T & I Initiative

Research with Impact

Research and discovery that is shaping our future

Dynamic discoveries that greatly benefit society often take root at USC College, where researchers have substantial expertise in directions of research that will forever impact the future.

Info-Bio-Nano and Energy

Supporting advances in information technology, life sciences and nanotechnology is an investment in the well-being of future generations. The convergence of these fields is revolutionizing individual and public health; economic, social and political systems; and business and commerce.

Info: Innovations in information technology are significantly enhancing the speed and accuracy at which research can be conducted. For example, breakthroughs at the Southern California Earthquake Center are being fueled by cutting-edge software programs that identify hotspots where intense shaking during earthquakes could cause major damage.

Bio: In the realm of biology, researchers are discovering bold new insights into the nature of life, human health and disease. The College's expertise in fundamental genomics promises to help develop cures for complex diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's. The research is a precursor for personalized treatments and therapies that will improve the health of the ill.

As researchers in the College's highly interdisciplinary neuroscience program probe the complexity of the brain and nervous system, society gains a better understanding of the physical basis of brain disease and learning disabilities such as dyslexia. Meanwhile, environmental scientists explore a wide range of issues related to the environment, such as fishery conservation, global warming and urban pollution.

Nano: College chemists and physicists investigate the behavior of molecules, atoms and smaller particles to uncover knowledge that is critical to the development of new technologies.

Energy: As finite resources such as petroleum and natural gas are depleted, chemists, earth scientists and physicists research how to create more efficient ways of utilizing and recycling our present resources. At the Donald P. and Katherine B. Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute, directed by 1994 Nobel Laureate George Olah, scientists are pioneering research into the methanol economy, revealing how methanol could be generated from carbon dioxide to replace fossil fuels for use in transportation and energy.

Giving Opportunities

Recognizing that several research areas have the potential for significant global effects within the next few decades, the College is taking a leadership role in fields that promise to be the locus of new discoveries. Supporting advances in information technology, life sciences, nanotechnology and energy is an investment in the well-being of future generations.

By bringing the best new technology into laboratories and classrooms, the College will have limitless opportunities to conduct groundbreaking, ethical research in emerging fields of study that promise to have a positive impact on society.

Funds are needed to support existing research centers and programs and to create new ones. Some examples include:

High Performance Computing Center
Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute
Program in Geobiology
Program in Molecular and Computational Biology
Program in Neuroscience
Southern California Earthquake Center
Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies

General Discovery Funds

A 125-year tradition of building knowledge for the world

Arts, Culture and Society: Universities and their colleges have the great responsibility of understanding and preserving the art and culture that shapes our society. Investing in research to better understand our world allows the College to prepare for the challenges of shifting demographics and learn how we can benefit from new opportunities that are inherent in a diverse society.

Researchers across the social sciences and humanities are energized by the knowledge that their research can help solve the problems of our time. For example, scholars of history, religion, geography and sociology collaborate to further understand social issues such as immigration, homelessness and public health.

Other programs examine the unique American identity, analyzing how it has changed over the century through the comparative study of peoples, cultures, history and social issues. Drawing upon the cultural resources of Los Angeles, the Program in American Studies and Ethnicity ensures students gain a critical perspective on the diversity which is shaping American society and culture.

As art historians and English scholars examine texts and images in relation to the larger cultures that produced them, the College is uncovering new insights about traditional forms of art and literature that have influenced social and cultural attitudes for centuries.

As professors and students uncover new knowledge, it is shared with others around the globe. For example, through the innovative use of information technology, historians and classicists preserve their findings about the modern and ancient world through digital archives that can easily be accessed online.

Giving Opportunities

Investing in research in the arts, culture and society leads directly to understanding what has shaped and influenced our world for centuries. But this research is about much more than a search for roots.

Historical knowledge about arts and culture plays a pivotal role in helping College researchers learn how we can benefit from new opportunities that are inherent in today's diverse society. At USC College, research efforts across the social sciences and humanities are helping to solve the most pressing problems of our time.

Some examples of programs and institutes that can be supported with gifts include: