The Future of Scholarship

With technology developing at an accelerating pace, the question becomes: Will new technologies be used for good or ill, to unite us or divide us? And how can we do a better job of anticipating and preparing for the profound social, economic and ethical implications of technological innovations?  Whether it’s developing a better grasp of targeted media to prevent election meddling or predicting how blockchain platforms will alter traditional institutions, USC Dornsife faculty shine a light into a future that will be profoundly changed by technological innovation.

From USC Dornsife’s location in the heart of L.A., our scholars study and understand how people holding different perspectives and beliefs unite or divide. How, for example, did Los Angeles, once known for its violence and community discord, evolve into today’s far more tolerant metropolis? How will we continue to ensure that certain groups retains their culture while interacting productively and peacefully with groups representing different points of view? As our faculty, students and community partners answer these kinds of questions, we are offering ways forward as similar challenges appear around the world.

To solve 21st-century global challenges, we must understand their complex and compounding effects. How has climate change spurred migrations? How has social media led to new channels for human trafficking? These and other problems such as financial crises, pandemics, cybersecurity, and terrorism defy boundaries. We need to respond with an intrinsically global approach. USC Dornsife experts unravel the complexity of global challenges and provide insights that can help governments and the private sector better manage global issues of the future.

To develop a complete understanding of human health, we need more than breakthrough biomedicine. We also need to explore the environmental, cultural, and communication factors that contribute to our individual and collective wellbeing.  Bridging research and scholarship across disciplines — and collaborating with practitioners — USC Dornsife looks beyond the treatment of disease to better predict and prevent it, and to build environments that promote robust physical and mental health for all.