Dec. 12, 2024

Anteater Time Machine: Students prepare a kite for flight in Aldrich Park, circa 1983.

UC IRVINE NEWS

Researchers named fellows by National Academy of Inventors

Hamid Jafarkhani (above left), a Chancellor’s Professor of electrical engineering & computer science, and Jianhua Yu, (right), a professor of medicine, hematology & oncology, have been named 2024 fellows by the National Academy of Inventors for making significant contributions to society and human health through their work. Jafarkhani was recognized for his pioneering contributions to signal processing for multi-antenna wireless communications systems, while Yu was honored for his development of novel therapies to battle cancer. “We are proud to have two UC Irvine faculty members selected as fellows by the National Academy of Inventors,” said Hal Stern, provost and executive vice chancellor. “Both researchers have successfully translated their research into significant applications in society.”

Study sheds light on evolving views of gender integration within the U.S. military

In a study of current and former U.S. soldiers, researchers at UC Irvine and Queen’s University found that those deployed to Afghanistan in mixed-gender units were more likely to view gender integration positively than all-male units. Coauthors Heidi Hardt, a UC Irvine associate professor of political science, and Stéfanie von Hlatky, a Queen’s University political studies professor, found that many soldiers viewed women’s involvement in military operations as critical to operational effectiveness. “Taken together, these findings provide insights into the changing attitudes toward gender integration in the U.S. military,” said Hardt. “Future research is needed on the complexities of these contexts and also on the durability of changes in attitudes due to operational experiences.”

Monitor teens taking weight-loss drugs, says UCI Health pediatrician

Thousands of U.S. teenagers are taking popular GLP-1 drugs for weight loss despite concerns about their long-term health effects. UCI Health pediatrician Dr. Dan Cooper worries that because the drugs cause reduced food intake, future growth and development could be affected, leading to bone fractures or osteoporosis.

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Speech Matters podcast: “The Heroes are the Free Speakers”

In the final episode of Season 3 of the University of California National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement’s Speech Matters podcast, the center’s director Michelle Deutchman speaks with Mary Anne Franks, a leading First Amendment scholar, to discuss her new book “Fearless Speech: Breaking Free From the First Amendment.” Franks unpacks the concepts of “fearless speech” and “reckless speech,” and delves into how her book reimagines free speech as a practice rooted in courage, candor and accountability.

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Anteaters named PBS Local Heroes for anti-Asian hate work

Stacy Yung (above right), coordinator of the Single Subject Credential Program at the School of Education, has been named a 2024 PBS SoCal Local Hero for her exceptional leadership in advancing equity and inclusion in education. Alongside fellow alumna Virginia Nguyen (above left), also a 2024 Local Hero, Yung co-founded Educate to Empower, a platform dedicated to combating anti-Asian hate and fostering inclusive learning environments. Their work has empowered thousands of educators across Southern California and amplified the voices of marginalized communities. Through Educate to Empower, Yung and Nguyen have trained thousands of educators and sparked meaningful conversations around allyship and social justice. Their efforts also include visionary leadership in UC Irvine’s Teaching for Justice Conference, which amplifies the voices of educators and students from diverse backgrounds.

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