Current Research - Mark E. Button Book Manuscript: Democratic Vices/Democratic

Souls Drawing on Greek Tragedy, Social Psychology, and Political Theory Analyzes a list of “deadly vices” that contemporary

political societies can neither ignore as a matter of personal “sin” nor publicly disregard as a matter of mere bad choice.

Advances normative political theory that outlines how citizens and organizations can best respond to our most troubling political vices without undermining core commitments to personal freedom and cultural pluralism.

Key Concepts: Hubris, Moral Blindness, Recalcitrance, Political Accountability, Justice

Future Research - Normative Ethics within Constraints of Psychology &

Political History Political Theory and Psychology: Is there a politics

to suicide? What are the political responsibilities of the living toward certain classes of suicide?

Political Theory and Social Practice: Is an ideal of impartial political judgment feasible or desirable within deliberative organizations?

Politics, History, and Leadership Studies: What are the virtues and dangers of creative leadership within democratic societies?

Political Theory, Economics, and Higher Education: How can Universities and Colleges survive neo-liberalism with their academic souls intact?

Contact Information

Mark E. Button, Associate ProfessorDepartment of Political ScienceAssociate Chair and Director of Graduate

StudiesOSH 154A801-585-7987mark.button@poli-sci.utah.edu

Current Research and Interests Research Areas in International Relations

International Political Economy Environmental Politics Comparative Research Methods

Current Projects Environmental politics and climate

change in emerging economies Understanding the International currency

system and the rise of Asian currencies

Findings and Future Research Do differing types of capitalism in the

emerging economies influence important environmental outcomes?

Varying types of capitalism are shown to influence measurable policy outcomes

Extending the project to other issue areas: Water, sustainable energy and other

financial markets

Contact Information Tabitha Benney, Assistant Professor Political Science, University of Utah Location: OSH 327 Email: tabitha.benney@poli-

sci.utah.edu Phone: 801-585-7475

Prior Research

• Crisis Management• Case studies• Ethics and Accountability in Crises• Public Trust in Governing Institutions• Comparative Risk Regulation

New Research

• American Taboos – How do we make policy around what we feel we can’t talk about?

• Protracted social problems – how do we regulate social risk when a person or a behavior is taboo?1. Homelessness2. Economic class3. Suicide4. Incest

Contact Information

Lina SvedinPolitical Science DepartmentThe Master of Public Administration Program

lina.svedin@poli-sci.utah.eduorstop by OSH 328

Research: Past & Present1) Social & Demographic Consequences of Migration

in Contexts of Developmento Remittances & investment in boys’ & girls’ schooling in Nepalo School persistence among children of migrants in Thailando Migration & life course transitions in Thailand (P01 in progress) o Enclave & network influences on migrant settlement, mobility

2) Immigrant Incorporation in New Destinationso Utah Population Databaseo Integration of undocumented immigrantso Health disparities & access to care by immigrants,

undocumented3) Impacts of migration & conflict on health & aging

o Migration & fertility decline impacts on intergenerational supporto War exposure impacts on health & social mobility in Vietnamese

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Findings of Note & Future Directions • Diverse social ties in urban destinations (bridging ties)

influence permanency & quality of migrants’ settlements– How do enclaves form, how do they influence migration dynamics

• Migration & remittances have diverse impacts upon household economic investment (schooling by gender)– How do migration/remittance influence land use/agriculture, food

security?• Involvement in combat during the American War heightens

health problems in Vietnamese older adults– Which specific forms of war exposure have lasting impacts upon

health & well-being? scarring or resilience? use of biomarkers• Undocumented immigrants have health outcomes superior

to native-born Utahns; driver privilege card enhances PNC– How does neighborhood context & proximity to accessible care

influence birth outcomes?

Kim KorinekDepartment of SociologyThe Asia Centerkim.korinek@soc.utah.edu

I work on projects relatedto women’s and children’s health in the developing world. I particularly focus on the use of climate, landscape and agricultural data (often derived from satellites) as measures of local resources. My research tends to be very quantitative in nature (but I have been doing some focus group interviews as well).

I am interested in collaborators who studygender and development, innovative behavior (as measured by the culture) and topics related to individual responses to colonialism, empowerment and cultural transitions (for example the transition from polygyny to monogamy).

Kathryn GraceDepartment of Geographygrace@geog.utah.edu

1. Regional Development and Inequality• Regional Inequality (NSF of China 2004, 2014)• Regional Development/Integration: Remaking development models and industrial districts (NGS 2004, 2008; Ford Foundation 2008, NSFC 2012)

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Globalization, Urbanization & Development

Dennis Wei, Professor, Geography

2. Globalization, FDI & Cities/Regions• Transnational Corporations: location,

network and innovation (NSF 2001, 2006)• World/Global Cities: Shanghai and Beijing

(Chinese Ministry of Education 2011; NSF 2014?)

