportunities and challenges, upcoming market opportunities and their challenges, and current research progress at UCLA’s Smart Grid Energy Research Center. About the SpeakerDr. Rajit Gadh is Professor of the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science at UCLA, and, Founder and Director the Smart Grid Energy Research Center or SMERC. Dr. Gadh has a Doctorate degree from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), a Masters from Cornell University and a Bachelors degree from IIT Kanpur all in engineering. He has taught as a visiting researcher at UC Berkeley, has been an Assistant, Associate and Full Professor at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and was a visiting researcher at Stanford University. Dr. Gadh’s current research interests include modeling and control of Smart Grids, wireless monitoring and control of distribution-side and consumer-side electric grids, automation architectures for Demand Response, EV Integration architecture and control system, optimized EV charging under constraints, Vehicle-to-grid and Grid-to-grid interface, Micro-grid modeling and control, and, wireless-sensor and RFID middleware architectures. Dr. Gadh’s research at SMERC is currently funded by DOE (UCLA is partnered with Los Angeles Department of Water and Power along with USC, and, JPL/Caltech for a regional demo grant, Korean Institute for Energy Research (KIER), EPRI (funded by DOE), and the UCLA Smart Grid Industry Partners Program consisting of 18 industry sponsors.He is a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He has received the National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER award, NSF Research Initiation Award, and, NSF-Lucent Industry Ecology Fellow Award, Society of Automotive Engineers Ralph R. Teetor Educational award, IEEE WTS second best student paper award, ASME Kodak Best Technical Paper award, AT&T Industrial ecology fellow award, Engineering Education Foundation Research Initiation Award, the William Mong Fellowship from University of Hong Kong, and other accolades in his career. He has lectured and given keynote/distinguished addresses worldwide in countries such as Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Spain, Holland, Hong Kong, Japan, S. Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and, Thailand. Dr. Gadh serves as advisor to a handful of technology-based startups.

Complete Streets for California Conference
2012-03-02 08:30 - 17:30
Registration is now closed. Click here to sign-up on the wait list. The UCLA Complete Streets for California conference on Friday, March 2, 2012,will highlight recent accomplishments, explore new research, and presentimplementation examples and benchmarks to create multi-use street environmentsthat promote vibrant, healthy and active communities.Featuring Keynote Address from:Jonathan Fielding, Director, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and County Health Officer Gil Penalosa, Executive Director, 8-80 CitiesConference Topics Include:- What is the Role ofComplete Streets in the Larger Transportation Network? – Redefining Street Performance Metrics – Complete Streets for Whom? Equity Considerations – Re-purposing Road Space as Public Space – More than Mobility: People, Provisions and Pollution Control The conference will provide information on Complete Streets issues forplanners, elected and appointed public officials, engineers, non-profitorganizations, advocates, consultants, students and others involved in the Complete Streets field.8 hours of CM (AICP) credits are available for attendees. Co-hosts:UCLA Lewis CenterUCLA Luskin Center for InnovationUCLA Luskin School of Public AffairsFor full agenda & sponsorship opportunities, please click here.

The Oil Curse: How petroleum wealth shapes the development of nations
2012-02-06 12:00 - 13:00

The Future of Water in Southern California
2012-01-27 08:00 - 18:00
LOCAL SOURCE DEVELOPMENT • WATER REUSE • CONSERVATION • DESALINATION • AND MORELocal source development promises greater reliability, water security and progressively more cost-effective sources of water. This summit will highlight success stories from across the globe, explore emerging water reuse strategies, and identify critical policy, communications and coalition-building questions for the region.
Who should attend: The event will bring together thought leaders from water agencies, universities, the private sector, and non-profits to assess future strategies for further developing local water sources in Southern California. Participants will engage in the latest technology, research, policy, and implementation strategies.
Program highlights:
Current use of local water sources and why local sources will become more important in the future
Promise and challenges of emerging technologies − including ocean desalination and indirect and direct potable reuse of wastewater and contaminated groundwater − as well as improvements in water conservation programs
Lessons learned to communicate the social benefits of new technologies
Forming public-private partnerships to assist agencies in developing new water sources
New coalitions and organizational strategies to effectively develop these sources
Click here for full agenda.
LOCATION: Downtown L.A. at the Japanese American National Museum, 369 East First StreetTIME: January 27, 2012 from 8:15 am – 5:30 pm, followed by a reception
MORE DETAILS HERE
FOR WAITING LIST REGISTER HERE

IoES/Luskin Lunch Seminar - Matthew Kahn, "China"
2011-12-05 12:00 - 13:00
Join us for the December IoES/Luskin Lunch Seminar at 12:00PM on Monday, December 5. Professor Matt Kahn of UCLA IoES, UCLA Department of Economics, School of Public Policy, and UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation will present research on China.

