Special issue: Earth on the edge

It’s mid-August in Greenland and UC Irvine glaciologists are measuring ice melt of up to several meters a day. When glaciers melt, the global sea level rises and thousands of miles away, a multidisciplinary team of UCI researchers warn residents from the Newport Beach coast to poverty-stricken, pop-up villages in Tijuana that flooding is a real danger. From largely unmapped Greenland to our own backyard, UCI scientists and their students study the consequences of climate change, and the campus Sustainability Initiative provides support by harnessing scholarship and resources to develop new systems and cultures that no longer harm the planet – or people.

Dear fellow Anteaters,

 

Chancellor Gillman 1In 1972, Professor Sherwood Rowland, founding chair of our chemistry department, began looking at the question of what happens to chlorofluorocarbon molecules when they rise into the ozone layer of the upper atmosphere. CFCs are man-made compounds then widely used in many applications, most commonly as refrigerants and aerosol propellants. The ozone layer establishes the temperature structure of the atmosphere and simultaneously protects us from solar ultraviolet radiation. In a very real sense, the ozone layer makes life on Earth possible.

Rowland discovered that CFCs, broken down by solar radiation, are highly efficient ozone destroyers – one CFC molecule can destroy 100,000 ozone molecules. His work ultimately led to global regulation of CFC production and use. And in 1995, Rowland shared the Nobel Prize in chemistry for this research; the award citation said he “may have saved the world from catastrophe.”

This research was also one of the first, if not the very first, scientific proofs of man’s long-term harmful effects on the Earth’s climate. And in the 40 years since Rowland’s key discovery, UCI scientists have been at the forefront of climate change research. This issue of the magazine explores some examples of our remaining “ahead of the curve,” as President Obama so aptly put it. I hope you enjoy reading about how we are leading the way, once again, to save the world from catastrophe.

 

Chancellor Howard Gillman

Alumni

 

  • Make your mark on UCI!

    Leave your legacy and place your name on the Newkirk Alumni Center Spirit Wall. Celebrate your time at UCI with a custom engraved plaque displayed prominently in the

  • Behind the scenes with the CEO

    I want to send a big “Thank you!” to all who participated in our survey last November. The results told us that alumni love UCI, are very proud of the education

  • There’s no place like homecoming

    Aldrich Park was hopping Jan. 31 as nearly 5,000 alumni, students and friends of the campus showed up for UCI’s 50th anniversary homecoming. Those attending were lured

  • Ed You ’91: From bio sci to...

    FBI agents aren’t typically greeted with open arms by members of the science community. There’s an inherent distrust of “feds” who come snooping around their

  • Association to host Lauds & Laurels gala

    The UCI Alumni Association will host its 45th annual Lauds & Laurels awards ceremony at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 14. Nineteen distinguished individuals and the entire

  • Class notes

    1970s Kenneth Bentley* humanities ’73 was honored with the Champion of Youth award at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Venice’s ninth annual Champion of Youth Gala for

News

 

Give to UCI

 

  • UCI Health Heroes Gala, June 6

    Join us for a memorable celebration of the UC Irvine Health heroes, whose actions have helped people across the community and around the world discover and experience

  • Inspired to action

    Donors such as Marc and Michelle Tuchman give infants a fighting chance Time is of the essence for infants struggling to survive a traumatic birth, which can starve the

  • Letter from Vice Chancellor Gregory R. Leet

    Much like environmental sustainability helps to preserve our planet, sustainable philanthropy helps to preserve our university. Sustaining donors play a pivotal role in

Events

 

  • UCI Illuminations

    The Chancellor’s Arts & Culture Initiative will offer a variety of public events through 2016, including: • Pacific Symphony’s “Romeo & Juliet

  • Celebrate UCI, April 18

    One of the university’s oldest and most festive traditions, Celebrate UCI will feature games and kiddie rides, academic information, a classic car show, tram

  • ‘Boeing-Boeing,’ April 25-May 3

    The drama department will stage the French farce “Boeing-Boeing,” directed by Eli Simon, UCI Chancellor’s Professor of Drama. Set in the 1960s, the play features a

Athletics

 

People

 

UCI’s 50th

 

  • Anniversary highlights

    50th Annual Commencement, June 12-15 UC Irvine will celebrate its 50th annual commencement with 10 ceremonies held over four days. Friday through Monday, June 12-15.

  • Anteaters heed the call

    Fifty for 50 program honors UCI’s tradition of giving Anteaters aren’t content with simply throwing a party to celebrate UC Irvine’s 50th anniversary. Instead,

  • 50th anniversary calendar of events

    Join us as the University of California, Irvine celebrates its 50th anniversary. To mark this milestone, the university has launched a two-year-long series of programs

About UC Irvine Magazine

UC Irvine Magazine is a quarterly publication produced by the University of California, Irvine Office of Strategic Communications for faculty, staff, alumni, students, parents, community members and UC Irvine supporters. Issues are published in winter, spring, summer and fall.

STAFF

Managing Editor: Cathy Lawhon

Writer/Editor: Kathryn Bold

Visuals: Steve Zylius

Copy Editor: Kymberly Doucette

Design: Vince Rini Design

Contributing Writers: Julie Bos, Nancy Everhart, Bob Olson, Janna L. Parris, Janet Wilson and Elayne Zalis

Web Developer: Christopher Walsh

Content Coordinator: Lisa Winter

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