The Future of Scholarship

Humanity stands at a crossroads: Perpetuate our current practices that warm the planet, displace people, and drive species toward extinction; or, build a future powered by renewable energy and new ways of protecting natural resources. At USC Dornsife, our scientists develop innovative ways to harness and store this energy. But the clock is ticking. So we also focus on overcoming obstacles preventing the adoption of the many effective solutions already in-hand.  By tapping our economists, political scientists, behavioral scientists, writers, and many others, we are finding ways to accelerate and scale sustainable actions while the window is still open.

The political divide is as stark as it’s been in modern memory. Inconvenient news is shouted down as “fake.” Facts are discounted. Rancor is at historic levels. Our nation is desperate for new tools to decontaminate the toxic political atmosphere.

Never before have research universities been more critical to reshaping the conversation. And USC Dornsife is leading the way. Our experts develop strategies to help decontaminate the toxic political atmosphere, create an environment for civil debate, and provide fact-based insights that inform solution to pressing policy issues.

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 of different backgrounds and beliefs unite or divide. How, for example, did Los Angeles, once known for its violence, corruption and racial animus, evolve into today’s far more tolerant and equitable metropolis? How will we continue to ensure that a certain group retains its identity while interacting productively and peacefully with those who look, speak or worship differently? 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.