Team SSRI,

Week 56.

Today is Duke Wellness Day and the entire Duke community is invited to reflect, relax, and recharge on through a variety of wellness experiences that will help you prioritize self-care and focus on the present moment as we finish out the academic year strong.

We are also encouraged to complete the 2021 Duke Climate Survey on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (a reminder went out this morning if you have yet to fill it out). The data derived from this inaugural survey will be critical to the development and advancement of the University’s goals related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Best,
Courtney

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Newsy Stuff
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Duke undergraduates create peer texting program DukeLine

Student vaccination requirements for fall semester

By reservation only, the Chapel is open to students and to employees who are working on campus

CFOs Report Optimism about Economic Growth

Staff, faculty and students can access video tutorials for professional and personal development

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Events
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2021 Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Virtual Showcase: Session 1
April 15, 2021
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Learn more

Stereotype Threat: Worrying about Meeting Others’ Low Expectations
April 15, 2021
8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Register

Using the NIA Health Disparities Framework to Optimize Equity in Aging Research
May 21, 2021
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Featuring: Patricia Jones (NIA), Tyson Brown (Duke) and Kimberly Johnson (Duke)
Registration Link

Team SSRI,

Week 55.

Let’s start off with some good news: US hits 4 million COVID-19 vaccine doses in a day for a new record.

A new session of the Duke Graduate Academy (online short courses that provide skills, tools, and knowledge that augment regular coursework/research) has been announced and many of our SSRI teammates are leading some of the courses.

One of the things I miss most about not being on campus this time of year is the Duke Gardens. After a year-long closure due to COVID-19, Sarah P. Duke Gardens plans to reopen in careful phases.

I’m always curious how other people celebrate holidays and their favorite foods/treats. Boiled eggs came in as the most liked Easter treat with 14 states listing it as their favorite. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good ol’ boiled egg, but a Peep is more my style.

Best,
Courtney

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From a global pandemic to reckoning with inequality, winners rise to unprecedented challenges

After a year of remote work, Duke colleagues share some lessons learned

Pratt Professor Henry Petroski says US remains behind other countries in modern infrastructure

Using Data Science for Early Detection of Autism

Duke Enrolls First-in-Nation Children for Pfizer-BioNTech U.S. Clinical Study Trial in Children Under 12

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Events
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The Case for True Reparations
April 07, 2021
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
William A. “Sandy” Darity Jr., A. Kirsten Mullen, Mike Wiley
Learn more and register

Digital and Public Durham History: Works in Progress at Duke and North Carolina Central University
April 09, 2021
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Register for Zoom link

2021 Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Virtual Showcase: Session 1
April 15, 2021
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Learn more

Stereotype Threat: Worrying about Meeting Others’ Low Expectations
April 15, 2021
8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Register

Using the NIA Health Disparities Framework to Optimize Equity in Aging Research
May 21, 2021
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Featuring: Patricia Jones (NIA), Tyson Brown (Duke) and Kimberly Johnson (Duke)
Registration Link

Team SSRI,

Week 54.

Thank you to all who joined the chat with Karly Ford for our SSRI Lunch-n-Learn. Since we had to host the workshop later than usual this month, we’ll skip April and get back on schedule for May.

This gives me all the feels: Giorgio Lo Porto is an Italian living in London, and on February 6, he shared a video of his new neighbor playing piano. The music is muffled behind their shared wall, but clear enough to hear. Lo Porto wrote that he left a note for the mystery neighbor, telling them he loved their music and asking if they could play “My Heart Will Go On.” And so they did.

To thank these essential workers for their service and build a more resilient workforce, Michigan has pioneered a tuition-free community college program called Futures for Frontliners.

A free COVID-19 vaccine is now available to all who want it, but supplies can be limited. It sounds like many of us at SSRI  have received our first shot, which is amazing! The goal is to vaccinate as many people as quickly as possible in North Carolina.

Best,
Courtney

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Newsy Stuff
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Nathaniel White Jr., one of first black undergraduates at Duke, dies at age 75

Duke sociologist Christopher Bail discusses polarization in social media and how to improve the public conversation

First university comprehensive survey on anti-racism, equity issues distributed this week

Got your COVID-19 vaccination? Still stick to masking

Working in a new normal: managing tech from a distance

Duke to restore contribution to faculty and staff retirement plan

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Events
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Using the NIA Health Disparities Framework to Optimize Equity in Aging Research
May 21, 2021
1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Featuring: Patricia Jones (NIA), Tyson Brown (Duke) and Kimberly Johnson (Duke)
Registration Link

Position, Power, and Property: Racial Economic Inequality in the United States
March 24, 2021
5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Featuring: William A. (“Sandy”) Darity Jr. (Duke)
More information and registration

Inequality, Racism and COVID-19
March 23, 2021
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Cynthia Garcia Coll (University of Puerto Rico)
Zoom

Team SSRI,

Week 53.

