UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation

Thinking Gender 2026: Feminist and Queer Ecologies
2026-04-17 09:00 - 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | James West Alumni Center, UCLA
Thinking Gender 2026 will feature a full day of graduate student presentations highlighting innovative research at the intersections of gender, sexuality, and the environment. The conference will include a keynote address by Cutcha Risling Baldy (Cal Poly Humboldt; NAS Rou Dalagurr Food Sovereignty Lab & Traditional Ecological Knowledges Institute), whose work centers Indigenous feminisms, land relations, and food sovereignty. More information here.
When: Friday, April 17, 2026, 9am to 6pm, Pacific Time
Where: James West Alumni Center, UCLA Campus
Presented by: UCLA Center for the Study of Women | Barbara Streisand Center
Featuring: Keynote Speaker Cutcha Risling Baldy (Cal Poly Humboldt)
Registration is free.
Register Here

Book Talk with Dr. Jesse M. Keenan on North: The Future of Post-Climate America
2026-04-27 12:30 - 13:45 | UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, Room 2343, 337 Charles E. Young Dr., Los Angeles, CA, 90095, United States
Join us as Dr. Jesse M. Keenan discusses his new book, North: The Future of Post-Climate America (Oxford University Press), which explores how climate change is shaping the physical and demographic future of the United States. North documents a new era marked by shifts in population that are transforming everything from the physical landscape of cities to electoral politics. At the dawning of this post-climate era, emergent geographies of risk and opportunity are coming into focus as a consequence of both physical climate impacts and the adaptations of market economies.
When: Monday, April 27 from 12:30-1:45pm PT
Where: UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, Room 2343
What to Expect:

Hear an engaging talk from Dr. Jesse M. Keenan
Complimentary copies of North will be available at the start of the event (while supplies last)
Connect with peers who share your passion for the environment
Enjoy light refreshments throughout the event

RSVP: This event is free. Registration is required to attend. Sign up today to join us!
Hosted by: UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation
Register Here

About the Book
North: The Future of Post-Climate America offers a critical reframing of adaptation science and the role that people, markets, and public institutions play in shaping human mobility and the capacity of American communities to adapt. With fast-moving markets and slow-moving governments, everyday people are caught in the crosshairs. While some will seek to preserve the status quo, others will relocate from places that are increasingly uninhabitable, too risky, or too expensive for permanent settlement. As the era of Sun Belt migration comes to an end and climate impacts accelerate, everything from local relocations to transcontinental climate migrations are already well underway.
At the same time, new geographies of opportunity are receiving zones for those who are seeking a more sustainable and less precarious way of life. North is not just a collection of scientific observations and projections about America’s future in the face of climate change. It is also a projection of optimism about America’s capacity for decarbonization, environmental stewardship, and population mobility.

About the Author

Jesse M. Keenan is the Favrot II Associate Professor of Sustainable Real Estate and Urban Planning and the Director of the Center on Climate Change and Urbanism at Tulane University. Keenan’s research focuses on the intersection of climate change adaptation and the built environment, including aspects of applied science, design, regulation, and planning. Keenan has previously advised agencies of the U.S. government, governors, mayors, Fortune 500 companies, technology ventures, community enterprises, and international NGOs. Keenan formerly served as the Director and Area Head for Real Estate and the Built Environment on the faculty of the Harvard Graduate School of Design and as the Research Director of the Center for Urban Real Estate on the faculty of the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at Columbia University.

Drought, Disaster, and Decision-Making: Can a Crisis Be Averted in the Colorado River Basin?
2026-05-08 09:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
Join expert researchers and water managers for this virtual mini-symposium as we examine dire conditions and the escalating crisis in the Colorado River Basin, where the future ability to serve 40 million users across Western states, tribes, and Mexico hangs in uncertainty.
What to Expect: We’ll unpack climate-driven declines, shed light on complex interstate negotiations, and examine pathways to resilience. Speakers will consider pragmatic outcomes and what a balanced deal could look like for the West — and for California’s water future. Each panel will be followed by moderated Q&A.
When: Friday, May 8 from 9:00am-12:00pm Pacific Time
Where: Register here to receive the Zoom link to attend.
Presented by: UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation in partnership with UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, UCLA Water Resources Group, UCLA Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the California Institute for Water Resources.
Register Here

Agenda at a Glance

9:00 AM Opening Remarks
9:05-9:45 AM Panel 1: Setting the Stage – The State of the River
9:45-10:30 AM Panel 2: Demystifying the Negotiations Process
10:30-11:10 AM Panel 3: Approaches for a More Resilient River
11:10-11:55 AM Panel 4: Where We Go From Here
11:55 AM Closing Remarks

