Social Sciences Division

"Some ask whether climate policy has reached a 'social tipping point,' a self-reinforcing contagion process that will decarbonize the economy. Tipping points can be activated by interventions such as divesting from fossil fuel assets or exposing the moral failings of a fossil fuel economy, both of which are reflected in the recent developments in Chevron, Shell, and ExxonMobil," write the UW's Nives Dolšak, professor of marine and environmental affairs, and Aseem Prakash, professor of political science.

Mark Ward, lecturer in the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, discusses peace in Afghanistan.

In a paper published online last month, Bo Zhao, assistant professor of geography at the UW, employed AI techniques similar to those used to create so-called deepfakes to alter satellite images of several cities. Zhao and colleagues swapped features between images of Seattle and Beijing to show buildings where there are none in Seattle and to remove structures and replace them with greenery in Beijing.

Ralina Joseph, Center for Communication, Difference, and Equity Director and Presidential Term Professor in the UW Department of Communication, discusses the Center's upcoming conference.

Wing Luke Museum’s “Asian American Women Rising: NOT Your Model Minority” was a masterfully crafted webinar on May 22, with the goal of inspiring viewers to participate in our democracy for the purpose of ending hate and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders\, especially women. The UW's Connie So, teaching professor of American ethnic studies, and student Tianna Andresen are quoted.

"As social scientists and public health practitioners familiar with Nepal’s health care delivery and emergency response systems, we recognize that ultimately, the capacity to care for people suffering from COVID-19 in Nepal is severely limited, with roughly 1,500 intensive care beds and just over 800 ventilators in the country. The mountainous terrain throughout much of the country, along with a lack of infrastructure, political marginalization and poverty compound the impacts of infectious disease," write David Citrin, affiliate assistant professor of global health and of anthropology at the UW; Katharine Rankin of the University of Toronto; Galen Murton of James Madison University; and Sienna Craig of Dartmouth College.

When North Carolina raised the age when people are considered an adult in the criminal justice system to 18, the change was more than a dozen years in the making. Now, advocates are setting their sights – and their desired age limit – higher. Chelsea Moore, a doctoral student in political science and a law student at the UW, is referenced.

It is sometimes the first time Asian Americans experience racism: at school and, more specifically, in the school cafeteria. The experience has been dubbed the "lunchbox moment," when a child brings a lunch packed by their parents at home — a dish that may be from their cultural background. The UW's Michael Spencer, professor of social work, and Connie So, teaching professor of American ethnic studies, are interviewed.

More than 800 civilians in Myanmar have been killed by security forces since the February coup. Members of the U.N. Security Council were told Myanmar stands at the brink of state failure. Mary Callahan, associate professor of international studies at the UW, is interviewed.

At least 15 states are trying to ban schools from teaching critical race theory and the 1619 Project. Christopher Parker, professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

Washington has enacted a number of police reforms since George Floyd was murdered one year ago. Among them is a mandatory 8-hour course, broken up into sessions, for police recruits on the history of racism and policing. Alexes Harris, professor of sociology at the UW, is mentioned.

Christopher Sebastian Parker, professor of political science, discusses what sparked the summer of social unrest.

Universal, Sony and Warner have paid out just a portion of the money they promised to give, VICE found — revealing a disconnect between how they’ve publicly characterized their donations and what’s really happening behind the scenes. Megan Ming Francis, associate professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

One year after the killing of George Floyd and the largely peaceful protests it spawned, the BLM movement has achieved mainstream recognition in the United States and beyond, with protests last summer hitting all seven continents. But the movement now faces the same challenge many grassroots efforts have: how to move beyond the recognition toward concrete solutions. Christopher Parker, professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

This week at the UW, attend a concert with the UW Percussion Ensemble and Steel Band, the MFA + MDes Thesis Exhibition, and more.