Social Sciences
-
Ancient bacterium’s genome could rewrite the history of syphilis
The discovery of the microorganism’s DNA in the man’s bones was made “totally by chance,” says Lars Fehren-Schmitz, one of the study’s co-authors and an anthropologist at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
-
Donald Trump thanks you for your attention to these matters in his second term
“The social media we’re talking about in Trump’s second term is not the social media of Trump’s first term,” said Nolan Higdon, a lecturer at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he focuses on critical media literacy. For now, there are few brakes on Trump’s impulses.
-
‘Abolish ICE’ messaging is back. Is it any more likely this time?
Cinthya Martinez, a UC Santa Cruz professor who has studied the movement to abolish ICE, noted that it stems from the movement to abolish prisons. The abolition part, she said, is watered down by mainstream politicians. “A lot of folks forget that prison abolition is to completely abolish carceral systems. It comes from a Black…
-
Americans must understand the historic context of Venezuela invasion
UC Santa Cruz Professors Lily Balloffet and Jeff Erbig wrote an opinion article about the importance of learning Latin American History and how this perspective can inform the way Americans understand and respond to the Trump Administration’s invasion of Venezuela.
-
We can stop ICE terror: It’s time to organize
The Trump administration governs through fear, particularly in the way it handles immigration, writes UC Santa Cruz researcher Veronica Hamilton at the Center for Labor and Community. Labor unions and organized workers have the power and experience to resist ICE intimidation and protect communities.
-
Making Sense of the U.S. Invasion of Venezuela
Sara Niedzwieck is a professor of politics at UC Santa Cruz and studies South American politics. She offers her analysis of what is currently happening in Venezuela, a developing story.
-
Some Dogs Learn New Words Just Like Toddlers Do
The new research offers proof that some dogs can learn some words even when they are not addressed directly by their owners, says Nameera Akhtar, a psychology professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz, who was also not involved in the study.
-
How can nature protect us from the effects of climate change
UC Santa Cruz economics professor Galina Hale hosts Center for Coastal Climate Resilience Director Mike Beck on the radio show “Cutting Edge,” to discuss their new study on nature-based solutions for climate adaptation.
-
Sen. Mark Kelly vows to fight for First Amendment amid Pentagon threats
Kelly remains subject to military rules known as the Uniform Code of Military Justice. “These regulations have been used to restrict political expression as well as other activities,” University of California Santa Cruz professor Elizabeth Beaumont wrote in a column for Middle Tennessee State University’s Free Speech Center.
-
Winter Storms Ease Drought in California, for Now
Michael Loik, a professor of environmental studies at the University of California at Santa Cruz, said Californians should continue to live with a conservative mind-set regarding water supply. “Drought is the norm in California,” he said. “The next drought is just around the corner.”
-
School closures have rocked this LA-area district – are they destroying it, or saving it?
“Just because a district needs a loan from the state does not mean it should be – or always is – put into receivership,” said Rene Espinoza Kissell, an assistant professor of education at UC Santa Cruz who studies school funding. Where wealthier districts may get supervision, lower-income districts with majority students of color are…
-
How to fix Delhi’s air pollution disaster
Openness to diverse sources of expertise and rigorous testing of ideas before scaling up might be the key to fix Delhi’s hazardous air, writes Distinguished Professor of Economics Nirvikar Singh.