I hope everyone can join us for the SSRI Lunch-n-Learn this Wednesday, March 24, 2021 @ 12:00-1:00 pm to chat with Karly Ford from Penn State. She’ll be discussing her work on the social construction of race and gender.

I hope everyone is finding success reserving a vaccination appointment. This dashboard shows the total number of doses that have been administered by NC providers and through the federal program administering long-term care vaccinations. It is updated Monday through Friday.

Each month SSRI puts out an e-newsletter to PhD candidates in the social sciences and this month Aria Chernik was our feature for the ‘5 pieces of advice in under 5 minutes’ section. She gave some great tips!

Summer will be here before you know it, so start thinking like a DIYer and tackle some of those projects on your list.

Best,
Courtney

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Newsy Stuff
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Duke reports 231 coronavirus cases in one week, nearly matching total from fall semester

Duke Lemur Center recreates the seasonal swings of native habitat, helping to unlock the secrets of hibernation

Lab studies of emotion and well-being may be missing real-world anxiety

To keep students connected, duke built a ‘mini-city’ of support staff

Most elements of stay-in-place order lifted for undergraduates

Threats and optimism: the vigilance needed to get to the end of the pandemic

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Events
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Using the NIA Health Disparities Framework to Optimize Equity in Aging Research
May 21, 2021
1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Featuring: Patricia Jones (NIA), Tyson Brown (Duke) and Kimberly Johnson (Duke)
Registration Link

Position, Power, and Property: Racial Economic Inequality in the United States
March 24, 2021
5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Featuring: William A. (“Sandy”) Darity Jr., Samuel DuBois Cook Professor of Public Policy, African and African American Studies, and Economics, and director of the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University
More information and registration

Inequality, Racism and COVID-19
March 23, 2021
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Cynthia Garcia Coll (University of Puerto Rico)
Zoom

Team SSRI,

Week 52. How many weeks in a year? Yep. 52!!! I never would have guessed when I first started doing these weekly e-newsletters that I would be doing it for a year.

Even as more people are logging onto popular video chat platforms to connect with colleagues, family, and friends during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have a warning for you: Those video calls are likely tiring you out. (This photo could easily be me).

This year has been stressful and has me feeling anxious at times, but watching this video made me so nervous! Don’t worry, Jimmy is ok.

Best,
Courtney

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Newsy Stuff
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12 Duke-authored books on women’s history: Duke scholars document women’s contributions to history, culture and society

Humans evolved to be the water-saving ape: New study suggests humans evolved to run on less water than our closest primate relatives

Stay-in-place for Duke undergraduate students

A family-first health benefit: Duke’s expanded parental leave policy offers new parents more time off

Next wave of frontline employees get COVID-19 vaccination: Newly-eligible duke staff and faculty started receiving the vaccine last week

How to get more out of your Outlook email: Take your email game to the next level with these five tips

SSRI faculty and staff  have received a seed grant to address participants’ understanding of racism and bias at the individual, interpersonal and institutional levels of change

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Events
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What Future for Track Two Diplomacy?
Tuesday, March 16, 2021
5:00 pm – 6:15 pm
Zoom Webinar

John Hope Franklin: Redefining the American Story
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Zoom

Women in Energy
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Virtual panel discussion

Children Bring Their Worlds with Them: Children’s Health as a Key Racial Equity Issue
Tuesday, March 23, 2021
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Zoom

Team SSRI,

Week 51.

Have you missed an issue of ‘SSRI Monday Catch Up’? No worries. Check out our website.

SSRI Lunch-n-Learn: Please save the date for March 24, 2021 @ 12:00-1:00 pm to chat with Karly Ford from Penn State. She’ll be discussing her work on the social construction of race and gender. I’m excited to have an outside speaker so I hope many of you can join! And of course we’ll have time for Q&A.

MIDS received over 900 applications and are currently reviewing materials and scheduling interviews. We’re excited to learn more about our new students!

Spring is right around the corner, so check out these 5 things to do in your yard in March.

Best,
Courtney

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Newsy Stuff
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Don Taylor: Are Social Scientists Real Scientists?

