The UC Irvine Podcast

University of California, Irvine
  • 5.0 (12)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.

  1. An Earth Day lesson in ‘forever chemicals'

    APR 13

    An Earth Day lesson in ‘forever chemicals'

    When the first Earth Day was recognized, on April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans – at the time, 10 percent of the total U.S. population – demonstrated in gatherings around the country to protest industrial developments that had led to serious human health impacts. And so began the modern environmental movement. The theme for Earth Day 2026 is “Our Power, Our Planet” – chosen to emphasize that everyone can further environmental progress. One wrong trying to be righted by researchers in UC Irvine’s Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health involves per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – a massive group of synthetic chemical compounds that don’t break down easily. Known as PFAS, they are pervasive and persistent. The most studied of these “forever chemicals” indicate a toxicity that affects liver and thyroid function, and some have been shown to lead to cancer. In 2019, Scott Bartell, professor of environmental and occupational health, launched the UCI PFAS Health Study after receiving a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to lead California’s contribution to a national multisite probe. In this episode of The UC Irvine Podcast, Bartell will share what drew him to the study of environmental contaminants, where PFAS are found and how people can decrease their exposure. He’ll also update what his team has learned about PFAS and what work is left to be done, as well as grade how the human race is doing in its efforts to take better care of the planet. “Walking in the Sky,” the music for this episode, was provided by Nico Staf via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

    15 min
  2. In celebration of National Public Health Week

    MAR 31

    In celebration of National Public Health Week

    The American Public Health Association was formed in 1872, when scientific advances were starting to reveal the causes of contagious diseases. For over 150 years, the APHA has championed “optimal, equitable health and well-being for all,” and in 1995, President Bill Clinton signed an executive order declaring that the first full week of April each year would be National Public Health Week – a celebration organized annually by the APHA. In 2026, National Public Health Week will be celebrated April 6 through 12. This year’s theme is “Ready. Set. Action!” The APHA is asking people to “look back at the progress we’ve made” and “look forward to the steps needed for an even healthier future.” We’ll request the same of Bernadette Boden-Albala in this episode of The UC Irvine Podcast. In a wide-ranging conversation, the founding dean of the Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health reflects on the transformations she’s witnessed since arriving at UC Irvine in 2019 and what it will take for health and well-being to thrive. She shares insights from her latest research on stroke and cardiovascular disease, the role of social networks in disease prevention, and how community partnerships – paired with stronger advocacy for science and investment in women’s health – can improve health outcomes for everyone. “Rising Sun,” the music for this episode, was provided by DivKid via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

    28 min
  3. In conversation with 2026 Stockholm Prize winner Charis Kubrin

    FEB 2

    In conversation with 2026 Stockholm Prize winner Charis Kubrin

    For over two decades, Charis Kubrin, UC Irvine professor of criminology, law and society, has examined how the presence of immigrants in communities affects public safety. Her findings continually challenge a myth that has persisted throughout history: that immigrants bring crime to their new countries. In November 2025, Kubrin learned that she’s one of two researchers who’ll receive the Stockholm Prize in Criminology for 2026 – a recognition often seen as equivalent to the Nobel Prize in that field. During the official announcement, the competition jury noted that the 2026 award is “shining the spotlight on how criminology is myth-busting on immigration and rehabilitation.” In the latest episode of The UC Irvine Podcast, Kubrin will share her reaction when she learned about the prestigious honor, explain her life’s work and how it’s particularly relevant in today’s global climate, and address the rigors of trying to bridge the gap between scientific research and public understanding. “A Caring Friend,” the music for this episode, was provided by Bad Snacks via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

    23 min
  4. Empowering healthy choices

    12/19/2025

    Empowering healthy choices

    “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed, is more important than any other one thing,” said Abraham Lincoln in a letter to Isham Reavis dated Nov. 5, 1855. Health and well-being hold high importance for many people, and the approach of the holiday season and the following new year often leaves them wondering about what changes, or resolutions, they might want to implement to improve their lives – and how to make them. In the latest episode of The UC Irvine Podcast, we’re leaning on the wisdom of a pair of people who’ve committed their careers to providing guidance on all those topics: Matthew Landry, assistant professor of population health and disease prevention in UC Irvine’s Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health, and Theresa Nutt, administrative director of education at UC Irvine’s Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute. Landry’s research interests include identifying the optimal diet for chronic disease prevention, and Nutt is a registered and holistic nurse who has also been a health and wellness coach since 2003. In this podcast, they team up to discuss why it’s hard to stick to our diets during the holidays and share tips on how to avoid overindulging. In addition, they’ll address prioritizing activities that benefit physical fitness and how to reframe thoughts around resolutions to encourage better success. “Fresh Healthy Perspectives,” the music for this episode, was provided by Birocratic via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