Hosts
Dr. Edith de Guzman, Water Equity and Adaptation Policy Cooperative Extension Specialist, UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources
Dr. Gregory Pierce, Senior Director, UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation; Director, Human Right to Water Solutions Lab; Director, UCLA Water Resources Group
Featured Speakers
Ian James, Water Reporter, Los Angeles Times (moderator)
Chairwoman Amelia Flores, Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) Tribal Council
Anne Castle, Senior fellow, Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment at the University of Colorado Law School
Bradley H. Udall, Senior Water and Climate Research Scientist and Scholar, Colorado Water Center, Colorado State University; Senior Fellow, Colorado River Research Group
Dr. Kathryn Sorensen, Director of Research, Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University
Shivaji Deshmukh, General Manager, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Chairman JB Hamby, Chairman of the Colorado River Board of California
Dr. Mark Gold, Adjunct Professor (former), UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
Cara Horowitz, Andrew Sabin Family Foundation Executive Director of the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at UCLA School of Law; Director, Frank G. Wells Environmental Law Clinic
Dr. Glen M. MacDonald, Distinguished Professor & Endowed Chair of Geography of California and the American West Ladder Faculty at UCLA; Director, UC White Mountain Research Center
Dr. Benjamin Bass, Research scientist, UCLA Center for Climate Science
Noah Garrison, Environmental Science Practicum Director, UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
Brennon Mendez, Emmett/Frankel Fellow in Environmental Law and Policy at UCLA School of Law
Isabel Friedman, Senior Advocacy Associate, Natural Resources Defense Council
Becky Mitchell, State of Colorado’s Commissioner to the Upper Colorado River Commission

Related Articles
Report puts numbers on massive gap in water costs in the West by Claire Griffiths
As the Colorado River shrinks, states fail to tap one of their most promising and accessible water sources by Claire Griffiths

TEDxUCLA 2026: Dr. V Kelly Turner's Talk About Heat
2026-05-26 18:00 - 21:00 | UCLA Northwest Campus Auditorium, 350 De Neve Dr., Los Angeles, CA, 90024, United States
Join us live for TEDxUCLA 2026 as our associate director Dr. V. Kelly Turner highlights how where we live, work, and play affect our ability to thrive even as temperatures rise. She explores one of the defining questions of our warming world: “What does it mean to be too hot?”
What to Expect: In this timely talk, Dr. Turner reimagines how we can move beyond simply surviving extreme heat toward creating places and broader communities where people can thrive. Dr. Turner joins a lineup of thought leaders exploring friendship, AI, learning, preventive care, and more.
When: Tuesday, May 26 from 6:00-9:00 PM Pacific Time
Where: UCLA Northwest Campus Auditorium. Register here for tickets. Tickets are limited and expected to sell out.
Presented by: TEDx UCLA 2026
Register Here

Streamlining Home Electrification: Strategies to Reach Disadvantaged Communities
2026-06-11 15:30 - 16:30 | Zoom Webinar
How can electrification programs better support households in disadvantaged communities?
Join this webinar to explore strategies to reduce program participation barriers and expand home electrification across California. We’ll draw on findings from our recently published report, Streamlining Home Electrification in the Gateway Cities, on a promising pilot program in the L.A. region.
What to Expect: We’ll discuss the benefits of the “one-stop-shop” case management approach and the potential for streamlined applications and a universal home assessment process to facilitate participation across programs. A panel of experts will share perspectives from across the field — including state policy, environmental justice, and more — followed by a moderated Q&A.
When: Thursday, June 11 from 3:30-4:30 PM Pacific Time
Where: Register here to receive the Zoom link to attend.
Presented by: UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation in partnership with Valley Clean Air Now (Valley CAN)
Related Report: Streamlining Home Electrification in the Gateway Cities
Register Here

Agenda

Introduction: Dr. Gregory Pierce
Opening Remarks: Cliff Rechtschaffen
Research Presentation: Lauren Dunlap
Panel Discussion featuring Ross Zelen, Wendy Salvador-Galbraith, and Beckie Menten
Audience Q&A

Hosts
Dr. Gregory Pierce, Senior Director, UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation
Lauren Dunlap, Project Manager of Energy Equity Research, UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation

Featured Speakers
Cliff Rechtschaffen, Board Member, California Air and Resources Board
Ross Zelen, Principal Consultant, California Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change
Wendy Salvador-Galbraith, Community Organizer, Greenhouse South LA
Beckie Menten, California Director, Building Decarbonization Coalition

20th Annual LABC Sustainability Summit
2026-10-01 07:00 - 15:00 | Town and Gown, University of Southern California (USC)
Marking the 20th anniversary of both the Los Angeles Business Council’s Sustainability Summit and AB 32 — the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 that established California’s landmark framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions — the program will reaffirm a principle that has helped propel the state of California to the world’s 4th largest economy and guided the Summit for two decades: sustainability is good business.
What to Expect: As California prepares for a gubernatorial transition, the Summit will examine how California can sustain two decades of climate and economic leadership by:

Advancing policies that drive market innovation
Strengthening regional energy markets and grid reliability
Modernizing water infrastructure for climate resilience
Attracting the investment needed to grow its digital, advanced mobility, and commercial space economies

When: October 1, 2026 from 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM (PDT)
Where: Town and Gown, University of Southern California (USC)
Presented by: Los Angeles Business Council

Event Contact: Bari Handelman, bhandelman@labusinesscouncil.org
Register Here
