Multiple studies have shown that graduate students are significantly more likely than the average American to suffer from mental issues such as depression and anxiety. One of our members recently wrote a piece, published in Scientific American, on the unique challenges graduate students face and why they can be difficult to overcome.  Feel free check it out and share!

Check out this Scientific American op-ed on the "fake news" epidemic written by the current president of our chapter, Prateek Puri. The piece describes the effect online political misinformation has had on our democracy as well as the reasons for its popularity. In addition, it suggests that a potential remedy to the problem may be offering media literacy courses during early education to teach our youth how to evaluate news information critically.    

In this year's midterm elections several candidates with scientific backgrounds, ranging from medical doctors to oceanographers, were elected to positions in both the House and Senate, in addition to offices at the local level. Many of these candidates ran campaigns focused on environmental policy and healthcare reform. We congratulate these politicians on their success and applaud them for their commitment to science advocacy!

For more information on 314Action endorsed candidates who were successful in this year's election, see here. 

Join us for a panel discussion and Q&A session focused on mobilizing STEM trained individuals to participate in politics and government. Featuring Jess Phoenix, a volcanologist running for Congress in the only Republican-held district in LA county (CA-25); Edward Walker, a Sociology Professor at UCLA whose research focuses on social movements and author of Grassroots for Hire: Public Affairs Consultants in American Democracy; and Jamie Tijerina, a scientist at Caltech, Director At-Large of the Historic Highland Park Neighborhood Council, and head of 314 Action LA County.
Event begins at 6:30 pm with light refreshments and an opportunity to sign in and ask a question for the panelists. Panel discussion will begin promptly at 7 pm. A reception with refreshments will follow, with an opportunity to meet the panelists.
RSVP: 314actionuclapanel.eventbrite.com

We hosted our first general body meeting of the year tonight and laid our the framework for our plans for the rest of the year. We plan on increasing communication between the UCLA STEM community and politicians by hosting panel discussion events where the two can interact. Many scientists are deeply concerned about the direction of national and local policy and we want to provide resources to translate their passion into action.

We also elected our first official officer positions as follows:

President: Prateek Puri
Vice President: Ellie Taus
Secretary: Keerthana Muthukrishnan

We look forward to working with all our members on our upcoming events!

We hosted our inaugural winter quarter social at Rocco's Italian Tavern tonight!
https://www.facebook.com/events/400552637024988/

Current and new members alike turned out to discuss our plans for the upcoming year as well as share our passion in science advocacy! 

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We recently published an op-ed in Scientific American on the detrimental effects the GOP tax plan will have on graduate students, higher education, and research production at universities.

We are also working on an open letter to our California representatives in Congress as well as  the UC adminstrators to lobby on behalf of the graduate student population to either a) remove the provision on discarding tuition waivers or b) change graduate student financial packages in UC  system so students are not forced to quit mid-way through their PhDs if the bill passes with the tuition waivers revoked