Jan. 30, 2023

UCI researchers advance fight against Alzheimer’s

Neuroscientists at UCI and the University of Pennsylvania have found a way to safely thwart the brain’s resistance to healthy new immune cells, which can be inserted into the organ to combat Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. Their discovery about brain cells called microglia, which recently appeared in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, brings hope for treating and even preventing neurodegenerative disorders.

Sociologist sees silver lining in global population drop

Wang Feng, a UCI professor of sociology, has an opinion piece in today’s New York Times. Feng, who studies China, weighs in on the bombshell news that the most populous country in the world is experiencing its first population decline in six decades. “Shrinking populations are usually part of a natural, inevitable process, and rather than focus excessively on concerns like labor shortages and pension support, we need to look at the brighter spots for our world,” writes Feng. “Compared with a half-century ago, people in many countries are richer, healthier and better educated and women are more empowered. China’s population, for example, is shrinking and aging, but its people are more educated and have a longer life expectancy than at any time in the country’s history.”

UC President Drake’s message about killing of Tyre Nichols in Memphis

In a message released online today, UC President Michael V. Drake expressed his shock and grief about the death of Memphis resident and California native Tyre Nichols.

“I am sickened and outraged by this utterly senseless killing, as we all have been by too many others that have preceded it,” wrote Drake. “It is yet another painful reminder of the constant flow of systemic racism and injustice that communities of color continue to endure. It also adds to the grief and shock we already feel following the recent wave of violence directed at Asian American and immigrant communities in horrible back-to-back-to-back mass shootings in California in just the past two weeks.”

The rest of Drake’s message, including a reminder about UC mental health resources as well as his hope that the UC community will remain resilient, is online.

Rubik’s Cube genius sets new record

ICYMI: A University of Michigan student and avid violinist has set the speed record for solving a Rubik’s Cube. Stanley Chapel, a 21-year-old junior at the university, solved his first 3x3 Rubik’s Cube at age 14 and has since set the record for larger and more difficult cubes. Factoring in the time it takes him to study the cube before being blindfolded, it takes Chapel 17 seconds to solve the puzzle.

Live-Online ACT/SAT Strategy Workshop
Wednesday, 6 p.m. (sponsored by Division of Continuing Education)

“H.M.S. Pinafore” by the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players
Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. (sponsored by Illuminations: The Chancellor's Arts & Culture Initiative)

Visit today.uci.edu to see and submit event listings. Events of general interest will be shared in UCI Digest two days before they occur.

UCIrvine posts on Instagram: Counting down to Homecoming 2023! Let's relive the memories and create new ones together on Feb. 11th, Anteaters. This will be the first in-person Homecoming at #UCIrvine since 2020! To register for the event, tap the link in the bio! @ucialumni

#UCIconnected spotlights student, alumni, faculty and staff photos, essays, shoutouts, hobbies, artwork, unusual office decorations, activities and more. Send submissions via email or post on social media with the #UCIconnected hashtag.

Upload your vaccine and booster records

Daily COVID-19 Symptom check

By coming to campus each day, students and employees are attesting they are free of COVID-19 symptoms and are not COVID-19 positive. If you currently have symptoms of COVID-19 or recently tested positive, do not come to campus, or if you currently live on campus stay in your residence, and follow instructions for reporting your case or assessing symptoms on the UCI Forward page. Close contacts to a COVID-19 case are not required to stay home or quarantine, but should follow guidance for close contact instructions for masking and testing on the UCI Forward page.

Potential workplace exposure

UCI provides this notification of a potential workplace COVID-19 exposure. Employees and subcontractors who were in these locations on the dates listed may have been exposed to the coronavirus. You may be entitled to various benefits under applicable federal and state laws and University-specific policies and agreements. The full notification is available on the UCI Forward site. If you have been identified as a close contact to a COVID-19 case, the UCI Contact Tracing Program will contact you and provide additional direction.

UCI Forward – information on campus status and operational updates

Monkeypox information - Information and resources on monkeypox

UCI Health COVID-19 Updates – important information related to UCI Health

UCI Coronavirus Response Center – available at covid19@uci.edu or 949-824-9918

Contact Tracing and Vaccine Navigation Services – assistance with vaccines and vaccine uploads or to report a case, available at contacttracing@uci.edu or 949-824-2300

For questions specific to your personal health situation, please contact your doctor or healthcare provider.