
Paul McQuiston
Paul McQuiston is USC’s assistant director of media relations. He previously worked in higher education communications for Cambridge University, the City University of New York’s Advanced Science Research Center and Avila University.
Stories by Paul McQuiston:

Historic venue points the way to a sustainable future
GREEN WEEK: The L.A. Memorial Coliseum’s zero waste program, one of the most acclaimed in the country, is diverting tons of recyclable and compostable waste away from landfills.

USC’s first Sustainability Solutions postdocs help shape a greener future
GREEN WEEK: Early-career researchers are ready to tackle challenging environmental problems through interdisciplinary work.

Controversy brings opportunity: USC experts navigate tough questions about AI
New center and initiative position the university as a leading institution on artificial intelligence policy discussions, best practices and ethical decision-making.

Farms of the future: How the mung bean, chickpea and kelp can survive climate change
USC Dornsife’s Sergey Nuzhdin on how the evolution of crops may point toward their sustainable future.

USC announces $1 billion-plus initiative for computing including AI, ethics and quantum computing
President Carol L. Folt launches the most comprehensive academic initiative in USC’s history, including a new School of Advanced Computing, educational opportunities in ethical computing for students across the university, and an expansion of USC’s footprint in Silicon Beach.

Looking beyond the beauty of coral reefs
EARTH MONTH: The USC Fisher Museum of Art hosts a conversation about coral reef ecosystems and resilience in face of rising water temperatures.

USC’s ‘Assignment: Earth’ initiative takes center stage during Earth Month
EARTH MONTH: The university is dedicating April to reducing pollution, inspiring innovation and driving engagement to help the planet.

Pictures inside a cell: USC researchers develop new tool to provide greater insight into biological processes
New imaging technique developed at the USC Translational Imaging Center promises efficient, high-quality look inside living tissue.

USC dives into AI research, education with new Center for Generative AI and Society
Amid the buzz about generative AI tools like ChatGPT, USC forms research center with $10 million in seed money and influential experts from the fields of computer science, film, media, education and more.

Tyler Prize award ceremony returns to USC for its 50th anniversary
On April 28, the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement ceremony returns to its home at USC to celebrate this year’s laureates, marine biologist Daniel Pauly and economist Rashid Sumaila.

Innovation with impact: 2 USC sustainability research projects seek to make real-world difference
New approaches to addressing and reducing air and water pollution in L.A. seek to educate, incentivize key stakeholders.

4 USC researchers named AAAS fellows
Carolyn C. Meltzer, Massoud Pedram, Remo Rohs and Richard M. Watanabe join more than 40 USC faculty as fellows of the prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science.

How USC-led innovation can solve global challenges
Ishwar Puri, USC senior vice president for research and innovation, discusses some of the past year’s major accomplishments and what might be in store for 2023 and beyond.

Medicine from garbage? New process shows promise turning plastic trash into pharmaceuticals
The novel method developed by USC pharmacy and chemistry researchers has exciting implications for plastic waste collecting on Catalina Island and L.A.-area beaches.

Impact of Assignment: Earth on USC campuses already evident
GREEN WEEK: The university has made tremendous strides since announcing its all-encompassing sustainability framework five months ago.

Moral values explain differences in COVID-19 vaccination rates across U.S. counties
Research from USC Dornsife shows that moral values predict regional differences in COVID-19 vaccination rates beyond structural, demographic and political barriers to vaccination.

USC-LADWP agreement taps into offsite solar power for the university and its neighbors
The agreement will provide a quarter of USC’s electricity with power from a solar farm in Mojave. It also brings new opportunities for residents in nearby communities to gain access to affordable solar power.

Clearing the air: USC faculty seek to shift the climate change conversation
Cross-disciplinary researchers work to educate general audiences about what they need to know when faced with confusing environmental information.

Machine learning, nature benefits: How AI helps 2 USC environmental scientists unlock the natural world’s mysteries
How do you measure a cloud? How do you count a swarm of bees? Machine learning provides insights into complex natural phenomena.

Yellowstone flooding underscores environmental pressures facing U.S. national parks
USC researcher Douglas Noble discusses the impact of climate change on Old Faithful, shrinking glaciers and desert oases.

Is recycled wastewater the answer to California’s water shortage?
USC Viterbi researcher Dan McCurry discusses recycling sewage, how golf courses are watered and his personal water usage.

The Earth moves far under our feet: New study shows Earth’s inner core oscillates
USC Dornsife scientists’ analysis of seismic data identifies a six-year cycle of super- and sub-rotation that affects the length of a day.

Uncertainty casts a shadow on 2022 Summit of the Americas
As the summit gets underway in L.A., USC’s Gerardo Munck discusses its potential, the state of Latin American democracy and trade, and the political challenges facing leaders in the Western Hemisphere.

Tsunami threats are greatly underestimated in current models, new research shows
An analysis of historical seismic events by a USC Dornsife scientist helps explain why large tsunamis still occur after relatively small earthquakes.