Why Social Science? - Because It Makes Informed Democracy Possible
Nov 19, 2019
By Rush D. Holt, Ph.D., CEO Emeritus, American Association for the Advancement of Science Einstein said famously, “The eternal mystery of the world is its comprehensibility.” It gives scientific optimists like me encouragement that great thinkers have concluded it is possible to understand the…
Though politically divided, Americans remain patriotic
Jul 2, 2019
Beyond fireworks and outdoor parties, the Fourth of July provides an opportunity for citizens across the United States to reflect on what it means to be an American. Despite increasing polarization, people across the political spectrum appear to be largely united on what it means to be patriotic,…
Penn State podcast series covering issues impacting democracy
Jun 18, 2019
Penn State podcast series covering issues impacting democracy Penn State’s The McCourtney Institute for Democracy has crafted an intellectual podcast series, Democracy Works, to highlight issues in American democracy. Instead of bipartisan debate, the series addresses problems from a broader…
Dionne shares his views on empathy and democracy in latest podcast
Apr 18, 2019
The “Democracy Works” podcast spoke with E.J. Dionne about his views on the relationship between partisan politics and democracy. The conversation covered various topics from Donald Trump, the future of the republican party, and the need for empathy in politics. E.J Dionne is a columnist for The…
Why Social Science? - Because It Produces Essential Data for Our Democracy
Apr 4, 2018
By Ronald L. Wasserstein, Ph.D., Executive Director, American Statistical Association The social sciences are vitally important to the institutions of democracy. Those institutions include a constellation of federal statistical agencies responsible for collecting and disseminating data. With these…