
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:

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
In April, the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement ceremony returns to its home at USC and star-studded Los Angeles to celebrate this year’s laureates.

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.

An architect of the landmark Human Genome Project looks back
USC University Professor Emeritus Michael Waterman stood at the forefront of computational biology 40 years ago. The world is still catching up.

Laguna Niguel fire signals start of a long wildfire season in California
USC experts predict wildfire threat to grow in coming years, but see hope in new mitigation methods.

Throwing shade at L.A.: USC researcher measures impact of trees, or the lack of them
USC spatial scientist John Wilson discusses the benefits of more trees in the urban core, the differences between Beverly Hills and Boyle Heights, and how trees will shape L.A.’s future.

5 ways USC researchers are working to reduce waste
EARTH WEEK: University scientists and engineers aim to replace plastics and batteries with more sustainable, degradable resources for the future.

USC’s unofficial school color: Green
EARTH WEEK: Progress in Earth-friendly practices under USC President Carol L. Folt is evident on university’s campuses.

Ice Age animals again roam the L.A. Basin thanks to USC, Natural History Museum collaboration
Researchers create new augmented reality paleoart to shed light on the extinct species of the region. Learn how you can “see” these animals up close.

Another reason to exercise: It helps your brain
USC evolutionary biologist David Raichlen talks about working out in a major city, how our brains developed when we began moving long distances, and the “runner’s high.”

U.S.-Russia-Ukraine standoff may shift the battlefield online
Russian cyberwarfare continues to shape the conflict, USC experts say, but alliances could curb more aggressive strategies.