UCR In the News

The next big music festival you attend may be inside a video game

Derek Burrill, an associate professor of media and cultural studies, discusses the history of shared virtual spaces as they become a popular alternative to in-person gatherings amid the coronavirus pandemic. 
The Press-Enterprise | July 7, 2020

How to Tell if an Avocado Is Bad

Eric Focht, a staff research associate in the Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, says when it comes to avocados, we often incorrectly associate browning or discolored fruit with being bad, overripe, or even rotten.
Food52 | July 6, 2020

The Defunding Debate

Alisa Bierria, an assistant professor of ethnic studies, discusses the broader legacy behind the movement to "Defund the Police," reaching back to Angela Davis and other Black feminist radicals of the 1970s. 
Columbia Journalism Review | July 3, 2020

Rethinking what research means during a global pandemic

Ann Cheney, an assistant professor in UCR’s Department of Social Medicine, Population, and Public Health, writes about her experience leading health care outreach efforts in the Coachella Valley during a pandemic. 
The Conversation | June 26, 2020

‘No masks. No vaccines.’ Battle is brewing over coronavirus immunizations in California

The Sacramento Bee interviews Richard M. Carpiano, a professor of public policy and sociology, about the anti-vaccine and anti-government groups already leading the charge against the coronavirus vaccine. 
The Sacramento Bee | June 26, 2020

Law Enforcement and Autism: Why Training is Needed

Katherine Stavropoulos, an assistant professor of special education, writes about why it's important for individuals with autism and first responders to have the tools and training to interact with each other more successfully.
Psychology Today | June 26, 2020

Go ahead and watch. Cute or funny animal videos can be good for you.

Distinguished Professor of Psychology Sonja Lyubomirsky shares why watching cute or funny content online could be an unlikely wellness tool. 
The Washington Post | June 26, 2020

Is the economy headed up or down?

Christopher Thornberg, director of UCR's Center for Economic Forecasting and Development, explains why he has an optimistic outlook when it comes to California's economy. 
CalMatters | June 25, 2020

Plants Are Green Because They Reject Harmful Colors

Inside Science features research by Nathaniel Gabor, an associate professor of physics, about why plants appear green.  
Inside Science | June 25, 2020

George Floyd protests raise Juneteenth’s profile across Southern California

Makeda Kumasi, a UC Riverside dance lecturer, discusses the holiday's renewed significance in the wake of George Floyd’s death in police custody and the wave of protests that have followed.
The Press-Enterprise | June 18, 2020

Dr. Zidovetzki Discusses Serving on the Front Lines During the Pandemic

KVCR speaks with Dr. Sam Zidovetzki, who teaches in the UCR School of Medicine, about volunteering at a hospital in New York's South Bronx. 
KVCR | June 17, 2020

Poll: Americans are the unhappiest they’ve been in 50 years

Still, human being are "remarkably resilient" and able to adapt to almost everything, says Sonja Lyubomirsky, a distinguished professor of psychology. 
Associated Press | June 16, 2020

Endangered: large university lecture hall classes

EdSource speaks with Associate Provost Ken Baerenklau about the fate of large lecture halls and how new designs might reinvigorate the format. 
EdSource | June 16, 2020

When to Get Tested for Coronavirus If You’ve Been Protesting

Brandon Brown, an associate professor in the UCR School of Medicine, recommends that protesters familiarize themselves with COVID-19 symptoms so it’s easier to act as soon as possible if necessary.
Self | June 12, 2020

As oil prices crashed, tankers idled off California — spewing pollution for weeks

Two UCR engineers — Cesunica Ivey and Kent Johnson — comment on how a backlog in the supply chain for crude oil and refined products has resulted in emissions that could affect the long-term health of at-risk and underserved coastal communities.
National Geographic | June 12, 2020

We're Not as Divided as We Think

Psychology Today features research from UCR psychologists who assert the world is a more similar and unified place than most people think. 
Psychology Today | June 11, 2020

Black entrepreneurs receive support from Coachella Valley and beyond, inspiring some to 'keep going'

Karthick Ramakrishnan, a professor of public policy and political science, discusses efforts UCR's Center for Social Innovation is undertaking to study black-owned businesses in the Inland Empire. 
Desert Sun | June 11, 2020

How Risky It Is to Eat at a Restaurant, Go to the Beach, and More Right Now

Self speaks with Brandon Brown, an associate professor in the UCR School of Medicine, about the riskiness of a variety of activities as more and more states reopen to the public.
Self | June 11, 2020

Gov. Newsom must make a priority of funding our UCs

Sydney Glassman, an assistant professor of microbiology and plant pathology, writes in The Press-Enterprise about the urgency of investing in research and higher education to drive California's economy. 
The Press-Enterprise | June 10, 2020

Disconnected in isolation: How the coronavirus pandemic shed light on the digital divide

LLoyd Levine, a senior policy fellow in UCR's School of Public Policy, shares how the coronavirus pandemic has revealed that broadband internet should be treated as a public utility. 
The Seattle Times | June 9, 2020