OUR 9TH GIVING DAY WAS HISTORIC! A THIRD CONSECUTIVE RECORD BREAKING DAY FOR GIFTS RECEIVED! IF YOU MISSED YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE, YOU CAN STILL COME TOGETHER FOR UC IRVINE AND MAKE A GIFT BY CLICKING HERE!
School of Physical Sciences

UC Irvine EarthRise Physical Sciences is a special fundraising initiative designed to educate the community about the teaching and research activities at the School of Physical Sciences. It empowers the School to create awareness, build relationships, and generate critical current-use and endowed support for student success and cutting-edge research. EarthRise focuses on six areas of excellence including: Lift-Off, Climate, Health, Energy, Quantum, and Beyond. Together, EarthRise will make the world a brighter and healthier place.

EarthRise officially launched in November 2024 with Professors Charlie Zender, Barbara Finlayson-Pitts, and Jenny Yang leading an open discussion on climate challenges and the impacts on our community and society. Professor Finlayson-Pitts shared that while electric vehicles (EVs) are Zero Exhaust Emission Vehicles (ZEEV), their brakes still emit gases similar to those from wildfires. But the good news is: AirUCI is working towards solutions!

Soon thereafter, EarthRise Physical Sciences hosted its inaugural, endowed Ruth Ann Evans and John Evans Family Beyond Lecture, featuring Paul Robertson, Associate Professor of Physics & Astronomy, with a captivating presentation on the Search for Exoplanets Around the Nearest Stars. 

In January 2025, with the generous sponsorship of SoCalGas, the EarthRise Energy Lecture featured Sarah Finkeldei, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Jack Brouwer, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. As leading experts in developing clean and abundant energy, both Professor Finkeldei (nuclear) and Professor Brouwer(hydrogen) highlighted their contributions to a more sustainable world.

Many experts believe that next technological revolution will be driven by a deeper understanding of the quantum world. Inspired by this idea, the Eddleman Quantum Institute (EQI) hosted the EarthRise Quantum lecture in April. EQI Director Bill Evans introduced two Eddleman Fellows - graduate students Mashnoon Sakib and Steven Allison - along with EQI faculty member Professor Clare Yu, Professor, Physics & Astronomy. They each presented groundbreaking developments in quantum communications, computing, and sensing.

Later in June, community champions and philanthropists, James and Kelly Mazzo, will be hosting the EarthRise Health lecture, as one of our world-renowned chemists and faculty members, Professor Elizabeth Bess, shares her developments in the fields of Parkinson’s research. 

Join us in continuing our efforts in educating the community about research and teaching excellence taking place at UC Irvine Physical Sciences. Your gift today to the Physical Sciences’ EarthRise fund will drive student discovery and amplify and enhance the classroom experience. Students of all majors taking classes in any of our departments – chemistry, Earth system science, mathematics, and physics & astronomy – will benefit from the new opportunities made possible by you, through your Giving Day gift to the EarthRise Fund, Dean’s Excellence Fund, or one of our department funds (Chemistry, Earth System Science, Mathematics, and Physics and Astronomy).

Together, we can make the world a brighter and healthier place by focusing on our six areas of excellence for EarthRise: Lift-Off, Climate, Health, Energy, Quantum, and Beyond.

Use #UCIGivingDay or #togetherfor UCIrvine to join in the fun!
School of Physical Sciences Donor Map
Rank State Gifts
1 CA 35
2 MD 2
3 NV 1
Success!
Last But Not Least Challenge
Congratulations to Anita Fredieu! Your gift of $100+ to the Black Alumni Chapter was the last gift of $100+ received on Giving Day! You just unlocked $1000 in bonus funds for your chapter scholarship!
Completed
Leaderboard
Brilliant Future Challenge
The top-3 schools with the largest growth in donors over last year's Giving Day will share a bonus prize of $5,000!
Rank Prize School % +/- Goal
1 $2,500 School of Social Sciences +86.11% 67
goal: 36
2 $1,500 School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences +73.33% 52
goal: 30
3 $1,000 School of Education +47.24% 187
goal: 127
4 Donald Bren School of ICS +42.68% 117
goal: 82
5 School of Medicine +36.84% 52
goal: 38
Ended
$5,000
Physical Sciences David and Valerie Murphy 20 Gifts Challenge to Liftoff
Once we reach 20 gifts to any School of Physical Sciences fund, a generous gift of $5,000 from David ’78 and Valerie Murphy will be unlocked!
20 / 20 Gifts
Completed
$5,000
Physical Sciences Eddleman Quantum Institute 40 Gifts Challenge for Quantum
Once we reach 40 gifts to any School of Physical Sciences fund, a generous gift of $5,000 from the Eddleman Quantum Institute will be unlocked to support students pursuing quantum sciences research.
40 / 40 Gifts
Completed
$5,000
Physical Sciences John and Evelyn Gerace 30 Gifts Challenge for Health
Once we reach 30 gifts to any School of Physical Sciences fund, a generous gift of $5,000 from John ’87 and Evelyn ’88 Gerace will be unlocked to support Health initiatives under EarthRise Physical Sciences.
30 / 30 Gifts
Completed
2
Match
Physical Sciences Julie Hill $5,000 Matching Gift for EarthRise
Double your impact! Every gift made to the EarthRise Physical Sciences fund will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $5,000 by UC Irvine Foundation Trustee Julie Hill!
$2,175 MATCHED
Ended
$5,000
Physical Sciences Michael Thacher $5,000 Challenge for Climate
Double your impact! Once $5,000 has been raised collectively across the School of Physical Sciences, a $5,000 to support Climate initiatives from Physical Sciences Board Member Michael Thacher will be unlocked!
$5,000 / $5,000 Raised
Completed
2
Match
Physical Sciences SoCalGas $5,000 Matching Gift for Energy
Double your impact! Every gift made to the EarthRise Physical Sciences fund will be matched, dollar-for-dollar, up to $5,000, by SoCalGas!
$2,175 MATCHED
Ended
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Or you can contact us at james.yokelle@uci.edu.