Oppenheim Lecture Series - Green Chemistry: Innovation for Environmental and Economic Prosperity
2011-11-16 18:00 - 21:00
Historically, products and processes have been regulated with the goal of reducing toxicity to acceptable levels based on human health risks. Green Chemistry is a powerful tool in preventing toxicity before it occurs. This approach can lead to reduced hazard, improved performance, and economic growth simultaneously. Dr. Anastas will discuss scientific advances in the design of intrinsically safe and environmentally benign products and the resulting paradigm shift in understanding the relationship between people, chemicals, and the environment.﻿About the Speaker:Dr. Paul Anastas, known widely as the “Father of Green Chemistry” for his groundbreaking research on the design, manufacture, and use of minimally-toxic, environmentally-benign chemicals, Dr. Anastas has an extensive record of leadership in government, academia, and the private sector. To RSVP Click HereClick to see the event flyerReception at 6PM, Lecture to begin at 7PM in Fowler Museum.

10th Annual Mayoral Housing, Transportation and Jobs Summit
2011-11-16 07:30 - 14:00
BUILDING LA’S WORKFORCEFeatured and Invited Speakers: The Honorable Antonio R. Villaraigosa, LA City Mayor; Zev Yaroslavsky, LA County Supervisor; The Honorable Wendy Greuel, LA City Controller; The Honorable Jan Perry; LA City Council President Pro Tempore; and The Honorable Herb Wesson, Jr., LA City Councilmember
Emcee: The Honorable Henry Cisneros, Executive Chairman, CityView and Former Secretary, US Department of Housing and Urban Development; Cathy Creswell, Acting Director, California Department of Housing and Community Development; and Michael Rossi Senior Advisor for Jobs & Business Development, Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr.
CLICK HERE for more info. for more information CLICK HERE to RSVP
Panel 1: Workforce Housing in Sustainable Communities
US HUD
East LA Community Corporation
California Department of Housing and Community Development
Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco
AMCAL Multi-Housing, Inc.

Panel 2: Economic Development and Job Creation
Metro Board of Director
Capri Capital Partners
Los Angeles World Airports
JP Morgan Chase
Next Century Associates
Enterprise Community Partners

Panel 3: Empowering LA’s Solar Workforce
UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation
LA Housing Department
Office of LA Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa
Homeboy Industries
USC Program for Environmental and Regional Equity
McCormack Baron Salazar

Parking is $11 in Structure 6. http://maps.google.com/maps?daddr=34.0692482830001,-118.445759839
Follow us on Twitter: #LABCworkforcesummit

IoES/Luskin Lunch Seminar - Yoram Cohen
2011-11-07 12:00 - 13:00
November’s IoES/Luskin Lunch Research Seminar will take place on Monday, November 7 at 12:00 p.m. in the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability’s large conference room in La Kretz Hall, Suite 300.The speaker is Professor Yoram Cohen from UCLA Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, and the Luskin Center for Innovation.

Greening of California
2011-10-27 18:30 - 20:00
California leads the way. Will America follow? Has California’s regulatory structure helped or hindered its economy?Join us for a free panel discussion October 27th in Santa Monica. The panel features Luskin Center Scholar Matthew Kahn and Luskin Center Advisory Board Member Mary Nichols.You must RSVP to reserve a seat; RSVP to mitchell@lalcv.org.

