Research Frontiers Evening

The Social Sciences Division is holding an interdisciplinary Research Frontiers Evening on
Wednesday, October 24, 2018.
The evening's theme is "In the Public Interest: Youth Empowerment, Criminal Justice and Ethical Science."

This event is free and open to the public. All attendees must register prior to the event.

Faculty Speakers

A Vision for the Future

Katharyne Mitchell, Dean of Social Sciences and Professor of Sociology

Katharyne Mitchell's academic interests include urban political geography, transnational migration, refugees and asylum policy, immigrant integration, citizenship, and education. She joined UC Santa Cruz as dean of the Division of Social Sciences in August 2017, spurred to leadership by the results of the 2016 election.  She was drawn to UCSC's reputation for innovative, interdisciplinary scholarship, as well as its commitment to offering students a dynamic educational experience.

 In Praise of Positivism in the Age of Fake News and Alternative Facts

Craig Haney, Distinguished Professor of Psychology and UC Presidential Chair, 2015-2018

Craig Haney has spent decades studying the psychological effects of incarceration and has become a leading voice in the movement for meaningful criminal justice reform. The impact of his scholarship has been felt in landmark court rulings, including one prohibiting solitary confinement in Canada, as well as directives to reduce overcrowding in California's prisons and to improve conditions of confinement in Texas. Haney recently convened an academic summit on solitary confinement with 45 of the world's experts, including scientific experts, human rights leaders, legal academics, and correctional officials.

The New Queer Teenager: Diversity in Sexual and Gender Identity

Phillip L. Hammack, Professor and Vice Chair of Psychology and Director of the Sexual and Gender Diversity Laboratory 

Phillip Hammack is an expert on gender and sexual identity, gender identity diversity, and diversity in intimate relationships. His latest research focuses on queer youth and the revolution that is taking place in how people are thinking and talking about gender and sexuality. Hammack recently presented his findings to the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine in Washington, D.C. Hammack is a leader in San Francisco’s queer community, and he and his highly visible queer family have been featured in SF Weekly, the Bay Area Reporter, and Vice magazine.

Genomics and Justice: The Untold Story

Jenny Reardon, Professor of Sociology and the  Director of the Science and Justice Research Center 

Jenny Reardon is a sociologist whose training spans molecular biology, the history of biology, science studies, feminist and critical race studies, and the sociology of science, technology and medicine. She is the author of two books about genomics: Race to the Finish: Identity and Governance in an Age of Genomics and The Postgenomic Condition: Ethics, Justice, Knowledge After the Genome. Reardon's research focuses on questions of identity, justice, and democracy that are often silently embedded in scientific ideas and practices, particularly in modern genomic research.

Learning to Lead: Youth Organizing and the Developmental Roots of Political Activism

Veronica Terriquez, Associate Professor of Sociology 

Building on more than two decades of strong connections to social justice movements in California, Veronica Terriquez conducts community-engaged research that focuses on social inequality, immigrant integration, youth transitions to adulthood, and civic engagement. One of her research projects culminated in the 2018 Central Valley Freedom Summer, during which undergraduates from UC Santa Cruz and UC Merced organized youth summits, led voter registration drives, and educated young people about civic engagement. Terriquez is eager for her work to inform policies that affect low-income communities of color.

Questions? Contact Ashlee Tews at ashleeac@ucsc.edu