#EngineerChange
July 2020

Researchers Receive DOE Grant to Transform Carbon Dioxide into Construction Materials
A UCLA research team led by Prof. Gaurav Sant has received a two-year, $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop a process to convert carbon dioxide emissions into construction materials.

Wearable-Tech Glove Translates Sign Language into Speech in Real Time
UCLA bioengineers have designed a glove-like device that can translate American Sign Language into English speech in real time though a smartphone app.

UC to lead Group Awarded $25M by NSF to Launch Quantum Computing Institute
The National Science Foundation announced a five-year, $25 million award to UC Berkeley, UCLA and other universities to create an institute to study quantum computation. Computer science professor Jens Palsberg is part of the team.

UCLA-led Team Develops Ways to Keep Buildings Cool with Improved Super White Paints
The advance shows practical pathways for designing paints that, if used on rooftops and other parts of a building, could significantly reduce cooling costs, beyond what standard white ‘cool-roof’ paints can achieve.

Researchers Develop New Camera System to See Around Corners
The camera takes advantage of the same phenomenon one observes when looking through polarized sunglasses. The advance could lead to technologies that help cars avoid hidden obstacles.

How Conspiracy Theories Emerge – And How Their Storylines Fall Apart
UCLA research uses artificial intelligence to analyze differences between a true story and a completely fabricated one. The study combined sophisticated artificial intelligence and a deep knowledge of folklore.

Honoring CEED’s Enrique Ainsworth: Three Decades Dedicated to Improving Diversity
More than 200 UCLA Samueli School of Engineering students, faculty, staff and alumni gathered together virtually in June to celebrate Enrique Ainsworth, who retired after 31 years leading the Center for Excellence in Engineering and Diversity (CEED) at UCLA.

AI Pioneer Named to Carnegie Corporation's Annual Great Immigrants List
The Carnegie Corporation of New York has named Judea Pearl, chancellor’s professor of computer science at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, as a 2020 honoree of its annual Great Immigrants program.

Professors Receive Grant to Further Understanding of Coronavirus
Two UCLA professors, including Gerard Wong of bioengineering, have received a $200,000 NSF grant to look at the underlying molecular reasons that make the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 so infectious.

Professor Receives UCLA Library Grant to Develop Affordable Course Materials
Clarice Aiello, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, has been awarded a $5,000 grant from the UCLA Library to develop affordable course materials for her quantum mechanics class.

Computer Science Professor Jens Palsberg Elected to Largest Global Computing Society
Computer science professor Jens Palsberg has been elected to the Association for Computing Machinery’s Executive Committee and will serve as chair of the special interest group governing board for a two-year term.

STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS

BruinLabs: UCLA Clubs Offers Free Program to Teach Product-Development Skills
During a time of uncertain job prospects and internships due to the ongoing pandemic, a trio of UCLA clubs has created a summer program to facilitate professional development using accessible digital resources.

ALUMNI NEWS

Bioengineering Alumnus Unlocks Data in Brain to Help Save Lives
Using the experience from his doctoral work at UCLA Samueli and the David Geffen School of Medicine, bioengineering alumnus Robert Hamilton (MS ’09, PhD ’14) founded NovaSignal in 2013 to tap the immense data available in the brain.

EVENTS
July 29 | Sugar Distinguished Speaker Series, Featuring Craig Russell (virtual format)

7400 Boelter Hall
Los Angeles, CA 90095
samueli.ucla.edu