In early March, alumni from a wide range of fields returned to our beautiful campus for the Economics in Action conference. Students in two courses—U.S. Economic History and Introduction to Urban and Regional Economics—had spent weeks preparing research projects to present to visiting alumni.

Working in groups of four, students delivered 15-minute presentations followed by five minutes of Q&A. Presentation topics ranged from the collapse of Lehman Brothers and current challenges in venture capital to pressing issues facing Los Angeles, including its high cost of living and vulnerability to natural disasters.

For students, the conference offered a valuable opportunity to strengthen their presentation skills, engage with alumni, and receive feedback from professionals with diverse academic and career backgrounds. The event was a great success and will be repeated in the Spring quarter.

Many thanks to the UCLA Alumni Association for its flawless organization and support of the conference.