**UCLA and Port of Los Angeles Collaborate to Foster Sustainability and Innovation**
In a significant collaboration aimed at promoting sustainability and improving community welfare, UCLA and the Port of Los Angeles executed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Friday, November 15, 2024. The agreement was finalized during the South Bay Summit, an event arranged in partnership with the ADEPT Group and the Los Angeles Regional Collaborative for Climate Action and Sustainability, hosted at the UCLA South Bay campus in Rancho Palos Verdes.
This partnership highlights the commitment of both institutions to environmental preservation, technological advancement, and the development of healthier communities, especially in areas adjacent to the port and the UCLA South Bay campus, including San Pedro and Wilmington.
### **A Vision for Joint Impact**
In remarks at the summit, UCLA Interim Chancellor Darnell Hunt encapsulated the potential of the partnership: “UCLA and the Port of Los Angeles share vital commitments to enhancing sustainability, creating healthier communities across the area, and serving the public good through innovation.” Hunt noted that the MOU not only strengthens the relationship between the institutions but also opens doors for education, research, and workforce training.
Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, mirrored these thoughts, stating, “By combining our powerful capabilities, this evolving partnership holds considerable and enduring potential. Together, we are already developing solutions to further refine port operations, decrease emissions, and encourage environmentally friendly practices, particularly regarding the communities in and around the port area.”
### **A Natural Partnership for Sustainability**
The alliance between UCLA and the Port of Los Angeles is a logical fit, uniting Los Angeles’ largest public research university with the busiest port in North America to confront some of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century. The agreement signifies a mutual dedication to promoting sustainable practices and developing infrastructure that serves both the community and the environment.
The Port of Los Angeles has been a leader in green innovation, aiming to become the world’s most sustainable port. Its incorporation of clean technologies, advanced supply-chain management techniques, and innovative maritime advancements align perfectly with the academic research and expertise UCLA contributes, particularly through its South Bay campus’ emphasis on sustainability, climate change, and environmental equity.
Acquired in September 2022 as part of UCLA’s campus growth plans, the UCLA South Bay campus occupies a stunning 25-acre ocean-view location on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, around 30 miles south of UCLA’s Westwood headquarters. This campus is emerging as a center for sustainability education and community involvement, with plans for academic initiatives focused on tackling contemporary environmental issues.
### **Research and Innovation in Motion**
The partnership between UCLA and the Port of Los Angeles has already sparked transformative research. Key projects include:
– **Carbon Dioxide Removal Technology**: Researchers from the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering are collaborating with the port to trial a novel carbon dioxide removal system that could significantly impact air quality and energy generation.
– **Energy and Emissions Monitoring**: Partnerships with the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and the UCLA Anderson School of Management have generated in-depth evaluations of the port’s energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, aiding in the development of evidence-based policies and operational enhancements.
– **Marine Ecosystem Monitoring**: Employing environmental DNA technology, UCLA researchers are assessing the wellbeing of marine species populations near the port as part of a larger initiative to connect sustainability objectives with biodiversity conservation.
These projects exemplify the convergence of academic research and industrial innovation to deliver substantial community and environmental advantages.
### **Empowering Communities and Students**
One of the most promising elements of the UCLA–Port of Los Angeles partnership is its capacity to enrich local communities while enhancing educational experiences. The MOU prioritizes outreach to nearby neighborhoods, such as San Pedro and Wilmington, both closely linked to the port’s activities. Residents in these communities have historically encountered health issues due to pollution from emissions, and this new collaboration seeks to alleviate those challenges through the implementation of cleaner technologies and environmental justice measures.
Additionally, UCLA’s students and faculty stand to gain from broader hands-on learning experiences, internships, and professional development initiatives focused on maritime innovation, sustainability, and supply-chain management. For a public university recognized as one of the top academic institutions nationwide, these initiatives furnish practical applications for research and education.
### **UCLA’s Strategic Campus Growth**
The agreement coincides with an exciting phase for UCLA, which has recently committed substantial investments to broaden its influence beyond the Westwood campus. In conjunction with the South Bay campus acquisition, UCLA has established important locations in downtown Los Angeles and West Los Angeles.
– **UCLA Downtown**: A historic art deco building in downtown now functions as a center for community-oriented academic, research, and arts programming.
– **UCLA Research Park**: Located at the former Westside Pavilion shopping center in West Los Angeles, this