“E-MOBILITY – THE FUTURE OF THE AUTOMOBILE”
2011-10-26 08:00 - 14:00
Representatives from German and US institutes and manufacturers will showcase their latest developments and present concepts and solutions to overcoming hurdles that are holding back the adoption of EVs. Pressing topics such as the discussion of electric vehicle vs. hybrid vehicle, charging issues and impact on infrastructure, battery solutions, and the future of the automobile in general will be discussed, along with insights into the US and German markets. In addition representatives from the US electric vehicle industry will share their latest developments, exchange thoughts and concepts with the audience, and government and utilities will provide their insights.RSVP (required) to stanford@accessio.com for the event at Stanford University, and losangeles@accessio.com for the event at the W Hotel in Los Angeles. For further information, please contact accessio at: Email: info@accessio.com, Phone: +1 (310) 982-7633 or visitwww.accessio.com/e-mobilityFEATURED SPEAKERSJoin us to meet these exciting speakers amongst others:Daniel Rousta, Director General Ministry of Finance and Economics of the State of Baden-WürttembergPaul Scott, Founding Board Member of Plug In America and President of the Electric Vehicle Association of Southern CaliforniaJohn Tillman, Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North AmericaDr. Horst Münzel, President Bosch Research and Technology CenterDr. Sven Beiker, Stanford University, Director of the center for automotive researchJR DeShazo, Director, Luskin Center for Innovation, Associate Professor of Public PolicyMarvin Moon, Director, Department of Water and Power, Los AngelesJonathan Parfrey, Commissioner, Department of Water and Power, Los AngelesDan Bowermaster, Manager: Electric & Natural Gas Vehicles, Pacific Gas & Electric CompanyMarc Geller, Co-Founder, Plug-In-AmericaRussel Vare, Manager Electric Vehicles, NissanFranz Loogan, Managing Director of the agency for e-mobility, Baden-WürttembergFor more information, go to http://www.accessio.com/e-mobility/

IoES Oppenheim Lecture Series: Albert Carnesale on “America’s Climate Choices”--THIS EVENT IS FILLED TO CAPACITY
2011-10-12 18:00 - 21:00
In 2008, Congress asked the National Academy of Sciences to establish a Committee to investigate and make recommendations on the steps needed and strategies required in response to global climate change. The National Academy report, America’s Climate Choices, was submitted to Congress in May 2011.Dr. Carnesale, who chaired this Committee, will identify and discuss key issues addressed and give an overview of the report’s recommendations to guide America’s efforts to control greenhouse gas emissions and provide leadership to prepare for unavoidable climate change effects. More information and the ReportWednesday, October 12, 2011
6:00 pm Reception7:00 pm LectureFowler Museum at UCLA, Lenart Auditorium
About the Lecturer:Albert Carnesale: UCLA, Chancellor EmeritusProfessor, Luskin School of Public AffairsProfessor, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied ScienceChair, National Academy of Sciences Committee on “America’s Climate Choices” more
THIS EVENT IS FILLED TO CAPACITY
We will have a stand-by line for the lecture and will accommodate stand-by guests on a first come first served basis if seats are available.

IoES/Luskin Lunch Seminar - Glen MacDonald, “Climate Warming and Southwest Aridity – Where we are going, where we have been and where we are now?”
2011-10-03 12:00
The first IoES/Luskin Lunch Research Seminar of the year will take place on Monday, October 3 at 12:00 p.m. in the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability’s large conference room in La Kretz Hall, Suite 300.The speaker is Professor Glen MacDonald from the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and the Departments of Geography & Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
The title of his seminar is: “Climate Warming and Southwest Aridity – Where we are going, where we have been and where we are now?”
Lunch will be provided.

Climate Warming and Southwest Aridity – Where we are going, where we have been, and where we are now?
2011-10-03 12:00
Presented by Glen MacDonald, Director, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability

