There’s plenty of water in the ocean, so how do we make it drinkable? Jovan Kamcev, assistant professor of chemical engineering at the University of Michigan, determines the best process for desalination. Jovan Kamcev develops technologies for affordable and sustainable water and energy, with a focus on membranes and sorbent materials for water treatment, energy […]
May 27, 2025•3 min
Grief carries many myths. Jacob Sawyer, assistant professor of psychology at Alma College, determines what’s real and what’s not. Jacob Sawyer is a counseling psychologist interested in factors related to mental health and well-being. His background and training as a clinician strongly inform his approach to his work as a faculty member. His career at […]
May 26, 2025•3 min
Artificial intelligence is changing who can be a computer programmer. Leo Porter, professor of computer science and engineering at the University of California San Diego, explores how. Leo Porter is a Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at UC San Diego interested in computer science education research and computer architecture. Leo co-founded the Computing Education […]
May 23, 2025•3 min
Guaranteed income programs can have benefits, but often should the money be deposited? Jonathan Morduch, professor of public policy and economics at New York University, looks to data for answers. Jonathan Morduch is Professor of Public Policy and Economics at the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University. Morduch’s research focuses on […]
May 22, 2025•3 min
Being an advocate is important; so, what’s the most effective process for becoming one? Patrick Barry, clinical assistant professor at the University of Michigan Law School, takes a trip to find the answer. Patrick Barry is a clinical assistant professor and the director of digital academic initiatives at the University of Michigan Law School, as […]
May 21, 2025•3 min
When it comes to trust in science, it depends where you look. Niels Mede, science communication researcher at the University of Zurich, delves in. Niels G. Mede is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, and fellow of the Digital Democracy Centre in Odense, Denmark. He studies science communication, focusing on digital media, […]
May 20, 2025•3 min
Can you hide in plain sight? Katherine Perry, assistant professor of mathematics at Soka University of America, explores if mathematics can. Katherine Perry is a mathematician specializing in graph theory, design theory, and combinatorics. She is especially interested in breaking apart graphs into smaller subgraphs with special properties. She has a BA in mathematics from […]
May 19, 2025•3 min
Stress is high, so how can work lower it? Adam Jussel, Dean of Students at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, looks into this. Dr. Adam Jussel serves as the Dean of Students for University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, where he helps assist with student advocacy and engagement, support resources, including basic needs, crisis management, and campus […]
May 16, 2025•3 min
Archaeologists have solved another mystery from thousands of years ago. Rune Iversen, associate professor of archaeology at the University of Copenhagen, digs in to tell us more. Rune Iversen is Associate Professor of Archaeology at the University of Copenhagen. His research focuses on the European Neolithic, including migrations, cultural interactions, art, and iconography. He is […]
May 15, 2025•3 min
We all want to age well, so let’s learn from those who already have. Emily Rogalski, Rosalind Franklin professor and Director of the Healthy Aging & Alzheimer’s Research Care Center at the University of Chicago, delves into the secrets. Dr. Rogalski is the Rosalind Franklin Professor of Neurology and the Director of the Healthy Aging […]
May 14, 2025•3 min
How do we foster a more civil tone in the workplace? Amanda Marcy, assistant professor of accounting at the University of Scranton, examines this question. Amanda S. Marcy, Ph.D., assistant professor of accounting at The University of Scranton, has twice received the Curt Verschoor Ethics Feature of the Year Award from the Institute of Management […]
May 13, 2025•3 min
There’s more information than ever for investors, so how does the public use it? Reena Aggarwal, Robert E. McDonough professor of finance and director at the McDonough’s Psaros Center for Financial Markets and Policy at Georgetown University, examines this. Professor Aggarwal is a globally renowned expert in the field of finance. She specializes in financial […]
May 12, 2025•3 min
On Soka University of America Week: Movie theaters can be used for more than just movies. Sandrine Siméon, assistant dean of global citizenship and associate professor of French language & culture, examines another form of entertainment that can fill the screens. Originally from Paris, Sandrine Siméon completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Paris […]
May 09, 2025•3 min
On Soka University of America Week: Autonomous states around the world and the reasons behind them can be misunderstood. Shane Barter, professor of comparative politics, delves into why. Dr. Shane Joshua Barter is Professor of Comparative Politics at Soka University of America. He earned his PhD in 2011 at the University of British Columbia. He […]
May 08, 2025•3 min
On Soka University of America Week: Introduced species can be a threat to coral reefs. Marie Nydam, associate professor of biology, dives down to take a look. Marie Nydam has a BS in Evolution and Ecology from the University of California, Davis. She earned a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from Cornell University and worked as […]
May 07, 2025•3 min