Patty Van Cappellen will teach PSY 318S Psychology of Positive Emotion and Experience during summer session I.

Duke starts sequencing covid genes, finds two known variants.

Alumni and retired staff turn to OLLI for online classes.

Price announces update on commencement 2021.

Working toward racial justice: Tracing stories of Duke’s first Black workers. 

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Events
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*If you want to attend this workshop, please register today!
Leveraging existing data and analytic methods for health disparities
March 9^th, 10^th | 9:00 AM —5:00 PM
REGISTER

Evaluation 101 – Assessing Impact and Informing Improvement
March 11^th | 9:30 AM —12:00 PM
Dr. Jessica Sperling and Megan Gray
REGISTER

Senior Leaders in Higher Education Address Racism and Bias:
A Conversation with Distinguished Duke Alumni
March 9^th | 3:00 AM —4:00 PM
Elizabeth Hordge-Freeman (PhD’12) and George Wright (PhD’77)
REGISTER

Team SSRI,

Week 50. I never thought we would get to 50 weeks. It feels like a milestone that deserves a celebration, although also a weird thing to celebrate.

So here’s some interesting scoop:
Duke University made the top ten in the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA) 2021 rankings of colleges and universities by federal social and behavioral science investment. Duke came in at #9 out of more than 550 institutions, with $48,507,000 in FY 2019 funding (the most recent year for which federal data is available).

Top Recipients of Federal Social Science R&D Funding

1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill* (NC) – $207,442,000 (#1 in 2020)
2. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor* (MI) – $191,060,000 (#2 in 2020)
3. University of Maryland* (MD) – $95,066,000 (#4 in 2020)
4. University of Southern California (CA) – $62,945,000 (#5 in 2020)
5. Arizona State University* (AZ) – $61,642,000 (#7 in 2020)
6. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities* (MN) – $60,886,000 (#3 in 2020)
7. Harvard University* (MA) – $53,884,000 (#12 in 2020)
8. Pennsylvania State University, University Park and Hershey Medical Center* (PA) – $52,060,000 (#8 in 2020)
9. Duke University* (NC) – $48,507,000 (#15 in 2020)
10. University of Wisconsin-Madison* (WI) – $47,374,000 (#13 in 2020)

COVID restrictions have eased up a bit, but social distancing is still in full force. What about gondolas as private dining spaces? I like it!

If you’re feeling like you’ve got a touch of cabin fever, take a look at this menu of scenic North Carolina trips you can take without ever feeling the need to leave the safety of your car.

Best,
Courtney

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Newsy Stuff
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Don Taylor and Jay Pearson (both grew up in Eastern NC) talk about the differences in the perception of racialized experiences in similar geographic, temporal and social contexts.

How to better manage self-imposed deadlines: stay on schedule with advice from duke experts and colleagues

From polling place to vaccination site, the Karsh alumni building has taken on new and unforeseen roles

Patty Van Cappellen and Megan Edwards published their paper on The Embodiment of Worship: Relations Among Postural, Psychological, and Physiological Aspects of Religious Practice

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Events
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Leveraging existing data and analytic methods for health disparities
March 9^th, 10^th | 9:00 AM —5:00 PM
REGISTER

Evaluation 101 – Assessing Impact and Informing Improvement
March 11^th | 9:30 AM —12:00 PM
Dr. Jessica Sperling and Megan Gray
REGISTER

DUPRI Seminar with Allison Aiello, UNC
Stressors, immunity, and infection: New pathways to cognitive impairment and dementia?
March 4^th| 3:30-5:00 PM
REGISTER

Bass Connections Works in Progress Symposium: Session One
March 2, 2021 | 3:30-5:00 PM
REGISTER

Team SSRI,

Week 48.

Happy Monday!

These videos of people and their Zoom filters just never gets old. A livestream of a virtual court proceeding in Texas took an “appawling” turn when a lawyer appeared as a cat on screen. I can’t make this stuff up…

My youngest kiddo let me know it’s National Hippo Day today (sounds official to me), so increase your knowledge about hippos with these 5 facts.

Lots of great events coming up and many that are from SSRI staff and affiliates, so be sure to check out the list.

Best,
Courtney

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Newsy Stuff
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Caring From Afar: the frustration of Valentine’s Day in a Pandemic.

History Professors Discuss the Evolution of Racism in America.

Myth vs. Fact: If I’ve had COVID-19, do I need the vaccine?

