Feb. 9, 2026

A hummingbird gathers nectar from aloe blooms in Aldrich Park. (Photo by Steve Zylius / UC Irvine)

UC IRVINE NEWS

Water abundance gap

California doesn’t have a water scarcity problem. It has a distribution problem, according to Nícola Ulibarrí, associate professor of urban planning and public policy, whose research is reshaping how policymakers think about one of the state’s most pressing challenges. “Water is already abundant for most California residents,” said Ulibarrí. “The question isn’t how to create more water. It’s how to ensure everyone can access what we already have.”

MuseumConnect expands arts access

Transportation and distribution services MuseumConnect shuttle offers free round-trip services for students, faculty and staff to travel between the main campus and the UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art in Costa Mesa. The service offers morning and afternoon trips, Wednesday through Friday, allowing riders to explore art, culture and creativity between classes or as a planned group excursion. Book your next ride and enjoy convenient access to exhibitions and programs just minutes away from campus.

Comprehensive Stroke Center

UCI Health – Lakewood has earned Comprehensive Stroke Center certification, the highest level of designation for stroke care possible from DNV Healthcare. “We are honored to provide advanced neurological and stroke care to the Lakewood community and remain steadfast in our unwavering commitment to improve the lives of our patients,” said Tatyana Popkova, UCI Health chief strategy officer and senior vice president. “Providing the best possible outcomes for our stroke patients through timely treatment is what we strive for.”

UC NEWS

UCTV celebrates Black History Month

UCTV recognizes Black History Month with an archive of programming that highlights pivotal moments and notable figures in Black history. Hear from contemporary change-makers, poets and writers on the Black experience, business leaders and more.

#IamUCI

Psychology professor joins most influential scholars

Candice Odgers, Chancellor’s Professor of psychology, has earned a coveted spot on Clarivate's 2025 “Highly Cited Researchers” list – a testament to her groundbreaking work exploring how technology and social inequality shape young lives. “We celebrate the Highly Cited Researchers 2025 for advancing innovation and inspiring the global research community to tackle society’s greatest challenges with creativity and ingenuity,” said Bar Veinstein, president of academia and government at Clarivate.

#UCIconnected spotlights interesting updates from the UC Irvine community. #IamUCI spotlights profiles of students, faculty, staff and alumni. Send submissions via email or post on social media with the #UCIconnected or #IamUCI hashtags.

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