In recognition of ongoing operational needs and the determination not to launch any new grand challenges in the near future, UCLA formally created standalone departments for the Depression Grand Challenge and the Sustainable LA Grand Challenge, which each report into the Office of Research & Creative Activities. The UCLA Grand Challenges brand is sunsetted as a standalone program.

The UCLA Grand Challenges program was referenced in a Chronicle Review piece written by Nicholas Lemann, professor of journalism and dean emeritus at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and director of Columbia World Projects.

Jenn Gustetic (Program Executive for NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research Program) recognized UCLA Grand Challenges and Michelle Popowitz, JD, MPH (UCLA Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research & Executive Director for UCLA Grand Challenges) during her opening keynote.

UCLA Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research & Executive Director for UCLA Grand Challenges, Michelle Popowitz, JD, MP, was invited to represent the UCLA campus at the Global University Engagement Summit hosted by the University of Manchester from September 9-10, 2019.

Mark Bayer, Government Relations expert and strategist experienced in the government, corporate and non-profit sectors, interviewed Michelle Popowitz (Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research and Executive Director for UCLA Grand Challenges) for his web series When Science Speaks.

UCLA is excited to see another university focus on grand challenges. On November 14, 2018, the University of New Mexico (UNM) launched its Grand Challenge initiative. UNM seeks to identify three Grand Challenge Conceptual Goals focused on issues faced in New Mexico.

Chief Research Administrator Xin Yao and Research Administrator Ayako Onose from the Office of Management and Planning of Osaka University in Japan visited the UCLA campus during the week of Oct. 22, 2018.

On Oct. 2, 2018, Luminary Labs, a strategy and innovation consulting firm in New York City, released a report titled State of Open Innovation.  Luminary Labs approached nearly 100 private sector, government, and nonprofit organizations to understand why organizations are investing in open innovation, how they are doing it, and what’s next. 

On Sept. 10, 2018, SXSW EDU announced panel sessions selected for early acceptance for its ninth annual SXSW EDU Conference & Festival. The panel session titled, “Why & How Universities Should Take on Moonshots,” was among those to receive early acceptance.

University of Alabama at Birmingham’s (UAB) Vice President for Research Chris Brown and Director Lee Moradi visited the UCLA campus on July 16, 2018.