Closing the Environmental Justice Gap: A Workshop on Advancing Evaluation Methods
2011-09-30 08:00 - 18:00
Program evaluation methods have improved the design and effectiveness of a wide range of public policies. Yet despite the adoption of new types of EJ programs, there are relatively few applications of these evaluation methods to improve this first generation of EJ programs. This event will bring together leaders from across the country to 1) examine the current state of EJ programs, 2) assess the current state of EJ program evaluation, and 3) explore strategies to further develop the sub-field of EJ program evaluation. This event is co-sponsored by the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development National Center for Environmental Research. The USC Program for Environmental and Regional Equity also provided financial support and guidance. Other partners include scholars from the UC Berkeley Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, the UC Berkeley School of Public Health, and the Metropolitan Futures Initiative in the UC Irvine School of Social Ecology.PROGRAM:8:00 a.m. Check-In and Breakfast, Room 306
8:30 a.m. Introductory Remarks, Room 314Welcome: J.R. DESHAZO, Director, UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation8:45 a.m. Panel 1: Background on EJ Policies and ProgramsFocus: This first panel will address the overall landscape of EJ programs and policies. Knowing the breadth and depth of EJ policies and programs is important to develop evaluation strategies, as different types of EJ programs and policies will require different types of evaluation strategies. The panel will discuss the following questions and then open up to group discussion:• What is the definition of an EJ policy/program? What are considered EJ policies and programs?• What policies and program are not explicitly EJ but have EJ consequences?• What is the landscape of EJ policies and programs at a national, state, and local level?• Where are the programs and policies concentrated and under what categories?• How are EJ areas defined in these programs and policies? What are examples of differences in definition?
Moderator & Framer: RACHEL MORELLO-FROSH, Associate Professor of Public Health and Environmental Science, Policy & Manage, UC BerkeleyPanelist: DEVON PAYNE-STURGES, Assistant Center Director for Human Health ORD/ National Center for Environmental Research of the US Environmental Protection AgencyPanelist: ROMEL PASCUAL, Deputy Mayor of Environment, Los Angeles Mayor’s OfficePanelist: VERNICE MILLER-TRAVIS, Member of the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council, Vice Chair of the Maryland State Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities, and Co-Founder of WE ACT for Environmental JusticePanelist: ROBERT VERCHICK, Chair in Environmental Law at Loyola University New Orleans
10:15 a.m. Comfort Break
10:30 a.m. Panel 2: Evaluation of EJ Policies and ProgramsFocus: This panel will explore the current state of EJ program and policy evaluation and firstgeneration tools, with specific examples of completed evaluation. Panelists will respond to the following questions and then open to group discussion:• What role can evaluation research play in making EJ policies and programs more effective?• What is the state of EJ program and policy evaluation?• What are examples of EJ program and policy evaluation?• Where are the gaps in effectiveness of evaluation and how might we prioritize filling these gaps?
Moderator: DOUG HOUSTON, Assistant Professor of Planning, Policy & Design, UC IrvinePanelist: KATHERINE DAWES, Director, Evaluation Support Division in the EPA Office of PolicyPanelist: PAUL ONG, Professor of Urban Planning and Asian Studies in the UCLA Luskin School of Public AffairsPanelist: SHALINI VAJIHALA, Deputy Assistant Administrator of the EPA Office of International and Tribal AffairsPanelist: PAUL MOHAI, Professor in the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Michigan
12:00 p.m Lunch
12:45 p.m. Panel 3: Foundation and Government PerspectiveFocus: A panel of foundation and government agency representatives will reflect on how evaluation can strengthen program design and implementation. The panel will give an overview of what they are investing in and how these priorities are shaped.Moderator: MANUEL PASTOR, Professor of American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California and Director of the USC Program for Environmental and Regional EquityPanelist: CHARLES LEE, Deputy Associate Administrator for Environmental Justice at the U.S. EPAPanelist: RAMTIN ARABLOUEI, Program Manager for Environmental Health and Environmental Justice at the Health and Environmental Funders NetworkPanelist: ERIN ROGERS, Environment Program Officer for the William and Flora Hewlett FoundationPanelist: MICHELE PRICHARD, Director, Common Agenda at Liberty Hill
1:30 p.m. Panel 4: Best Practices for EJ Program DesignFocus: Given major categories of EJ programs discussed in Panel 1, panelists will discuss four example EJ programs representative of these categories. We will explore how to best evaluate the effectiveness of these programs, recognizing that EJ programs may take a wide range of institutional forms, and that these programs are often embedded in complex policy processes.Moderator: J.R. DESHAZO, Professor of Public Policy and Director of the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation.Panelist: ADRIANO MARTINEZ, Environmental Justice Project Attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council, to discuss the Harbor Community Mitigation Fund at the Port of Los Angeles as an example of EJ programs that reduce pollution and/or mitigate disproportionate impacts.Panelist: MARVA KING, EPA CARE Program Co-Chair, to discuss the EPA’s CARE program, an example of a community capacity building program.Panelist: NURY MARTINEZ, Executive Director of Pacoima Beautiful, to give a community perspective on the CARE program.Panelist: ZOE HELLER, Environmental Protection Specialist with EPA Region 9, to describe the Los Angeles Area Environmental Enforcement Collaborative, an example enforcement program.Panelist: GEORGE ALEXEEFF, Acting Director of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Cal/EPA, to discuss OEHHA’s development of a screening methodology to assess cumulative impacts.3:00 p.m. Break-Out Groups: Development of a Research AgendaFocus: Building off the preceding panel, participates will organize into break-out groups, one per example program described in Panel 4. Participants will discuss considerations, challenges, and ideal approaches and methods to evaluate an example EJ program. The facilitator will give participants the opportunity to address the following types of questions:• Why it is important to evaluate this type of program?• What are the challenges in doing so?• What should be the key goals of the evaluation?• Is there an outcome or series of outcomes in a model of causuality that should be addressed in the evaluation?• What is an ideal framework and approach to evaluate this program?• What data is needed and who has it?• What key steps would be involved?
4:15 p.m. Report Out from Break-Out Groups
4:45 p.m. Closing RemarksKeynote: LISA GARCIA, Senior Advisor to the Administrator for Environmental Justice, U.S. Environmental Protection AgencySynthesis: MANUEL PASTOR, USC Program on Environment and Regional Equity
5:00 p.m. Reception
6:00 p.m. Adjourn

