The mission of the Luskin Center is to unite the intellectual capital of UCLA with forward-looking civic leaders to address the most pressing issues confronting our community, nation, and world. To achieve this mission, the Luskin Center is organized around initiatives that seek to translate world-class research and expertise into real-world policy solutions. Current initiatives include: 1) Climate Change Planning for Local Governments, 2) Complete Streets, 3) Electric Vehicles & Alternative Fuels, 4) Nanotechnology Enviornmental Health & Safety, 5) Smart Water Systems, and 6) Sustainable Energy. We also have a cross cutting focus on business and the environment/clean technology as well as environmental justice.

The theme of environmental sustainability connects all of the Luskin Center initiatives. The initiatives also share a theme of civic partnership. Successful initiatives require a team of innovative thinkers as well as receptive and committed civic leaders. Working closely with elected officials, non-profit organizations, and community and business leaders, the Luskin Center addresses environmental sustainability in Los Angeles through a mixture of scholarship, research, and community engagement.

Research initiatives are led by a Luskin Scholar and are supported by teams of faculty and staff from a variety of academic disciplines including chemistry, engineering, economics, public policy, and management. The Center supports initiatives by funding original research, scholars, conferences, technical internships, and solution-oriented speaker series. The Center’s leadership and Executive Committee members help identify initiatives. Then the Advisory Board helps prioritize these initiatives based on UCLA’s strengths and the ability for success.