May 4, 2026

The City of Irvine celebrates community, connection and clean air at its third annual car-free open streets event, CicloIrvine, sponsored by UC Irvine and UCI Health. Scroll to see more photos from the event. (Photo by Steve Zylius / UC Irvine)

UC IRVINE NEWS

Students explore academic freedom

Chancellor Howard Gillman joined the class for a session this spring, answered student questions and discussed his recent book, Campus Speech and Academic Freedom (Yale University Press, 2026).

At a moment when debates over speech, expression and intellectual inquiry are reshaping universities across the country, the School of Humanities has launched an innovative undergraduate course to put students at the center of this conversation. Social Media Storytellers: On Academic Freedom is a deep and collaborative exploration of what academic freedom means today, why it matters and for whom. “We know that so many of us, and especially our students, use social media platforms in increasingly sophisticated ways,” said Kelly Anne Brown, director of communications for the School of Humanities. “We think the impact of humanistic explorations of a topic like academic freedom should absolutely engage with this daily part of students’ lives.”

Biological target for obesity prevention

By analyzing data from more than 4,000 postmenopausal women participating in the Women’s Health Initiative, UC Irvine researchers have found that higher levels of the hormone asprosin are linked to reduced weight gain in metabolically healthy postmenopausal women. “Understanding the hormonal factors that influence weight after menopause may help us develop more precise strategies for lifestyle management or pharmacologic interventions that prevent obesity and related metabolic disorders while preserving healthy muscle mass,” said Simin Liu, chair and Distinguished Professor of epidemiology and biostatistics. The National Institutes of Health helped support the research. #SpeakUp4Science

Celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month

May marks Jewish American Heritage Month. UC Irvine Libraries continues to expand its collections on Jewish American history and related topics that help document and honor the works of Jewish Americans, compiling an online guide to resources and media (both fiction and nonfiction). While certain resources are restricted to those with a valid UCInetID, many are accessible to the public as part of UC Irvine Libraries' ongoing commitment to promoting learning and enhancing access.

Treating hearing loss

It’s important to seek help when signs of hearing loss start to appear, regardless of one’s age, Dr. Sonia Sehgal, a geriatrician with UCI Health Senior Health Services, told U.S. News & World Report. “I encourage people with hearing loss to strongly consider hearing aids. People with untreated hearing impairment often slowly start to limit social interactions, which are so important to well-being."

AAU statement on the role of research universities

At UC Irvine, our mission is rooted in advancing discovery, expanding opportunity, and serving the public good. That work – across research, teaching and community engagement – reflects the broader purpose of leading research universities nationwide. The Association of American Universities recently issued a statement reaffirming this shared mission and the role universities play in driving innovation, preparing future leaders and strengthening our nation’s future. Read the full statement.

UC NEWS

Now accepting applications: 2026–27 VOICE Initiative

The UC National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement is pleased to share the application for the 2026–27 Valuing Open and Inclusive Conversation and Engagement initiative. VOICE provides funding for UC students, staff and faculty who are interested in conducting research or coordinating programs and activities that further the center’s mission.

#IamUCI

Student wins first place at CCSC

Rei Shindo, a computer science student in the Donald Bren School of Information & Computer Sciences, won first place at the Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges (Southwest) Conference for his “Transfer Course Articulation Planner,” a web tool that simplifies the course selection process for community college students in California. “My inspiration is simple,” said Shindo. “I want to make sure that future generations of community college students across the state will never have to go through what I did. I know exactly what it feels like to do everything right, only to find out no one else is able to understand all the classes you need. I want to be the person who can take what they’ve learned from transferring to give students the real help they need and make it all painless.”

#UCIconnected

CicloIrvine

(Photos by Steve Zylius / UC Irvine)

UC Irvine and UCI Health teamed up with the city of Irvine for CicloIrvine, a community-focused, car-free, open-street event highlighting a collective commitment to community engagement, sustainability and environmentally conscious travel.

#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.

UC IRVINE NEWSMAKERS

Note: Some news sites require subscriptions to read articles. UC Irvine Libraries offers free subscriptions to The New York Times, Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Orange County Register and The Washington Post for students, faculty and staff.