• Regional Response to globalization (Ford Foundation 2008)•

3. Urbanization, Land and Sustainability

• Urban Land Expansion and Sprawl (UU Seed Grant 2011, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy 2011, 2013)

• Urban Transition and Growth (Chinese Ministry of Education 2012)

• Urbanization, Development, Inequality and Sustainability (NSFC 2012)

Youth Socioemotional Development and the Contexts within which Development Occurs

Populations:• Typically-developing

youth• Youth on the autism

spectrum in technology program

• Youth with refugee status

Methods:• Community-based

participatory research approach

• Quantitative and qualitative methods

Psychosocial Outcomes in Youth on the Autism Spectrum

• Positive Youth Development approach using strength- and interest-based after-school technology program to support youth engagement

• Reframing the disability in 3 domains:– Personal– Social– Vocational

Marissa DienerMarissa.diener@fcs.utah.edu

1-8750

Ken R. SmithDepartment of Family & Consumer Studies

Population Science, Huntsman Cancer InstituteCenter on Aging

PastFamily Demography/BiodemographyMortality Effects of WidowhoodExceptional Human LongevityGenetic Testing for Cancer Susceptibility

PresentFertility and LongevitySurvival and Early Life CircumstancesLife Course Epidemiology of Alzheimer’s DiseaseSpatial/Neighborhood Effects on ObesityPopulation Genetics of CancerRetirement and Family Health Hsitory

Big DataUtah Population DatabaseCensus Research Data CenterUtah Genome Project

Findings and the Next New New Thing

• Early Life Conditions Survival and Health (ELCS)• Dissertations

• Heidi Hanson (ELCs and Longevity)• Michael Hollingshaus (ELCs and

Adult Suicide)• Collaborations

• Intermountain Healthcare (Low Birth Weight)

• Utah State University (Alzheimer’s)• University of Minnesota (Historic

Census)• UCSF (Early Adversity and Breast

Cancer)• Duke (Predicting Longevity from

family data)• University of Edinburgh

(Evolutionary ecology)• University of Sheffield (sexual

conflict, reproduction and lifespan)• Imperial College London (Mode of

birth)• Full Life Histories with Utah Population

Database on 1.5 Million people

Ken R. Smith

• Department of Family and Consumer Studies• Population Science, Huntsman Cancer

institute• Ken.smith@fcs.utah.edu • FCS 801-581-7847• HCI 801-585-5135• Utah Population Database:

• http://www.huntsmancancer.org/research/shared-resources/utah-population-database/overview

• Or Google ‘UPDB Utah’

Will the North Temple “Complete Streets” intervention more physical activity & obesity prevention? Barbara Brown (FCS), Carol Werner (Psych), Ken Smith (FCS/HCI) , Harvey Miller (was Geog, now Ohio State) (funding by NCI: CA157509)

• Comparing those near & far from Complete Street

• Pre- and Post street completion

• Pre= 940 adults surveyed & wore accelerometers & GPS units

• Post= ongoing

Map by GeoStats25

Collaboration possibilities?

• Funding is limited, but collaboration might be possible for those who want to– Explore other GIS possibilities

• Walkability measures taken for each block• Surveys from 940 participants

– Add new data layers to analyze• Crime?• Air quality characterization of popular walking routes?• Economic vitality indicators (housing value or vacancy, etc.)

– Contact Barbara Brown after October 5th • 581-7111 barbara.brown@fcs.utah.edu

Contact Barbara Brown after October 5th

• 581-7111 barbara.brown@fcs.utah.edu

Chronic Illnesses Shared Across the Life-Span(Diabetes, Cancer)

Berg et al., (2005, 2008, 2011)

Collaborative Coping-Better mood, High Quality Relationships,

Adherence, Self-efficacy, Cognitive Benefits

Berg et al., (2005, 2008, 2011, 2013); Berg & Upchurch (2007)

Daily Diaries: Fit Between Relationships and Self-Regulation

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Berg et al. (2013)Health Psychology

Thanks to the families with diabetes and

couples dealing with prostate cancer

Cindy BergDepartment of

Psychologycynthia.berg@psych.utah.edu

Funding: NIDDK (R01DK063044 R01DK092939;

R01AG18903)

Polly Wiessner Department of Anthropology

wiessner@soft-link.com

801 582 4050

The role of social networks in creating prosperity and poverty.Ju/’hoansi hunter-gatherers (Bushmen) of the Kalahari, southern Africa (40 year study)

Question: How did hunter-gatherers with no form of storage secure themselves during times of social and environmental hardship?

Results: By creating far flung networks of mutual obligations within a 200 km radius.

Question :What role do such networks play today with a switch to a more settled life style and mixed economy?

Results: Today networks pull most Ju/’hoansi into the poverty trap resulting in poor nutrition, bad decisions and deteriorating health.

Future research: How do some Ju/’hoansi alter networks to break the poverty trap.?

The role of customary and modern formal justice systems in war and peace among the Enga of highland Papua New Guinea (22 year study).

After firearms replaced spears in traditional tribal warfare among the Enga some 550 wars ensued in a population of 400,000.

Question: How can violence be brought under control given rapid changes in the economy, norms, values and practices today ?

Results: Traditional systems of restorative justice were modified successfully tomeet the problems of changing times and technology and reduce warfare dramatically.

Future research: Will systems of customary law suffice to keep the peace in the face of the rapid growth of mineral and energy extraction in PNG? How will the traditional courts “update” custom to solve the conflicts of modern times?

How can knowledge of tradition be kept alive toprovide a thread between past and present?Enga Take Anda:

House of Traditional Knowledge