Global academic freedom; planet formation mysteries

Feb. 5, 2024

Students walking in the rain with umbrellas

A “Pineapple Express” storm hits Southern California on Thursday as students navigate Ring Road. (Photo: Steve Zylius/UCI)

UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS

Study highlights worldwide academic freedom trends

UCI sociologists David John Frank, Julia Lerch and Evan Schofer, from left, led the study.

Making use of a newly available dataset, UCI sociologists (from left) David John Frank, Julia Lerch and Evan Schofer found evidence that the liberty to teach and learn is protected by democracy and threatened by state religiosity, armed conflict and militarism. Overall, they found that academic freedom has broadly increased over the past 60 years, but there have been substantial reversals, including the one underway now linked to a worldwide wave of populism and authoritarianism.

UCI team unravels mysteries of planet formation

An artistic rendering of dwarf star TOI-1136 shows how exoplanets in close orbit are blasted and sculpted by radiation and solar flares, affecting their atmospheres.

A recently discovered solar system with six confirmed exoplanets and a possible seventh is boosting astronomers’ knowledge of planet formation and evolution. Relying on a globe-spanning arsenal of observatories and instruments, UCI researchers compiled the most precise measurements yet of the exoplanets’ masses, orbital properties and atmospheric characteristics.

Extreme weather update

With UCI facing continued exposure to heavy rain, wind, flooding and other hazards, employees and supervisors are encouraged to make alternative arrangements for work locations and scheduling. If on campus, be on the lookout for and avoid areas of flooding or other hazards, and report any storm-related issues (e.g., flooding, downed trees or branches, downed power lines, etc.). Please immediately contact the Facilities Management Service Desk at 949-824-5444 or the UCI Police Department at 949-824-5223 to report an issue and its location.

Currently, the campus is maintaining normal operations. If there is any change, emails and/or zotALERTs may be issued. Should there be significant campus operational impacts, updates will be posted to uci.edu. Additional information on current and forecasted weather can be found at the National Weather Service webpage at https://www.weather.gov/.

Tuesday town hall on UCI financial stability plan

Members of the UCI community are encouraged to register in advance to join a virtual town hall meeting Tuesday at noon for an update on UCI’s financial stability plan and concepts to shape a new budget model.

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UCI featured in ‘Saturday Night Live’ skit

At least since Irvine-bred funnyman Will Ferrell joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live” many moons ago, the city has occasionally found itself parodied on the show as the paragon of Americana blandness. Now that facetious stereotype has extended to UCI, in a skit depicting straitlaced students reacting to the disturbing discovery that a member of their group has ingested a microdose of a certain mind-altering substance. Hilarity ensues? Saturday’s skit was the latest in a long-running series of connections between ‘SNL,’ UCI, the City of Irvine and Orange County. Former cast member Jon Lovitz and former head writer Chris Kelly are both Anteater alums. And, like Ferrell, onetime cast member Nasim Pedrad went to high school just down the street from UCI. A bit farther afield, ‘SNL’ writer Mikey Day graduated from El Modena High in Orange and ex-cast member Leslie Jones briefly attended Chapman University.

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