Research Center Student Orientation
2011-09-21 12:00 - 14:00
Orientation is for incoming and continuing students in master’s and Ph.D. programs. Come learn about opportunities for you to enhance your studies through support for your research! For more information on the Luskin Center for Innovation please see the attached fact sheet.

Local Energy Generation Resources: A Working Conference (July 25-26)
2011-07-25 08:00 - 2011-07-26 17:00
This two day conference will address the issue of designing and implementing a local system of renewable energy production in California.Governor Jerry Brown has called for 12,000 MW of renewable power generated within the local power distribution grid. Implementing this effort will offer important advantages in California’s drive for clean power – development of local resources, avoided costs of new intercity transmission or remote generation, and additional consumer autonomy. But taking this goal to the level envisioned by the Governor calls for new approaches and new coalitions between consumers, community leaders, utilities and power providers. Some of the challenges include:• financing tools that help build new power sources, but also keep costs as low as possible.• improvements to existing wires and transformers, and new policies to speed connections • policies and techniques to measure and manage power demand and variable power sources • new efforts in local land use, building and fire codes to speed up deployment. Unlike the large utility-scale renewables projects, which compete in a statewide market, these projects are tied to the local grid, and are more sensitive to local conditions. Many of these issues stand outside or straddle the policy authorities of individual federal or local agencies. No one constituency can resolve the challenges in every jurisdiction. The two-day conference will explore these challenges in detail by engaging stakeholders in discussions with experts, regulators and other stakeholder groups. The invitation-only conference is intended to be highly participatory and requires extensive facilitation and advance work. Some participants will take roles as participants or facilitators. All participants will review discussion papers set for each panel, as well as other conference materials (such as a paper describing technologies and their attributes.) For more information visit the official website at http://gov.ca.gov/s_energyconference.php

CD-9 Community Solar Forum
2011-07-16 09:30 - 12:00
J.R. DeShazo will be one of several experts to present information at the CD-9 Community Solar Forum. This forum will help to identify policies, regulations and initiatives, such as a Solar Feed-in Tariff and the current Solar Incentive Program that are needed to bring about more sustainable solar rooftop development and job creation in Los Angeles.
Joining as moderator and keynote speaker will be Los Angeles City Council President Pro Tempore Jan Perry. Invited and confirmed speakers include: JR DeShazo, Director, UCLA Luskin Center, Manuel Pastor, Director, USC Program for Environmental and Regional Equity (PERE) , co-authors of the “Making a Market: Multi-family Rooftop Solar and Social Equity in Los Angeles” study as well as representatives from the LADWP, LADBS, and members of the community with a vested interest in renewable energy and job creation.

