Feb. 26, 2026

Anteater Time Machine: 60th anniversary trivia quiz: What are the names of these buildings along Aldrich Park in this 1967 photo? Send your response to ucidigest@uci.edu. (Photo courtesy of UC Irvine Libraries Archives)

UC IRVINE NEWS

Building community

(J.R.R. Tolkien’s Elvish-inscribed words on Middle Earth Towers. Photo by Steve Zylius / UC Irvine)

On the Elvish-inscribed entryway to UC Irvine’s Middle Earth Towers, J.R.R. Tolkien’s words offer a fitting welcome: “Speak friend and enter.” It’s more than literary whimsy – it’s a philosophy that animates one of California’s most ambitious student housing expansions, where making friends and building community drives a construction wave that’s reshaping campus life. With 17,793 bed spaces across residence halls, apartments and graduate housing communities, UC Irvine now ranks third among both University of California campuses and California universities in housing availability.

Co-Worker Appreciation Week

UC Irvine and UCI Health Co-Worker Appreciation Week 2026 is March 2-6. The week will feature curated opportunities and discounts as a thank you for your commitment and dedication to the organization. As part of Co-Worker Appreciation Week, you have the opportunity to purchase an exclusive UC Irvine-only Disneyland 3-Day SoCal Resident ticket for $195; that’s $65/day. With a value of $249, it’s a savings of $54. Tickets must be purchased between March 2-8 and are valid through May 21. Visit the Co-Worker Appreciation Week website for a complete list of the week’s activities and discount offers.

Glaucoma: Seek help early

Glaucoma often damages quietly, not making itself known until irreversible vision loss has occurred. The condition is not preventable or curable, but its progression can be slowed with early detection and treatment. Dr. Andrew Smith, UCI Health Gavin Herbert Eye Institute ophthalmologist discusses its risk, treatment and management.

UC NEWS

Speaking up for science

In this video, UC President James Milliken shares that UC advocates spoke up for federal research funding, and Congress listened – rejecting the administration’s proposed cuts and supporting research. #SpeakUp4Science

SAVE THE DATE

MAKE: The First Time I Saw…

Feb. 28, 11 a.m. (sponsored by UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art)

UC Irvine Homecoming

Feb. 28, 3 p.m. (sponsored by UC Irvine Alumni Association)

Song and Wind

Feb. 28, 8 p.m. (sponsored by Claire Trevor School of the Arts)

Co-Worker Appreciation Week

March 2-6 (Sponsored by Human Resources)

Comics Beyond the Margins: Stories of Empowerment, Identity, and Imagination

March 4, 5:30 p.m. (sponsored by UC Irvine Libraries)

UCI Symphony Orchestra

March 5, 8 p.m. (sponsored by Claire Trevor School of the Arts)

For more events, visit UC Irvine Today.

#IamUCI

An optimistic academic

Jean-Claude Falmagne, 91-year-old cognitive sciences research professor, continues to call the School of Social Sciences home after more than three decades, where he has made an indelible mark on the field of mathematical psychology. He’s worked on standard topics of mathematical psychology, such as psychophysics, choice theory and learning theory, but also knowledge spaces and scientific meaningfulness. The latter, Falmagne says in reflecting on his long career, are his most important scientific accomplishments.

#UCIconnected spotlights interesting updates from the UC Irvine community. #IamUCI spotlights profiles of students, faculty, staff and alumni. Send submissions via email or post on social media with the #UCIconnected or #IamUCI hashtags.

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