Prof. Amy Mainzer Receives Prestigious 2026 Robert Holland Jr. Award

The Robert Holland Jr. Award was created by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement to honor senior scientists for their exceptional contributions in research, teaching, mentorship, and impact on helping students achieve their full potential. The Research Corporation for Science Advancement (RCSA) is a private foundation created in 1912 with a mission to support basic scientific research and education. This year, the Foundation selected Prof. Amy Mainzer of UCLA’s Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences to be one of the three recipients of the 2026 Holland Award in recognition of her contributions to asteroid and comet research as well as raising public awareness and engagement with science. Prof. Mainzer was inducted to be part of the community of RSCA’s Cottrell Scholars, a cohort of researchers, scientific leaders, teachers, and mentors spanning astronomy, chemistry, and physics. Prof. Mainzer is leading NASA’s Near-Earth Object Surveyor mission, a space telescope currently under construction that is aimed at finding the majority of potentially hazardous asteroids and comets capable of causing severe regional destruction. She was also the science advisor, co-executive producer, and host of the PBS Kids television show Ready Jet Go, and is the host of the new podcast Unobtanium, that explores the connection between science and storytelling.

Learn more about the award: https://rescorp.org/cottrell-scholars/robert-holland-jr-award/

Prof. Hao Cao Among Seven UCLA Keck Scholars Awarded W.M. Keck Foundation Bridge Funding

UCLA EPSS Assistant Professor Hao Cao has been named one of seven UCLA faculty members selected as a W.M. Keck Scholar through the Keck Foundation Bridge Funding program. The award supports innovative early-career research and helps advance promising projects across multiple scientific disciplines.

Prof. Hao Cao and graduate student Wenyu Zhang, the project’s named Keck Fellow, are leading the research project Unveiling Jupiter’s Dusty Ring System Through Neural Network Analysis of Juno Plasma Wave Data. Their work uses artificial intelligence to map the structure of Jupiter’s rings and better understand the dynamic processes that shape them.

The bridge funding is part of UCLA’s long-standing partnership with the W.M. Keck Foundation, supporting groundbreaking research by pairing early-career faculty with doctoral students.

Read the full UCLA Newsroom article.

New Podcast: Unobtanium

EPSS Professor Amy Mainzer is co-hosting Unobtanium, a new podcast that explores the science and technology behind science fiction movies and television.

Through conversations with scientists, researchers, and special guests, the podcast examines the real-world science that inspires some of our favorite stories on screen. The series also features interviews with several EPSS faculty members, including discussions on topics ranging from planetary science to space exploration.

Listen and learn more:

Follow @unobtainiumpod on social media for new episodes and updates.

2026 Commencement Celebration

EPSS 2025 commencement celebration with graduates throwing caps on the Geology Building steps

Please continue to check this website for updates, as we may have to make modifications.

Join the Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences (EPSS) for our annual Commencement Ceremony honoring the accomplishments of graduating departmental students as they conclude this chapter of their academic journey.

Tickets are required for those attending in person.

Event Information

Our departmental commencement ceremony will take place on Sunday, June 14, 2026 at the Young Hall Patio. Graduates will need to arrive by 12:00 PM to check in, as the ceremony begins at 12:30 PM.

Information about the College Commencement Ceremony can be found here.

Program Information

The final program for the 2026 EPSS Commencement and Awards Celebration will be available soon.

Ticket Information

Max guests per graduate: 5
Additional/waitlisted guest tickets: Up to 2 additional guest tickets may be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Ticket price: $40 per person (graduating students attend for free)
Payment deadline: May 22
Payment method: Checks or cashier’s checks only, payable to UCLA Foundation

To purchase guest tickets or confirm waitlisted guests, please see Nanette in Slichter Hall, Room 3845 before the deadline.

Parking Information

We anticipate that parking will be impacted on the day of our event. Guests are encouraged to rideshare if possible. For parking information, including campus parking maps, click here.

To avoid long lines at the self-service pay stations on campus, it is recommended to purchase your parking permit through the Bruin ePermit system in advance of attending the Commencement ceremonies.
Day-of parking will also be available at various visitor parking locations using the self-service Pay Station machines or ParkMobile. If you have questions, please email transportation@ts.ucla.edu or call (310) 794-7433.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact the EPSS Student Affairs Office.

Gerald Schubert: A celebration of a life in Science

May 8, 2026 | UCLA Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences

The Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences honored the remarkable career of Prof. Gerald Schubert, geophysicist extraordinaire, on May 8th, 2026. EPSS Chair Prof. Jon Aurnou hosted a remarkable day where former students, colleagues, collaborators, present faculty, students, and postdocs reminisced and celebrated an amazing life in science that defined the early days of geophysics and planetary science.

The hybrid event enabled remote attendance and the sharing of memories by those who interacted with Jerry scientifically over the years. Photos of the event can be found below, along with the slideshow, program, and edited video of the day.