    19 min
  5. Focus on first-gen

    10/31/2025

    Focus on first-gen

    The University of California defines a first-generation college student as “a student where neither parent nor guardian have earned a four-year college degree.” At UC Irvine, Institutional Research, Assessment, and Planning updated its student head count data on Oct. 24 to include fall of 2025, and according to the enrollment dashboard, 11,104 out of 30,260 (36.7 percent) undergraduates have first-generation status. The latest four-year graduation rate for first-gen students at UC Irvine is 72.8 percent, and the six-year graduation rate is 83.8 percent. We’re shining the spotlight on first-gen students in this episode of The UC Irvine Podcast. Our guest is Scott Lerner, a lecturer in the School of Humanities’ composition program. Once a first-gen student himself, he commits extensive time and energy to that population on campus, teaching classes with their experiences as the primary theme and helping lead initiatives to increase first-gen visibility. These efforts include a freshman seminar exploring the hidden curriculum and a website of resources and contacts. Lerner shares stories of tribulation and triumph from his first-gen journey, explains how he structures courses to help students tell their own tales, and muses about changes that could further enhance everyone’s capabilities to succeed. “Brave,” the music for this episode, was provided by Mark Karan, Scott Guberman, Angeline Saris and Jeremy Hoenig, via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

    27 min
  6. UC Irvine Podcast: Studying a Nearby Exoplanet

    10/23/2025

    UC Irvine Podcast: Studying a Nearby Exoplanet

    Paul Robertson, associate professor of physics and astronomy at the University of California, Irvine, is co-author of a new paper in The Astronomical Journal on an exoplanet that is tantalizingly close to Earth. The proximity of this exoplanet helps astronomers glean more details about it. They want to know how it compares in size to Earth, if it has an atmosphere, and if it is in the habitable zone, a distance from the host star that would make it possible for the planet to have liquid water on its surface, a key ingredient to support potential life. In this episode of the UC Irvine Podcast, Robertson discusses the tools he and his team used to characterize this exoplanet and what he hopes to learn in future exoplanet hunting efforts.

    15 min
  7. Research realities in the face of funding restrictions

    10/10/2025

    Research realities in the face of funding restrictions

    Internationally recognized neuroscientist Aileen Anderson – a professor of physical medicine & rehabilitation, anatomy & neurobiology and neurosurgery, and the former director of the Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center – started her tenure as UC Irvine’s vice chancellor for research on July 1. She had no opportunity to ease into her new, important role. In her first month at the helm, the federal government announced it was suspending approximately $584 million in funding from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and other agencies to UCLA, putting the entire UC system on alert for what might be next. In the months since, several federal court orders have restored vast amounts of those grants, but the situation remains in flux. On Aug. 21, Anderson hosted a town hall to address how federal funding suspensions impact UC Irvine. To make clear her position, her campuswide emails offering updates to the latest developments all end with this quote: “The Office of Research and I stand with our research community. We appreciate your resilience and remain committed to supporting you every step of the way.” In this episode of The UC Irvine Podcast, Anderson demonstrates that dedication by sharing what she knows about the current state of federal funding, how cuts are affecting the research community at UC Irvine and globally, and what these changes could mean for the future of the university, its faculty and students, science, medicine, and, eventually, the health of Americans and international reputation of the United States. “Building Blocks,” the music for this episode, was provided by Nate Blaze, via the audio library in YouTube Studio.

    18 min
  8. Julie Washington on her love of language and the future of teaching

    09/26/2025

    Julie Washington on her love of language and the future of teaching

    On April 3, 2025, Julie Washington was appointed interim dean of the School of Education at the University of California, Irvine. No stranger to leadership roles, the professor of education was already associate dean for faculty development and diversity at the school, where she’s been a member of the faculty since 2021. Before that, Washington served as professor and chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Georgia State University and professor and chair of the Department of Communicative Disorders at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Washington describes herself as a “language nerd” who, during her high school years, frequently won oratory contests and reveled in the art of diagramming sentences. After working with a speech-language pathologist for voice therapy during that same period of her life, Washington knew she had found the career she wanted to pursue. Most recently, her research has centered around how language impacts reading and writing and how it develops in children who learn variations of American English in their communities. Washington shares her expertise worldwide – this summer, she served as the keynote speaker at the Africa Dyslexia Conference, held in Accra, Ghana, an event co-sponsored by UC Irvine’s School of Education. In this episode of The UC Irvine Podcast, we’ll learn more about her origin story and the work she’s leading with UC Irvine’s Language Variation and Academic Success lab and Learning Disabilities Research Innovation Hub, which is funded by the National Institute of Health’s National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Washington will also share where she’s seeing the positive impacts of AI in education, why research drives practice in the field, and how she plans to lead her school and maintain its nationally recognized reputation during this time of funding uncertainty. “Words” the music for this episode, was provided by Audionautix via the audio library in YouTube Studio. Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.

    25 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.

Information

  • Creator
    University of California, Irvine
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    155
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The UC Irvine Podcast

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