Food insecurity in America is reaching an all-time high during the COVID-19 pandemic. But large regional differences exist in the severity of the impact. Experts project over 50 million Americans will be food insecure in 2020, including about 17 million children, says Craig Gundersen, ACES distinguished professor in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics...
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Sustainable Tourism–Or a Selfie? Ecotourism’s Fans May Be in It for the ‘Gram
Ecotourism offers a specific travel experience: It focuses on nature, education and sustainability. Often, these destinations highlight endangered or threatened species and engage visitors in making socially responsible choices. But a new study by researchers at the University of Georgia suggests ecotourism’s altruistic attractions may be overshadowed by another benefit: photos for social media. Recently...
Demolishing Abandoned Houses Does Not Reduce Nearby Crime
Cities across the country have sought ways to improve neighborhood safety and in recent years have pointed to demolishing abandoned housing as a way to achieve the goal. While millions of dollars have been spent on the efforts, a recent University of Kansas study found a program demolishing more than 500 abandoned residential properties in...
Sociologists Dispel the ‘Bad Apple’ Excuse for Racialized Policing
Six days after a prone and restrained George Floyd died under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien dismissed charges that racism is rampant among police by arguing that “a few bad apples” are giving police “a terrible name.” But O’Brien’s widely expressed view made little sense to sociologist Jomills...
AI Teachers Must Be Effective and Communicate Well to Be Accepted, New Study Finds
The increase in online education has allowed a new type of teacher to emerge ¬– an artificial one. But just how accepting students are of an artificial instructor remains to be seen. That’s why researchers at the University of Central Florida’s Nicholson School of Communication and Media are working to examine student perceptions of artificial...
Research Identifies Link Between Food Insecurity and Unengaged Distance Learning
How do you feel when you’re hungry? Are you at your best? A new study by the UTSA Urban Education Institute (UEI) found that food insecure students in San Antonio struggled with distance learning and academic engagement more than their peers. The findings linking food insecurity and learning signify how hunger and larger issues of...
The Hidden Threat of the Home Office
It may seem a bit contradictory at first glance, but increased flexibility in our workday may have given us less flexibility in the work itself. The daily press and the nascent research literature on COVID-19 speculate on the long-term consequences of the coronavirus situation. These could change the way we think about the methods we...
From Sea to Shining Sea: New Survey Reveals State-Level Opinions on Climate Change
North and South, rural and urban–the United States is a complex mix of cultures, mindsets, and life experiences. And, as a new report by researchers at Stanford University, Resources for the Future, and ReconMR illustrates, those state-by-state differences affect climate attitudes and opinions. The report is the latest installment of Climate Insights 2020, a seven-part series...
Want to Wait Less at the Bus Stop? Beware Real-Time Updates
Smartphone apps that tell commuters when a bus will arrive at a stop don’t result in less time waiting than reliance on an official bus route schedule, a new study suggests. In fact, people who followed the suggestions of transit apps to time their arrival for when the bus pulls up to the stop were...
Experiencing Police Violence Worsens Mental Health in Distinct Ways
The experience of police violence is associated with mental and emotional trauma distinct from that caused by other kinds of violence, creating a public health crisis for communities most affected. Simply put, the experience of police violence puts Black, Latino, Indigenous, and sexual minority communities at higher risk of distinct mental health problems, in addition...