Student-led think tank addresses problems that go beyond USC
Founded by an alum, the unconventional Novus Think Tank enables students to apply their lessons to real-world challenges while offering a place for Trojans to bond.
2 USC faculty members named Guggenheim Fellows
Art historian Lisa Pon is recognized for exploring Renaissance artist Raphael’s collaborations, while composer Nina C. Young is known for her genre-defying work.
The Holocaust separated two childhood friends; USC Shoah Foundation reunited them
Betty Grebenschikoff and Ana María Wahrenberg hadn’t seen each other since their families fled Berlin. More than 80 years later, astute work by a foundation indexer brought them back together.
Could alien worlds hold life? This USC alum aims to find out
Laurie Barge, an astrobiologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, investigates the origins of life on Earth to make sense of how life could form on other planets.
The pandemic echoes a history of disruption for Black families
USC experts discuss how COVID-19’s disproportionate impact on the Black community connects to a long history of upending Black families in America, from slavery to incarceration.
Famed economist helps us know how to be happy
For more than half a century, USC’s Richard Easterlin has delved into the secrets of what does — and doesn’t — bring us joy.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, a wave of anti-Asian violence has risen
USC experts discuss the recent murders in Atlanta, a surge in violence against people of Asian descent throughout America and what can be done about it.
Rangel fellowship offers USC alum hands-on — and around-the-world — training
Carolina Cortez hopes her time with the State Department will allow her to pursue her dream of being a diplomat to a Latin American country.
Want to unite the country? Learn to argue better
Political polarization has skyrocketed while online debate frequently devolves into childish — and sometimes dangerous — attacks. A little philosophy could help us make sense of it all.
Mars rover Perseverance will look for signs of life backed by USC research
USC Dornsife’s Ken Nealson and a team of researchers helped develop SHERLOC, the ultraviolet laser technology that will probe the red planet for chemicals produced by living organisms.
Debunking the myth of legislative gridlock
Despite a reputation of suffering from partisan gridlock, Congress is still creating laws and policy, writes a USC political science professor.
USC historian uncovers the Underground Railroad that ran to Mexico
Mexico played an important role in helping escaped slaves find freedom — and in shaping the U.S. Civil War, argues USC Dornsife’s Alice Baumgartner.
USC Dornsife launches first undergraduate civil rights advocacy clinic in U.S.
Led by noted civil rights attorney Olu Orange, the Agents of Change Initiative enables students to participate in key areas of social reform.
USC students map uncharted territory to assist in rescue efforts
Trojans joined their UCLA counterparts in a three-day “mapathon” to plot out some of the world’s most remote regions. The work assists humanitarian efforts after disasters.
9 books that offer inspiration and comfort at the end of a challenging 2020
USC English professors reflect on the books that soothed and uplifted them during a tumultuous year.
Student club helps introduce children to music, whether in person or on Zoom
USC junior Danika Banh created the Music Inspiring Community club to bring regular lessons to underserved elementary school classrooms.
USC students build an orphanage, provide water to the homeless and assist immigrants
The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t stopped students in Kamy Akhavan’s class “Doing Good: How to Start and Run a Successful Nonprofit Organization” from bettering the world.
Joe Árvai aims to grow USC’s Wrigley Institute into a true sustainability hub
The new director of USC’s environmental research institute wants to leverage all of USC Dornsife’s unique strengths to help ensure a more livable future.
Prison Education Project brings poetry, philosophy and physics to the incarcerated
USC Dornsife faculty and students teach university-level coursework to California prisoners in an effort to reduce recidivism rates and break down stereotypes.
History professor traces Black women’s migration from the Caribbean
Joan Flores-Villalobos brings to life the women who journeyed to Panama for money, love and adventure during the construction of the famous canal.
Virtual reality project will recreate a 15th century religious experience
USC Dornsife’s Sabina Zonno and Lynn Dodd have received a National Endowment for the Humanities grant to develop an immersive world around a Renaissance-era manuscript.
New Trojans embrace forming friendships with virtual roommates
More than 300 first-year students signed up for a USC Dornsife program designed to build connections in a supportive online community.
Celebrating 20 years of empowering women in STEM
The Women in Science and Engineering program at USC has recruited a record number of women faculty to the university and enabled a generation to advance their careers in the sciences.
Two experimental poll questions may point to a Trump victory
New questions recently added to the USC Dornsife Daybreak Poll predict that the popular vote for president could be much closer than most polls are predicting.