UC Berkeley’s flagship institute for social science research

Our purpose is captured in our name: we provide an organizational framework—a “matrix”—that supports cross-disciplinary research pursued by social scientists across the University of California, Berkeley campus and beyond.

Matrix On Point

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Event Date: February 24th, 2025
4:00 PM to 5:30 PM PT

Virtual Realities and Digital Spaces

The future of virtual reality (VR) is poised to be transformative, reshaping industries, enhancing human connection, and redefining how we work, play, and learn. However, the evolution of the metaverse also necessitates careful consideration of its societal and environmental impacts. The panel will feature Nicole Starosielski, Professor of Film and Media Studies at UC Berkeley; Emma Fraser, Assistant Teaching Professor in Media Studies and the Berkeley Center for New Media at UC Berkeley; and Clancy Wilmott, Assistant Professor in Critical Cartography, Geovisualisation and Design in the Berkeley Center for New Media and the Department of Geography at UC Berkeley. 

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Podcast

Interview

Published December 4, 2024

Emotion, Race, and Gender: Interview with Gold Okafor

Listen to our interview with Gold Okafor, a PhD candidate in social and personality psychology at UC Berkeley who investigates racial and gender disparities through emotion. The interview focuses on Okafor's paper, "Measuring Mindfulness in Black Americans: A Psychometric Validation of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire," as well as other research topics.

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Matrix On Point

Recap

Published November 26, 2024

Shifting Alignments in the 2024 Election

Recorded on October 25, 2024, this panel examined the shifting demographic and political forces that are redefining the traditional bases of the Democratic and Republican parties and their efforts to build new electoral coalitions. The panel featured Ian Haney López, David Hollinger, and Omar Wasow, and was moderated by G. Cristina Mora.

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Podcast

Interview

Published November 19, 2024

The Imperiled Place of Universities and Democracy in the USA: An Interview with Todd Wolfson

This Matrix Podcast episode features a conversation between James Vernon, Director of the Global Democracy Commons initiative, and Todd Wolfson, the new President of AAUP, about how public disinvestment from higher education and the culture wars have transformed colleges in ways that make them less democratic places — and imperil democracy across the country.

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Matrix On Point

Recap

Published November 11, 2024

Matrix on Point: Voices from the Heartland

Recorded on October 21, 2024, this Matrix on Point panel featured three scholars — Arlie Hochschild, Jenny Reardon, and Lisa Pruitt — discussing the frequently overlooked yet politically potent voices emanating from America’s rural heartlands and small towns. Moderated by Cihan Tuğal.

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Authors Meet Critics

Recap

Published November 11, 2024

Authors Meet Critics: “Partisan Nation: The Dangerous New Logic of American Politics in a Nationalized Era”

Watch the video (or listen to the podcast) of our Authors Meet Critics panel "Partisan Nation: The Dangerous New Logic of American Politics in a Nationalized Era," by Paul Pierson and Eric Schickler, who were joined in conversation by Francis Fukuyama and Didi Kuo. Moderated by Mark Danner.

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Matrix On Point

Recap

Published November 8, 2024

Matrix on Point: War is Back

Recorded on September 30, 2024, this "Matrix on Point" panel discussion focused on the recent escalation of conflicts around the world — and what lies ahead. The panel featured Michaela Mattes, Andrew Reddie, and Daniel Sargent, and was moderated by Vinod Aggarwal.

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