Social Sciences Research Frontiers Day focuses on data, environment, and justice

The second annual Social Sciences Research Frontiers Day at UC Santa Cruz will take place Friday, October 24, 2014, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. with a focus on data, the environment, and justice.

Among the topics: sustainable agriculture, climate change, global women's rights, and the psychology of guilt. The event at the Colleges 9/10 multipurpose room at University Center is free and the public is invited. Registration is required.

The half-day program, Collaborative Research to Solve 21st Century Challenges, is being presented by the Division of Social Sciences in collaboration with the Office of Research.

Three simultaneous morning sessions will showcase the research of 12 UC Santa Cruz social science faculty members focused on solving everyday challenges while, at the same time, fostering collaboration between researchers, students, and community members.

The program begins at 8 a.m. with registration and continental breakfast. Social Sciences Dean Sheldon Kamieniecki will start the day with opening remarks at 8:45 a.m.
 
Carl Walsh, UC Santa Cruz distinguished professor of economics, will deliver the opening presentation, “The Great Inflation, the great recession, and Federal Reserve Policy.”

Beginning at 9:30 a.m. three themed morning sessions will focus on "Data: Is Bigger Really Better," "Environment: Climate, Animals, and Food," and "Justice: Here, There, Them and Us." Attendees will be able to choose a single session for the morning or move between all three.

UC Santa Cruz faculty speakers participating are:  Doug Bonett, psychology; Jeff Bury, environmental studies; Lars Fehren-Schmitz, anthropology; Shelly Grabe, psychology;
Phil Hammack, psychology; Deborah Letourneau, environmental studies; Ronnie Lipschutz, politics; Andrew Mathews, anthropology; Eleonora Pasotti, politics; Hector Perla, Latin American and Latino studies, Jon Robinson, economics, and Travis Seymour, psychology.

A program with presentation details is available online here and may be downloaded here.

At 1 p.m., following lunch (available for $10), the keynote speaker Jennifer Wolch, professor of urban planning geography and dean of the UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design, will discuss creative pedagogy as method in social science research. She is trained in anthropology, geography, and urban planning, and has conducted research on urban poverty and homelessness; sustainable urbanism; urban design, environmental justice and public health; and critical animal studies.

After Wolch's address social science graduate students will present examples of their research.