On Soka University of America Week: Can we reimagine our urban spaces to more align with the natural world? Deike Peters, associate professor of environmental planning and practice, discusses. Deike Peters is a German-American environmental urbanist whose focus is on ‘getting cities right.’ She has published extensively on sustainable and green urbanism, rail- and megaproject-oriented […]
May 06, 2025•3 min
On Soka University Week: Colleges are closing across the country, so what happens next to the spaces they occupied? Ryan Allen, associate professor of comparative and international education and leadership, looks around to find answers. Ryan M. Allen is the Associate Professor of Comparative and International Education and Leadership in the Educational Leadership and Societal Change […]
May 05, 2025•3 min
How do we make the trucking industry more efficient? Qi Luo, assistant professor in the department of business analytics at the University of Iowa, examines one possible solution. Qi Luo’s research focuses on data-driven decision-making in operations management and emerging mobility systems. His work has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the TRB Kikuchi-Karlaftis […]
May 02, 2025•3 min
Re-entry from space is challenging because of many factors, including heat. Marcos Fernandez-Tous, assistant professor in the department of space studies at the University of North Dakota, details how a new trajectory may help cool things down. Assistant professor of space technology, I teach courses on rocket propulsion and hypersonic aerodynamics at the University of […]
May 01, 2025•3 min
Our genetic code still holds mysteries for us to discover. Sawsan Wehbi, Genetics Ph.D. candidate at the University of Arizona, takes a look. I am a fourth year PhD candidate majoring in genetics and minoring in astrobiology. I am interested in the origins of life on Earth. My research focuses on early life proteins and […]
Apr 30, 2025•3 min
Having the right friends might mean a more secure financial future. Bradley Cannon, assistant professor of finance within the School of Management at Binghamton University, outlines the link. Brad Cannon, assistant professor of finance at Binghamton University Dr. Cannon’s research interests include behavioral finance, household finance, investments and financial technology. The study, titled “Friends with […]
Apr 29, 2025•3 min
How do we lower the amount of preterm or low weight births? Dongqing Wang, Assistant Professor in the Department of Global and Community Health at George Mason University’s College of Public Health, examines one solution. Dongqing Wang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Global and Community Health. Wang’s research focuses on the nutritional […]
Apr 28, 2025•3 min
The conglomeration of news media is having impacts on financial markets. Flora Sun, assistant professor of accounting at Binghamton University, explains why. Dr. Sun’s research interests include disclosure and information production in capital markets, focusing on the determinants of media coverage and its impact on capital markets. Sun is also interested in studying how investors […]
Apr 25, 2025•3 min
Understanding extremism can be key to our future. Art Jipson, associate professor of sociology and criminology at the University of Dayton, explores why. Arthur “Art” Jipson is an associate professor of sociology and criminology at the University of Dayton, where he has taught since 2001. From 2005 to 2016, Jipson was director of UD’s criminal […]
Apr 24, 2025•3 min
What role does vitamin D play in pregnancy? Alison Gernand, associate professor of nutritional sciences at Penn State University, shows us the importance. Alison Gernand is an Assistant Professor of Nutritional Sciences at Penn State University. The focus of her research is the impact of maternal micronutrient status on adverse pregnancy outcomes. She received a […]
Apr 23, 2025•3 min
Is prayer a form of problem solving for the person praying? Eleanor Schille-Hudson, postdoctoral research scientist in the department of anthropology at Stanford University, discusses why it may be the case. A cognitive scientist by training, she studies how people rely on their priors, habituated behaviors, social networks, and cultural context to make sense of […]
Apr 22, 2025•3 min
Wildfires are a topic that is demanding our attention these days. John Daily, emeritus professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Colorado, says science can teach us what we need to know. Dr. Daily is Emeritus Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He studied Mechanical Engineering at the University […]
Apr 21, 2025•3 min
3D printing may hold the key to making airplanes superefficient. Peter Serles, Schmidt Science Fellow at the California Institute of Technology, looks to let this research take off. Dr. Peter Serles received his PhD from the University of Toronto working with Prof. Tobin Filleter where he was a Vanier Scholar and was awarded the Canadian […]
Apr 18, 2025•3 min
Labels on products showing ‘healthier’ information, may not be telling the whole story. Anita Rao, Beyer Family associate professor at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, tells us why. Anita Rao, Beyer Family Associate Professor at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, is an empirical marketing researcher. Her work focuses on causally measuring […]
Apr 17, 2025•3 min
What can birds teach us about testosterone? Jasmine Loveland, Lise Meitner postdoctoral fellow at the University of Vienna, examines this. Dr. Jasmine Loveland is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Vienna and a guest scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence. Her main interests are in molecular evolution, comparative neuroanatomy and the […]
Apr 16, 2025•3 min