The Institute of Transportation Studies is proud to spotlight Kingston Wu for his contributions to the 2026 Pre-College Research Immersion Program (PRIME). Kingston is a student at Portola High School with interests in alternative fuels, air pollution, traffic safety, and the environmental impacts of transportation. His academic interests in biology, ecology, and public health have inspired him to explore how transportation systems affect both people and the environment.
“After taking AP Biology, I became interested in cellular biology, ecology, and public health.”
TRIP provides students like Kingston with the opportunity to investigate transportation challenges through hands-on research. He is particularly interested in the balance between technological innovation and the real-world impacts transportation systems have on communities. Through research, he hopes to better understand how transportation can become more sustainable, equitable, and beneficial for public health.
“There is constant innovation in the transportation field to make travel more sustainable and efficient, yet so many people still struggle to find reliable transportation or are harmed by the byproducts and consequences of emission and pollution.”
As part of this project, Kingston hopes to gain experience with the research process and learn how data can be used to address transportation and environmental challenges. He is excited to explore how researchers translate findings into practical solutions that can positively impact local communities.
“I hope to learn more about the research process and discover how researchers analyze data to come up with achievable solutions that can benefit local communities.”
Author Reina Kabbara is a recent graduate of Public Health Policy at UC Irvine. She has conducted transportation and environmental research under the Institute of Transportation Studies and through Professor Jun Wu’s E3: “Exposure, Epidemiology, and Equity” Environmental Health Lab.
Each summer, the ITS-Irvine Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP) and the Pre-college Research Immersion Program pair undergraduate and high school student researchers with faculty to contribute meaningfully to ongoing transportation research projects. To learn more about these programs, contact ITS-Irvine Assistant Director for Programs and Engagement Dr. Victoria Deguzman at vvdeguzm@uci.edu.