UCCS presents J.R. DeShazo - "Improving the Design of Local Solar Programs: A Case Study of Los Angeles"
2011-06-30 12:00 - 13:30
In the search for clean energy solutions, new public policies are creating incentives for solar energy throughout California. J.R. DeShazo, Director of the Luskin Center for Innovation, will discuss his high-profile solar policy study that provides data on the potential impact that regional solar power policies can have on Los Angeles’ renewable power sources. Specifically, his analysis of rooftop solar potential in Los Angeles. Los Angeles is endowed not only with bountiful sunshine, but also with vast expanses of low-rise urban development that offers valuable sitting opportunities for distributed solar energy generation. In addition, DeShazo will give a brief overview of his recent solar Feed-In Tariff research which resulted in Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s release of a long-term, comprehensive solar plan, including a proposal for a solar Feed-in Tariff program administered by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The information may prove useful for economic development planners, solar photovoltaic (PV) installers, utility planners, building owners, public administrators, labor union leadership, and anyone interested in the development of solar power in California.
Visit http://bit.ly/jHkXF8 to register.

AIA|LA ARCHITECTURE OF TRANSPORTATION Design Symposium
2011-06-24 08:30 - 17:30
“The Architecture of Transportation” symposium will serve as a forum to discuss innovative ideas about how to build transportation systems that support and strengthen healthier, more functional and more livable neighborhoods.The symposium will be organized as a series of candid discussions moderated with the objective of developing a set of common goals and next steps. Whether it is developing consensus on what most effectively supports a complete community, or identifying regulatory reforms that need to be immediately addressed, the symposium will serve as an opportunity to bring a diverse public and professional community together.We will all take part in the discussion about how best to transform our transportation system into an economically sustainable network that supports happier, healthier and more active living. Click HERE to register for the event.

The Death of the Nuclear Renaissance, featuring Albert Carnesale
2011-06-22 19:00 - 21:00
The recent catastrophic nuclear meltdowns in Japan have cast a shadow over the future of nuclear power that was undergoing a renaissance as a
possible “clean energy” solution to the global warming crisis. Albert Carnesale, the Chancellor Emeritus of UCLA, Victor Gilinsky, a former commissioner of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and nuclear physicist Arjun Makhijani, head of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, discuss the future of nuclear power.
Hammer Forum is moderated by Ian Masters, journalist, author, screenwriter, documentary filmmaker, and host of the radio programs Background Briefing, Sundays at 11am, and The Daily Briefing, Monday through Thursday at 5pm, on KPFK 90.7 FM.
HAMMER FORUM
This ongoing series of timely, thought-provoking events addresses current social and political issues.
ALL HAMMER PUBLIC PROGRAMS ARE FREE. Tickets are required, and are
available at the Billy Wilder Theater Box Office one hour prior to start
time. Limit one ticket per person on a first come, first served basis.
Hammer members receive priority seating, subject to availability.
Reservations not accepted, RSVPs not required.
Parking is available under the museum for $3 after 6:00pm.
For additional information, please visit the Hammer Museum Web site.

Siemens Solar Thought Leadership Forum "Solar Exchange West 2011"
2011-06-16 08:00 - 18:00
Purpose: To gather leaders from industry, research, government and the general public to focus on the major issues related to advanced energy production using solar photovoltaic and solar thermal technologiesShowcase university based research and development effortsGain exposure to potential investors and business communityIdentify potential research collaborations with other university investigators & industryGaining a stronger understanding of problems experienced by decision makers in the solar industry.Format:Short presentations and panel discussion with Q&ASee Siemens website (link to come) for description and registration.

