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.

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.