'Ask the Experts' addresses the opioid epidemic on cesarean sections
The latest episode in the “Ask the Experts” series features Danielle Symons Downs, professor of kinesiology and obstetrics and gynecology, and associate director of the Social Science Research Institute at Penn State, discussing her research on the links between cesarean section…
Seed grants available in energy, environmental research
Penn State’s Energy and Environmental Sustainability Laboratories (EESL) announced a call for proposals for seed grant funding that will support energy and environmental research conducted in EESL facilities. The call is open to undergraduate and graduate students at any Penn State campus.
The…
Rural American families focus of 26th annual family symposium
The strategies needed to maintain family economic stability, health and general well-being of rural families was the focus of the 26th Annual National Symposium on Family Issues, held recently at the Nittany Lion Inn on Penn State’s University Park campus.
“The symposium brought together discussion…
A Systems Approach to Opioid Mitigation
Opioid and related substance abuse is devastating many communities across the country and has proven a particularly difficult problem to address. In this presentation, Griffin will discuss research being done at the Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering at Purdue University to help mitigate…
25 Years of Service
Cheri McConnell, education coordinator with the Child Maltreatment Solutions Network, and Michael Rineer, manager of Network and Information Systems at SSRI, were recently awarded Penn State Mantel Clocks for their 25 years of service to the University.
For a complete listing of 25-Year Award…
Why Social Science? - Because Social Science Research and Education Are Critical for National Security
By Claudia Brugman, PhD, Research Scientist and Technical Director for Language in Social Systems, Center for Advanced Study of Language, University of Maryland
Each of the social sciences contributes irreplaceable content knowledge and methodologies to our collective understanding of other…
SSRI Fall Gathering 2018
Faculty and staff from all of SSRI's units recently gathered together at the Hintz Family Alumni Center to celebrate major accomplishments of the year and to announce staff awards.
The “Workplace Climate Promotion Award” was given to Renee Kotch from the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness…
Kindergarten predicts academic achievement across the primary grades
Identifying factors that predict academic difficulties during elementary school should help inform efforts to children who may be at risk. New Penn State research suggests that children’s executive functions may be a particularly important risk factor for such difficulties.
Preliminary findings…
New poll: Voters are just as angry as in 2016
By Eric Plutzer and Michael Berkman
Voters this fall aren’t just sharply polarized; they’re also very angry — whether they’re Democrats, Republicans or even independents.
In partnership with YouGov, Penn State’s McCourtney Institute of Democracy has been polling Americans to assess the overall mood…
Mobile technologies may help researchers crack the mysteries of aging
A National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant will allow Penn State’s Martin Sliwinski and team to learn more about how small changes in the brain can develop into neurological conditions later in life by developing new standardized mobile technologies for researchers across the U.S.
This type of…
Harvard professor to present De Jong Lecture in Social Demography Nov. 15
Penn State’s 13th Annual De Jong Lecture in Social Demography will be presented from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Nittany Lion Inn on the University Park campus.
"The impact of workplace policies/practices and family composition: Can they explain inequalities in health,"…
Schmitt Russell Research Lecture to focus on health and education interventions
Linda Collins, director of the Methodology Center, will present the 2018 Pauline Schmitt Russell Research Lecture, "Bringing Health and Education Interventions into the 21st Century,” at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 7, in the Bennett Pierce Living Center on University Park campus.
The event…
Why is working memory so important to learning?
The National Science Foundation is spotlighting CEDR Director and PRI Affiliate Paul Morgan's recent research on working memory in their "Ask a Scientist" series.
A better way to evaluate health interventions
There’s a better way to evaluate the effectiveness of health interventions. It can help make health interventions not only effective, but scalable, affordable and less complex. When testing an intervention that is trying to modify health attitudes or behaviors — like a smoking cessation program —…
Fourth cycle of proposals sought for strategic initiative seed grant funding
Penn State community members, including faculty, staff and students, are invited to submit ideas for pilot projects that are aimed at supporting the University’s Strategic Plan to advance innovation, research, learning and engagement at the University and beyond. Proposals for the fourth cycle of…
Fall 2018 Scholarly Communications Workshops offered by University Libraries
This November, students, faculty and staff can participate in communications workshops that cover topics such as copyright, publishing, and National Science Foundation public access policy. The workshops, which will take place Nov. 1-15, are coordinated and led by Ana Enriquez, scholarly…
Sifting through 50 million phone calls for patterns to aid refugees
When refugees use their mobile phones they leave clues about how well they are integrating (or not) into their host country. Clio Andris, assistant professor of geography in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, is analyzing a year’s worth of phone calls to find the clues to help address the…
Family Symposium book series releases latest edition
The most recent volume in the Family Symposium book series is now available from Springer Publishing. “Families and Technology” focuses on the roles of parents in monitoring children’s screen time, of technology in relationship formation, and technology in changing family dynamics.
The book is…
Dyslexia gene may predict concussion susceptibility among football players
A gene associated with the learning disorder dyslexia may offer researchers clues about variations in individual athletes’ susceptibility to concussions, according to a pilot study by Penn State and Northwestern University.
The results were published in the Journal of Neurotrauma on…
Courier service to Hershey for research/bio transport
University Park/Hershey Shuttle and Courier Rules
The purpose of these shuttle rules is to maintain the safety of shuttle drivers, passengers, the public and the environment. Information on the courier service is provided to comply with federal regulations related to the shipment of hazardous…
Vice President for Research Neil Sharkey to retire in June 2019
Neil Sharkey, vice president for research at Penn State, has announced that he will retire on June 30, 2019, after a 22-year career at the University. A national search will begin immediately to identify his successor.
Sharkey has led Penn State’s research enterprise since August 2013, initially as…
Applications sought for 2019-20 Administrative Fellows Program
Applications are being sought for the Administrative Fellows Program for 2019-20. The program offers Penn State faculty and staff who hold standing positions the opportunity to work with senior University officers to gain knowledge and experiences pertaining to the challenges of leadership in the…
Challenges Facing Rural America Deeply Rooted In Economic And Social Distress, Researchers Say
By Min Xian, WPSU
Nearly three and a half million Pennsylvanians live in rural parts of the state. In many ways, rural areas face challenges different than those in urban areas. Researchers gathered on Monday for the 26th National Symposium on Family Issues at Penn State’s Nittany Lion Inn, with a…
Penn State response to new NSF and NIH requirements
The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have recently taken steps to promote the safety and well-being of students, faculty and staff to maintain productive research and educational environments.
NSF has announced that all institutions receiving NSF funds…
Why Social Science? - Because It Helps Build Resilience in the Face of Disasters
By Brandi Gilbert, Ph.D., Research Associate, Urban Institute & Nnenia Campbell, Ph.D., Research Associate, Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado, Boulder
We are dedicated to using social science to improve disaster recovery for those on the margins of society—in particular on the…