Green-Economics Growth-Engine Opportunity
2011-06-09 16:00 - 17:30
A Talk by:Michael P. Totten,Chief Advisor,Climate, Energy & Green Technologies, Conservation
International, Center for Environmental Leadership in Business, Washington, DC Green-Economics
Growth-Engine Opportunity
Prospering from Green
Apps and Tipping Points (GreenATP) through Social Web Networks
Stabilizing Climate,
Protecting Biodiversity, Turning Poverty into Sustainable Livelihoods

Luskin/IOE Lunch Speaker Series with Suzanne Paulson: "Neighborhood scale air pollutant gradients"
2011-06-06 12:00 - 13:00
UCLA Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Studies professor Suzanne Paulson will present a talk at the monthly research seminar. Professor Paulson’s research interests center on the influence airborn particles on climate on health.
The Faculty Research Seminar meets on the first Monday of every month to present the latest from UCLA’s scholars. A different faculty member presents their research and publications at every meeting, making the FRS a source of diverse perspectives on some of the most important issues of today. This year’s speakers come from departments across UCLA, including the Institute of the Environment, the Anderson School of Management and the UCLA Law School.
A light lunch will be provided. Please RSVP before the date of the event.

The Future of Water in Southern California
2011-05-24 16:00 - 18:00
The Luskin Center for Innovation would like to invite you to the UCLA Water Resources Group inaugural public meeting on May 24th, which will feature a discussion on the recently-released report of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s (MWD) Blue Ribbon Committee. The report recommends models, strategies and approaches for the coming half-century of water challenges. Luskin scholar Yoram Cohen was appointed member of the Blue Ribbon Committee, Luskin scholar and director J.R. DeShazo served as research staff for the Blue Ribbon Committee, and Luskin Center Executive Committee member Glen MacDonald presented to the committee. The Luskin Center will also host an event in later 2011 on local water source development and reuse. Please stay tuned and in the meantime, we hope to see you at the meeting on May 24th.The Future of Water in Southern California: A Presentation and Discussion on the Metropolitan Water District’s Blue Ribbon Committee ReportUCLA Water Resources Group Inaugural Public MeetingClick here to RSVP Keynote Robert Simonds, Blue Ribbon Committee Chair and Former MWD DirectorPanelYoram Cohen, Blue Ribbon Committee Member, Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering & Director, Water Technology Research CenterJ.R. DeShazo, Committee Consultant, Associate Professor of Public Policy & Director, Luskin Center for Innovation Robert Lempert, Committee Consultant, RAND Corporation & Director, Frederick S. Pardee Center for Longer Range Global Policy and the Future Human Condition Glen MacDonald, Panel Moderator, Professor of Geography and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology & Director, Institute of the Environment and SustainabilityThe MWD Blue Ribbon Committee Report outlines proposed models, strategies and approaches for the coming half-century of water challenges. More than 20 of Southern California’s corporate, community and academic leaders contributed to the report. The analysis, recommendations and strategies cover the development of new water options for Southern California, energy for the future, economic development and new technologies, financial stability, workforce, and external and internal communications functions. This event is a joint presentation of the UCLA:Institute of the Environment and SustainabilityLaw School Emmett Center for Climate Change and the EnvironmentLaw School Frankel Environmental Law Policy ProgramWater Technology Research CenterHenry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied ScienceLuskin Center for Innovation in the Luskin School of Public Affairs

The Environmental Performance of Multinationals: Analyzing Differences between Host and Home Countries
2011-05-23 12:00 - 13:00
Should Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) adopt the same environmental standards when they operate in different countries? While it is assumed that MNEs can take advantage of cross-country differences in environmental regulations by moving production capacity to countries with lax environmental standards to reduce some of their costs, in this paper, we argue that MNEs can benefit from adopting the same environmental standards in all their international operations to improve their productivity, efficiency, and reputation. We will present results based on 128 MNEs with headquarters and subsidiaries based in the USA, Canada, France and Spain.Speaker BiographyAlberto Aragon-Correa is a Full Professor of Management at University of Granada (Spain). Alberto’s research interests include the connections between natural environment and corporate strategic management. He is now a Visiting Scholar at UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and works with Professor Magali Delmas (Director of the UCLA Center for Corporate Environmental Performance). Professor Aragon-Correa leads the ISDE-Innovation, Sustainability, and Development- at University of Granada involving 23 full time scholars. His research and visiting position is funded by the European Commission and the Spanish Ministry of Research. Alberto has published papers in multiple top tier journals. A light lunch will be provided at the event.

