Congressional Republicans either don’t know anything about science, or just pretend not to know. I think it’s the former, but either way, we’re all going to be left high and dry if some sanity isn’t brought back to Washington. Last month, Republicans in the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology approved a budget for […]
Author Archives: Ara Shirinian
Ara Shirinian: UCLA should continue to support, create accessible programs like BACON
At a time when increased competition and rising fees have pushed access to top-quality higher education beyond the means of many, at least one UCLA professor is bringing home the BACON for students around the world eager to learn. Biology And Chemistry: Online Notes, And Tutorials (B.A.C.O.N. A.T.), UCLA, is an online tutorial for organic […]
Ara Shirinian: More restaurants should follow Chipotle’s responsible approach to food
The next time I bite into a double-wrapped burrito at Chipotle Mexican Grill, it will be with the peace of mind that the chicken inside didn’t once look like something from Futurama. That’s because as of Monday, Chipotle is no longer using genetically modified organisms – any organism with an artificially altered genetic makeup – […]
Ara Shirinian: Students need a voice in commencement speaker decisions
At this year’s graduation ceremony, the class of 2015 will get the chance to learn an important lesson: In the real world, success is measured in bills, not principles. The keynote speaker for UCLA’s commencement ceremony has just been announced as Nathan Myhrvold. He is the cofounder of Intellectual Ventures, the worlds biggest “patent troll,” […]
Ara Shirinian: LA Hacks should work to increase female representation
If there’s one word I want you to remember after reading this column, it’s disruption. In the technology industry, disruption is a way of life, a lust for innovation, a need for something better. With it, you thrive, and without it, you wither. For the last three days, more than 1400 students occupied the court […]
Ara Shirinian: UC should protect student privacy, take steps to prevent data mining
Every day, billions of pieces of information are collected on students and used to create intricate profiles on them. Most of these students don’t even have a choice, because they are forced by their schools to use programs that track them. Unfortunately, state and national legislation fails to provide the same kinds of privacy protections […]
Ara Shirinian: UC should allow more contingent faculty to pursue tenured positions
While there are many different elements that make up a successful university, the core interactions by which students learn is in the hands of the professorship. Today, across the country, that professorship is under attack. Schools have attempted to deal with budget cuts by replacing tenure-track professors, or professors that cannot be fired without proof […]