May 26, 2026

Jacarandas bloom and create soft violet canopies near the Natural Sciences 1 building. (Photo by Steve Zylius / UC Irvine)

UC IRVINE NEWS

Building UC Irvine

James McGaugh stands before the building bearing his name in 2012.

To mark UC Irvine’s 60^th anniversary milestone, four of the university’s pioneers – neurobiologist James McGaugh (above), physicist William Parker, first-class alumna and administrator Barbara Davidson and physician Thomas Cesario – reflect on what it meant to be present at the creation of an institution that now ranks among the nation’s top public research universities.

Wearable bioelectronic sweat sensor

For most people, sweat is just part of everyday life – something wiped away after a workout, a stressful meeting or a hot Southern California afternoon. But UC Irvine researchers are looking at sweat very differently: as a nonstop stream of clues about what is happening inside the human body. The team has developed a lightweight wearable bioelectronic device that can monitor health through sweat continuously for weeks at a time. “The regenerative capability of our device addresses one of the biggest obstacles in long-term wearable biosensing, which is sensor surfaces that lose performance after repeated measurements,” said Rahim Esfandyar-pour, assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science (above). “By being able to refresh itself, automatically generate sweat, and be worn for long durations, the device potentially offers users a health monitoring platform that is more robust and practical.”

AI program for HR leaders

The Leadership Development Institute at the Paul Merage School of Business has partnered with The Future of HR: AI Strategy & Leadership. The program prepares senior HR leaders to take strategic ownership of how artificial intelligence reshapes their organizations. “The intersection of AI and human capital is one of the most consequential leadership challenges of our time,” said Ian O. Williamson, dean of the Merage School of Business (above, left). “The future of work demands leaders who can think strategically about AI. Not just adopt it, but architect it in ways that strengthen organizations and the people within them.”

UCI Health surgical team pioneers use of carbon fiber implants in spine

UCI Health surgeons are among the earliest adopters of posterior cervical carbon fiber implants to treat spine conditions. The first case in September 2025 was with a thyroid patient with thyroid cancer that had spread to the upper spine, injuring the spinal cord and causing the loss of use of the patient’s right hand. After the patient’s tumor was removed, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Hao-Hua Wu and neurosurgeon Dr. Hansen Bow performed a posterior reconstruction and stabilization of the cervical and thoracic spine with a hybrid carbon fiber and titanium construct.

UC NEWS

President Milliken meets with equity and inclusion leaders

Left to right: Fabrizio Mejia, Becky Petitt, Renetta Garrison Tull, Delia S. Saenz, Renee Navarro, President Milliken, Mariam Lam, Dyonne Bergeron, Anju Reejhsinghani and Yvette Gullatt.

UC President James B. Milliken joined members of the UC Council of Vice Chancellors for Equity and Inclusion for a lunchtime discussion that focused on the council’s important role and leadership in strengthening belonging and supporting campus communities throughout the university. Dyonne Bergeron, vice chancellor for inclusive excellence, represented UC Irvine at the event.

#IamUCI

Making history

Clovis Hung (above) was 13 – the age of most eighth graders – when he enrolled at UC Irvine. This June, at 15 years old, he will make history as the youngest person to graduate from UC Irvine’s School of Humanities. Hung is finishing a bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in anthropology. “Environment and curiosity are what drive me,” he said. “When I’m in an environment that pushes me, I want to keep going.”

#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.