In the past 40 years, the rate of air temperature warming in Hawai‘i has quadrupled, disrupting convective potential and weakening northeasterly trade winds. Consequently, total rainfall on windward mountainsides has decreased, causing plant species to shift their geographic ranges. However, certain regions of the state, such as Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park (HAVO), have exhibited the ability to recover from ecological disruption with stable vegetation growth over multiple decades. This study examines trends in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) across vegetation types, including dry, mesic, and wet systems, and compares native and non-native communities to assess resilience. Prior analysis of Landsat imagery from 1990 to 2025 suggests NDVI increases in wet vegetation and declines in mesic and dry vegetation. At the same time, native vegetation shifted towards higher elevations. Because persistent cloud cover limits high-quality satellite imagery in tropical regions, NDVI estimates derived from Landsat may contain uncertainty. This study integrates field-based OpenNahele vegetation data, alongside climate variables from the Hawai‘i Climate Data Portal, to better evaluate NDVI patterns. Potential findings, particularly the correlation between vegetation type and ecological resilience, could help develop an algorithm that promotes ecosystem conservation within HAVO and across the state by locating adaptable land parcels and informing resource allocation.

Effective public communication is essential to meaningful climate action, and evidence suggests emotion-based approaches, as opposed to fact-based ones, have greater success in generating engagement. Despite this, it is poorly understood how audience sentiments on specific climate issues are influenced immediately after exposure to climate-centered art. Using visitor engagement data collected after viewing the "Roots of Cool" art exhibit on Los Angeles shade equity at Descanso Gardens, a Los Angeles County botanic garden and outdoor museum, ​​we explored the use of art as a tool for climate education and evaluated its efficacy in understanding community sentiment on local climate issues. Our methods were twofold. First, we tallied visitors’ survey data regarding local shade adequacy. Quantitative analysis showed the majority of respondents felt their neighborhood had inadequate shade. Second, visitors drew shade solutions and shared climate perspectives, which we used to analyze attitudes towards shade through sentiment analysis. Preliminary results from sentiment analysis found that only a small portion of responses indicated a sense of fear, with most responses being optimistic. These analyses offer unique insight into the perspective of local visitors on urban shade equity after viewing the “Roots of Cool” exhibit.

This research investigates how ecological degradation and control, particularly the destruction of olive groves and restriction and contamination of water, are weaponized as tools of expansion in the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Palestine, while highlighting Palestinian steadfastness. It asks two questions: (1) How does environmental degradation function as an intentional mechanism of occupation, expansion, and forced displacement in Palestine, and (2) how do Palestinians resist, endure, and re-establish their relationship with land and ecology through sumud (steadfastness)? Using a qualitative methodology, this study draws on scholarly literature, legal and policy documents, human rights reports, and interviews, with a case study on Jenin. The analysis is guided by theories of settler colonialism, green colonialism, and Indigenous grounded normativity and resurgence. The findings demonstrate that environmental harm is not incidental, but rather systematically utilized to restructure land, resources, and Palestinian livelihoods to strengthen Israeli territorial control. At the same time, the study highlights Palestinian sumud, through replanting, seed sharing, and community farming, as forms of Indigenous resistance. Ultimately, this project highlights how the uprooting of land is a mechanism to uproot its people, as environmental destruction fragments land, history, and culture, while also demonstrating how Palestinians continue to enact sumud to maintain their presence and connection to the land.

Wildfires represent a growing environmental crisis that contributes to a substantial and often overlooked increase in medical waste. In 2025, wildfires in California generated over 4.5 million tons of debris. Subsequent response and recovery efforts increased demand for single-use medical supplies, further accelerating waste production and exposing inefficiencies in supply distribution systems. This study examines the role of the Medical Aid Initiative (MAI), a student-run organization at UCLA, in addressing these intersecting challenges through a sustainability-driven redistribution model. MAI collects unused medical supplies from UCLA Health facilities and redistributes them at no cost to underserved communities and disaster-affected regions. During crises–when supply shortages and waste production occur simultaneously—this model offers a scalable and cost-effective approach to reducing environmental impact while improving access to essential care. A case study of MAI’s response to the Los Angeles wildfires highlights its collaboration with community partners to deliver critical supplies, including sutures, gloves, gauze, and hygiene products, to displaced populations. Since 2020, MAI has diverted substantial quantities of medical supplies from landfills and supported relief efforts across multiple regions, demonstrating the potential of sustainable redistribution models to strengthen disaster response infrastructure while mitigating the environmental impact of healthcare waste.

In the wake of the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, the conversion of chromium into its carcinogenic form, hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), has emerged as a significant public health threat within the wildland-urban interface (WUI). High-intensity combustion of residential materials can oxidize trivalent chromium (Cr(III)) into toxic Cr(VI), leaving hazardous residues in ash and topsoil. This oxidation is likely driven by the thermal alteration of iron-bearing minerals and alkaline ash conditions. This study investigates the concentration and spatial distribution of Cr(VI) within the Pacific Palisades and Eaton burn areas to evaluate whether residential zones are safe for returning homeowners. Soil and ash samples were collected from burnt-down structures and communal areas, with concentrations measured against Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California state safety guidelines to compare results between scraped and non-scraped soils. Data indicates that contamination is concentrated in surface layers however several scraped soils samples remained above California screening thresholds. Because the persistence of Cr(VI) in scraped areas suggests that standard soil removal may not always eliminate heavy metal risks, rigorous post-fire soil testing is needed. By reporting findings directly to homeowners, this research provides a vital baseline for targeted remediation and informed rebuilding efforts in fire-prone regions.

In the summer of 2025, eleven classrooms at UCLA underwent an audiovisual (AV) equipment overhaul led by the 2025 SAR AV Equipment team. Our team is evaluating the outcomes of these upgrades, considering student and teacher benefits and potential changes in energy consumption. We conducted an energy audit in two classrooms, measuring the power and draw of each device before and after improvements. The results showed significant reductions in electricity use; Kaplan A26 experienced over a 50% reduction in watts and roughly 20% in amps, with similar findings in Physics and Astronomy 2434. Additionally, a facilities tour of six classrooms provided insight into the operational capabilities and functionality of both old and new equipment, supporting our goal of qualitatively evaluating the behavioral and social impacts of the 2025 AV overhaul. To further assess the impacts of the upgrades, we will engage key stakeholders, including students, faculty, and AV specialists, through controlled digital surveys and targeted interviews to evaluate accessibility, learning experiences, and instructional effectiveness. Throughout the project, we encountered challenges in locating scholarly sources on AV sustainability and navigating AV terminology. However, with Joe's support, we were able to solve these issues. During the spring quarter, our research will focus on synthesizing these findings to develop recommendations for sustainable, large-scale AV upgrades at UCLA and continue collaboration with UCLA Digital Spaces.