March 2, 2026

Fireworks lit up the sky at the 2026 Homecoming Block Party at the Bren. Scroll to see photos from the event. (Photo by Steve Zylius / UC Irvine)

UC IRVINE NEWS

Celebrating Womxn’s History Month

UC Irvine Libraries is offering a variety of resources and research related to women’s history that help document and honor the works of women. In celebration of Womxn’s History Month, the Libraries created a guide of available online resources, archival materials and media as well as recent book additions. While some materials are restricted only to those with a valid UCInetID, most are accessible to the public as part of UC Irvine Libraries' ongoing commitment to promoting learning and enhancing access.

Cue labeling

“If you name it, you can tame it” is a promising new way to fight cigarette cravings, according to Golnaz Tabibnia, assistant research psychologist. Her discovery, published in Neuropsychopharmacology, reveals that a technique to mentally name the triggers that make you want to smoke can reduce the subjective experience of craving and the brain activity associated with it. “I think that in the context of emotion regulation, and probably to some extent, craving regulation, what you’re doing when you’re putting feelings into words is that you’re effectively taking it out of your automatic, sort of less conscious parts of the brain, and you’re bringing it into the more volitional parts of the brain where you can actually bring control over it,” Tabibnia said.

Furnishings set new standards

Behind every piece of furniture in the newly opened UCI Health – Irvine acute-care hospital is an ironclad commitment to innovation, sustainability, health and patient safety. “When our guests are sitting in a chair, they’re not touching a chemical of concern or smelling the vapors of one,” said Ellen Khoudari, senior project manager with UCI Health Planning Administration.

UC NEWS

Sloan Research fellows

(Herdeline Ann Ardoña (left), assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, and Seunghyun Sim, assistant professor of chemistry.)

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has announced that 18 University of California faculty have been named 2026 Sloan Research fellows, a prestigious award that recognizes promising early-career scientists and scholars. Herdeline Ann M. Ardoña and Seunghyun Sim from UC Irvine were specifically lauded for their work. Fellows receive a two-year, $75,000 award, which can be used flexibly to advance their research.

#IamUCI

Crystal M. Glover advances optimal aging outcomes

Crystal M. Glover, associate professor of neurology, wants you to live a longer, healthier life. The world-renowned applied social psychologist is working to remove obstacles to healthy aging for everyone. “What led me to UC Irvine in January 2025 was the promise of collaboration,” said Glover, “and in my first year, that promise has borne such incredible fruit as we work to remove obstacles to optimal health outcomes in aging for everyone.”

2026 Homecoming Block Party

(photos by Steve Zylius / UC Irvine)

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