Masks, distancing, hand-washing crucial for reopening schools.

Bass Connections team creates computer science curriculum for North Carolina elementary schools.

“The Add Health Parent Study: Overview & Initial Findings”
February 18^th | 3:30-5:00 pm
Dr. Joe Hotz, Duke University
ZOOM

Reflections on Race and Medicine During the Year of COVID-19 and Beyond
February 18^th | 12:00—1:00 p.m.
Dr. Damon Tweedy, Duke University
ZOOM

Discussing Structural Inequality and Systemic Racism Closer to Home
February 15^th | 5:00—6:30 p.m.
Dr. Jay Pearson and Dr. Abdullah Antepli
REGISTER

Leveraging existing data and analytic methods for health disparities
March 9^th, 10^th | 9:00 am—5:00 p.m.
REGISTER

Evaluation 101 – Assessing Impact and Informing Improvement
March 11^th | 9:30 am—12:00 p.m.
Dr. Jessica Sperling and Megan Gray
REGISTER

Team SSRI,

Week 47.

Who watched the Super Bowl?

Ok, who actually watched the game?
Now who just tuned in for the commercials or to watch The Weeknd?

Wearing masks is great, but please cut the strings before throwing out.

In case you needed a reason to feel good about humanity today, a college student used some of his GameStop profits to buy several Nintendo Switch systems for a children’s hospital.

Also, in case you missed it, here’s a new tool for North Carolinians to find COVID-19 vaccine distribution locations. There is also a way to sign up for notifications when your group is eligible (and to determine which group you are).

Best,
Courtney

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Newsy Stuff
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Our Evaluation team is leading a workshop: Evaluation 101 – Assessing Impact and Informing Improvement on March 11.

Aline Holzwarth (CAH) talks about equity in the workplace and caregiving.

BARU is hosting a conference: Leveraging existing data and analytic methods for health disparities research related to aging and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Duke mental health experts offer advice for rough times.

Learning Innovation announce Carry the Innovation Forward, a new seed-funding initiative for faculty who seek to use experiences from pandemic teaching to innovate the future of teaching and learning at Duke.

Should you double mask? Experts also address variants, vaccine challenges.

10 Duke-authored books on Black history.

Team SSRI,

Week 46.

This Wednesday we welcome the team of TRHT (The Center for Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation at Duke University) to lead our SSRI Lunch-n-Learn. They will be hosting a facilitated dialogue on the TRHT framework which guides the local work happening at Duke and the national movement that spans 14 TRHT Communities and 25 additional TRHT Campus Centers.

“We look forward to creating and sharing an imaginative space with our SSRI colleagues so we can collectively think through how we can embody truth (narrative change), racial healing (relationship building), and transformation (multi-level change) within our lives and networks.”

These discussions are so important and work best when we have a lot of participation, so please try and participate if you can. It’s super informal so bring your lunch and hop on the call! The chat will begin at 12:30 pm and you can join us on Zoom. Hope to see your faces soon. Ok, guilt trip over…

Did everyone enjoy the snow we got last week before it all melted oh so quickly? St. Louis Zoo penguins also enjoyed the fluffy stuff and got to take a trip through the snow to visit polar bears.

Duke faculty are always writing papers and books but I didn’t realize so many also dabbled in fiction.

Spring is right around the corner, but with this pandemic still impacting our social lives, you may welcome some ideas on what to do virtually.

Continue wearing those masks, take breaks during the workday (a short walk can do wonders for your mental state), and stay connected to friends and family as safely as possible.

Best,
Courtney

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Newsy Stuff
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Duke Faculty Fight for Latinx Communities Hit Hard by COVID-19.
Veteran Duke scientist and executive R. Sanders “Sandy” Williams has been named interim Vice President for Research and Innovation. He will succeed Lawrence Carin, who is leaving Duke to become the provost of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia.

Research from Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill suggests that schools can consider returning to in-class instruction if they mitigate COVID-19 transmission on campuses, despite the level of COVID-19 cases occurring in the community, especially when students, teachers and staff consistently wear masks, wash their hands, and practice physical distancing as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

President Vincent Price and other Duke leaders let faculty and staff know, during a virtual conversation last week, that Duke remains in a comparatively stable position both financially and in protecting campus health during the pandemic.

Duke experts share tips to prevent voice problems due to more virtual calls.

As part of the university’s anti-racism efforts, Provost Sally Kornbluth is offering a new funding opportunity to support faculty scholarship on “Reckoning with Race, Racism, and the History of the American South.”