UCLA Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research & Executive Director for UCLA Grand Challenges Michelle Popowitz, JD, MPH represented the campus at the Columbia World Projects Implementation Workshop organized by Lee Bollinger (President of Columbia University).

The conference, themed “Resilience in a Shifting Research Landscape”, gathered representatives from campuses across the country to exchange best practices in fostering research. Grand Challenges were of great interest to the attendees and, given UCLA’s role as the first university to initiate a Grand Challenge program, its team was in demand – participating in four sessions.

The article acknowledges the efforts of 20 higher education institutions within the United States and Canada currently pursuing grand challenge programs, and examines strategies and recommendations for leading successful grand challenges detailed in the report.

On Feb. 13, 2018, UCLA released a Report on University-Led Grand Challenges. The report documents how nearly 20 universities are leading Grand Challenge programs that are rallying research communities to contribute to solving a major societal challenge; attracting new investment and resources; demonstrating value of university research; and engaging students, partners, the broader community, and the public.

The UCLA Grand Challenge initiative was mentioned in an Inside Higher Ed article by News Editor, Paul Fain. Fain views Grand Challenge programs initiated by UCLA (in 2013) and Indiana University (in 2015) as potential answers to the public’s skepticism about the value of research conducted at public universities.

On May 9, 2017, UCLA Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research & Executive Director for UCLA Grand Challenges Michelle Popowitz, JD, MPH, and Director of the Sustainable LA Grand Challenge Casandra Rauser, PhD, participated in a panel at the National Organization of Research Development Professionals (NORDP) conference in Boulder.

The report recognizes the multi-disciplinary collaboration that has blossomed as a result of UCLA Grand Challenges.