Social Sciences

Seven UC Berkeley scientists elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

April 24, 2024

Seven UC Berkeley scientists — including a chemist, a psychologist, an engineer, two biologists and two physicists — are among 250 new members elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences today.

The Academy recognizes excellence and convenes leaders from every field of human endeavor to examine new ideas, address issues of importance to the nation and the world, and to work together to cultivate art and science.

“We honor these artists, scholars, scientists, and leaders in the public,...

https://news.berkeley.edu/2024/04/24/seven-uc-berkeley-scientists-elected-to-the…

Berkeley Letters & Science announces 2nd annual L&S Faculty Award winners

May 8, 2024

The College of Letters & Science Advisory Board has announced the recipients of the second annual L&S Faculty Awards, which recognizes and celebrates exceptional faculty in the College of Letters & Science. Awardees were selected for their exceptional scholarship, service to the College and community, and transformational teaching. These extraordinary individuals not only embody the excellence of the College of Letters & Science, but they...

L&S Commencement Highlights from 2024

May 23, 2024
Congratulations, Class of 2024!

This year's campuswide spring ceremony took place on May 11, 2024, at the California Memorial Stadium. Cynthia "Cynt" Marshall, UC Berkeley alumna and CEO of the Dallas Mavericks, delivered this year's commencement address. Despite the backdrop of chants and protests from graduates opposing the war in Gaza, the ceremony largely proceeded as planned. Within the College of Letters & Science, many departments hosted smaller, more...

Anthropology Professor Kent Lightfoot receives the Society for American Archaeology’s 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award

May 28, 2024
By Berkeley Anthropology Staff

UC Berkeley Anthropology Professor Kent G. Lightfoot received the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for American Archaeology for his innovative approach to combining archaeology with contemporary social justice issues which contributes new understandings of the Anthropocene era.

Professor Lightfoot’s research explores the interactions between Indigenous peoples and European settlers, highlighting the history and effects of settler colonialism. He works closely with Native Californian tribes, helping to develop new ways to...

UC Berkeley student Eli Glickman named a 2024 Truman Scholar

May 9, 2024
Gia Nguyen
Eli Glickman '25, a political science and public policy major, was recently named a 2024 Harry Truman Scholar, UC Berkeley's first winner since 2019.

Truman Scholars demonstrate outstanding leadership potential, a commitment to public service, and academic excellence. Selected from 709 candidates nominated by 285 colleges and universities, this year's 60 new scholars will receive $30,000 for graduate studies, leadership training, career counseling, and internship opportunities within the federal government.

Alicia Hayes, Associate Director of National Scholarships...

Tutoring at San Quentin helped UC Berkeley's top senior define his future

May 7, 2024
Robert Sanders

Growing up in San Francisco's West Portal neighborhood, Christopher Ying had vague plans to become a lawyer and began prepping by joining the speech, debate and mock trial teams at Lowell High School.

But he credits the University of California, Berkeley, and the opportunities it provided — in particular, to report and edit for the Daily Californian and to tutor inmates at the former San Quentin State Prison — with helping him find his true passion in the legal field: giving a voice to marginalized members of society.

Those only-at-Berkeley experiences — plus a 3.981 grade...

https://news.berkeley.edu/2024/05/07/tutoring-at-san-quentin-helped-uc-berkeley-…

UC Berkeley innovators featured in Pathways to Invention film

May 2, 2024
Marni Ellery

Are inventors born or made? Berkeley engineers explore that question in the award-winning documentary “Pathways to Invention,” set to premiere in May on PBS stations nationwide. The 60-minute special follows eight “modern inventors of diverse backgrounds and their journeys as they develop life-changing innovations.”

Among those profiled are Berkeley...

https://engineering.berkeley.edu/news/2024/04/uc-berkeley-innovators-featured-in…

From Uber ratings to credit scores: What’s lost in a society that counts and sorts everything?

April 30, 2024
By Jason Pohl
In her book, UC Berkeley sociology professor Marion Fourcade investigates what our dependence on ratings and rankings means for the future of individuality and society. Have you ever hailed a ride from an unrated Uber driver? Dined at a zero-star restaurant? Made a pricey online order from the lowest-rated Amazon vendor?

Likely not. That's because rating systems have overhauled the way we travel, eat and shop. Born from the early days of e-commerce on sites like eBay, ratings help weed out scammers and lend some semblance of order to a fast-changing online marketplace.

But there...
https://news.berkeley.edu/2024/04/23/from-uber-ratings-to-credit-scores-whats-lo…

Innovative course brings startup mentality to cognitive science

April 25, 2024
by Alexander Rony

Launching a startup can be an all-encompassing endeavor, but one UC Berkeley instructor is attempting to streamline and democratize the process.

Against all odds: From the streets to UC Berkeley

April 16, 2024
By Lilah Klein

Growing up in the East Bay, Michael Cerda-Jara faced adversity throughout his hardscrabble childhood. He joined a gang at the age of 13. He got into fights in school and faced expulsion multiple times.

He was lost academically because of the trouble he got into and lack of support from those around him, including his teachers. One of them, his 6th-grade teacher, once told him he “wasn’t going to end up anywhere except for prison or dead.” No one expected Cerda-Jara to amount to much and he had low expectations for himself. ...