Anderson Policy Area Seminar Series Featuring Magali Delmas
2011-05-13 13:30 - 15:00
While research suggests that information policies have thepotential to reduce environmental pollution by allowing customers or investors
to choose products or prefer companies with a smaller environmental footprint,
we still have little understanding about the conditions under which people
respond to information about environmental performance and act on it. In this
research, we test the effect of intrinsic motivations, social norms and
reputation as potential motivators in the context of energy conservation
behavior. We implement a field experiment where we provide consumers with
private and public information about their energy usage. Private information in
the form of real time feedback helps consumers understand their energy usage and
lowers the cost of conservation. Public information in the form of energy
display posters about consumers’ individual energy usage allowed consumers to
experience reputation benefits from conspicuous conservation. The results of
the year-long experiment in the residence halls at the University of California
Los Angeles, show that reputational concerns effectively motivated heavy
electricity users to reduce consumption by 15 percent. Public information in
conjunction with private information was more effective than private
information alone to motivate conservation behavior.
For
more information on this talk, or other Policy Area seminars, please visit:
http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/x3681.xml

Climate Change: Global Consequence--Local Action
2011-05-11 18:30 - 20:30
The League of Women Voters of Los Angeles presents:A Film Screening and Panel Discussion
Event
Wednesday, May 11th, at 6:30 PM, at the
Barnsdall Gallery Theatre.
Featuring the award winning documentary, Climate
Refugees, and a video short from Oxfam America,
Sisters on the Planet. Climate
Refugees puts a human face on the impacts of climate change
already occurring and is the most talked about film on our environment since
An Inconvenient Truth. The evening begins with a 6:30 PM
Reception, Screening starts at 7:00
PM, and is immediately followed by a panel discussion
of local climate policy experts. Come hear what we Angelenos can do now to
mitigate our carbon footprint.
Panel Moderator:
Paul Bunje, Executive Director, UCLA Center for Climate
Change Solutions, & Managing Director, Los Angeles Regional,
Collaborative for Climate Action and Sustainability (LARC)
Panelists:
JR DeShazo, Environmental Economist, Director, UCLA
Luskin Center for Innovation & Lewis Center for Regional
StudiesCara Horowitz, Executive Director, Emmet Center on
Climate Change, UCLA Environmental Law CenterJonathan Parfrey, Board Commissioner LADWP, & Executive
Director, Green LA Coalition
Register On-Line
www.lwvlosangeles.org
ADMISSION $10 / $5 STUDENTS
OR click here for the event
flyer.

Air Emissions and Environmental Justice in Los Angeles
2011-05-04 18:30 - 19:30
Even while air emissions in the Southern California region have improved over time, certain communities continue to bear a disproportionate share of emission burdens. Nowhere is this more evident than with communities near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Our distinguished panel participants will bring their varied perspectives and experiences to explore the implications of environmental justice in air assessment.Panel Participants Include:Jesse Marquez, Executive Director, Coalition for a Safe EnvironmentBahram Fazeli, Research and Policy Analyst, Communities for a Better EnvironmentAdriano Martinez, Project Attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council

Luskin/IOE Lunch Speaker Series with Tim Malloy: "Beyond Risk Assessment: Prevention-Based Chemicle Policy"
2011-05-02 12:00 - 13:00
UCLA Law School professor Tim Malloy will present a talk at the monthly research seminar. Malloy is a Faculty Director of the interdisciplinary UCLA Sustainable Technology and Policy Program whose research interests include environmental, chemical and nanotechnology policy, regulatory policy, and organizational theory, with particular emphasis on the relationship between regulatory design and implementation and the structure of business organizations. In addition, he has worked and written extensively in the area of risk governance and pollution prevention, melding together his academic interests with his work in the Sustainable Technology Policy Program.
A light lunch will be served at the event. Please RSVP before the date of the event.

Sustainability Summit "Fulfilling our New Market Potential: Plans for Integrating our Energy, Housing and Community Needs"
2011-04-12 07:00 - 14:30
Now in its fourth year, the LABC Sustainablity Summit promotes Los Angeles’ competitiveness in the green economy by bringing professionals, experts and policy makers together to discuss issues critical issues confronting the region.
We will be updating the event information as it becomes available. For now, visit http://www.labusinesscouncil.org/programs.php
