Social Sciences Division

Peter Chiarelli spent years as a film producer working on Amityville Horror, Eagle Eye, and other projects before trying his hand at screenwriting. His 2009 romantic comedy, The Proposal, starred Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds.

Graham Pruss knows a thing or two about being homeless, having lived through some tough times on the streets as a teen. So when he noticed a growing number of people living in their vehicles in his Seattle neighborhood, he was determined to help.

Professor Christopher Parker, whose book about the rise of the Tea Party will be published in 2013, shares his thoughts on the Tea Party's popularity and its similarities to past conservative political movements in the U.S.

As Washington voters consider numerous hot button issues this election season, many are turning to the Living Voters Guide, an interactive online resource developed by UW students and faculty in conjunction with Seattle CityClub.

Making Connections, a program of the UW Women's Center, helps first-generation, low-income high school girls achieve their dream of going to college. For the past five years, the program has had a 100 percent success rate.

A jury summons in the mail may not bring smiles, but Professor John Gastil's research suggests that people who deliberate on a jury become more engaged citizens as a result. Gastil shares his findings as co-author of the book The Jury and Democracy. 

As host of Research on Religion, a weekly podcast, Professor Anthony Gill immerses listeners in discussions of religion and society. The show focuses on social science, not theological, aspects of religion. 

Two students from the Master of Communication in Digital Media Program spent a fortnight at sea, joining scientists on a research mission and capturing their activities through photographs and video.

For 15 years, Jana Mohr-Lone (PhD, '96) has guided philosophical discussions of everything from art to happiness in K-12 classrooms. Now the rest of us can hear one of those discussions on Philosophy Talk, an hour-long radio program.

Women gained voting rights in Washington State 100 years ago. To commemorate this momentous event, the Women’s Center will host a November 6 gala honoring 100 women who were the first to break the barriers in various fields. 

No need to leave campus for the farm experience. The student-run UW Farm, tucked into a third of an acre on campus, is a working farm with ties to courses in everything from biology to anthropology to American Ethnic Studies.