Terry Winograd

Stephen Menendian, the assistant director and director of research at the Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley, has spent over 15 years studying structural racism. As he defines it, structural racism means that policies may be written without the express intent of oppressing people of color, but their effects can still deepen inequality on a racial basis. That’s the paradox at the center of his life’s work. In this 101 in 101 video, a series that challenges UC Berkeley faculty to explain their field in 101 seconds, Menendian explains how most of the mechanisms that form structural racism –– like mass incarceration –– have taken shape in the post-Civil Rights era. Menendian hopes that with deeper, data-driven understanding, we can begin to untangle the interlocking webs that hold back people of color. #UCBerkeley #101

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We love science stories that are shaping the technology of tomorrow 💡 Our latest feature spotlights Prof. Shyam Gollakota from the University of Washington and his work on headphones 🎧 that tune out background chaos to zero in on the sounds that matter.👂 🎶 Beautifully written by Mohit Nikalje, this piece goes beyond the tech to explore the curiosity, persistence, and passion behind building a personal “sound bubble” in an increasingly noisy world. Read the full article on The Experimentalist: https://lnkd.in/gn9Dg2mb #2026post #AI #behindthediscovery

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Two projects proposed by UC Berkeley EECS professors Dawn Song and Gireeja Ranade have received support from the AI for Math Fund to develop tools and systems that help advance mathematical teaching, research and responsible innovation. The AI for Math Fund, managed by Renaissance Philanthropy, announced a total of $18 million in grants for 29 projects — one of the largest philanthropic commitments supporting the development of AI and machine learning-based tools to advance mathematics. 🔗 Learn more about their projects: https://bit.ly/428CSoZ UC Berkeley Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences (EECS) | UC Berkeley College of Engineering | University of California, Berkeley, School of Education | University of California, Berkeley #AI #Math #ComputerScience #Education #PeopleOfCDSS

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From CRISPR gene editing breakthroughs to climate-tech innovations, Startup Campus reveals how Berkeley created a new model where scholars and entrepreneurs collaborate to scale societal impact. Rich with insights and firsthand accounts, this book tells the story of UC Berkeley's reinvention from the perspective of faculty, staff, and alumni who led the campus's transformation. "Nearly 100 faculty, staff and alumni contributed to this story," said Chancellor Rich Lyons, who wrote the book's foreword. "It's built on our research strength, our culture of questioning and our drive to make a difference. This is a new model for higher ed, one where scholars and entrepreneurs work together to scale impact for society." As Lyons adds, this isn't just Berkeley's story – it's a blueprint for how higher education can lead innovation while strengthening public trust in what universities do. Free digital copies will be available for students, faculty and staff starting on September 2, 2025. Additional events sharing the book and its stories are planned on campus throughout the semester. #UCBerkeley #StartupCampus 

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University of California, Berkeley, School of Education Professor Zach Pardos, BSE alum Shaily Bajracharya and colleagues discuss the role of AI in education and issues of academic misconduct at the University of California, Berkeley AI Symposium.

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Doctoral education is changing as workforce expectations evolve beyond traditional academic pathways. Ann Gabriel of Elsevier and Prineha Narang of UCLA shared perspectives on rethinking PhD training to better balance rigor, relevance, and timeliness. #BayAreaForum2026

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Across UC San Diego, researchers from different departments are joining forces to wrestle with some of the biggest questions about artificial intelligence — from misinformation and public trust to inequality and work. Supported by a UCSD Strategic Convene & Influence Award, a new series of lunchtime workshops led by Ben Bergen (Cognitive Science) with co-PIs Molly Roberts (Political Science), Stuart Geiger (Communication and HDSI), and Haijun Xia (Cognitive Science) is bringing ideas together and making space for new collaborative projects on how AI is shaping our world.

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Long Le-Khac, Asian American Research Center faculty affiliate, has published a new dataset of 1,900 entries aimed at examining which works are cited as “Asian American” in scholarly discourse. In this Berkeley News article, Le-Khac shares the central question he hopes the dataset will shed light on: “How has the canon of Asian American literature changed over time, as defined by the people who study it?” https://lnkd.in/dh2g3XxQ

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The UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare’s SHARE Program, led by Anu Manchikanti Gomez, has received new funding from the Society for Family Planning Research Fund. The study will explore how young people’s stories about hormonal contraception side effects can evolve into misinformation—and how better communication can support informed reproductive health choices. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gn6rihWx

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Robert N. Watson, a distinguished professor of English at UCLA, recently wrote an article for Slate where he warns that generative A.I. may flatten human creativity by favoring predictability over complexity — and argues that odd, surprising writing is often the most meaningful. Read the story. https://lnkd.in/gMs_Xs4d | UCLA Department of English | 📸: StockSnap/Pixabay

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Why do so few women pursue STEM careers? UCLA Anderson School of Management research points to a surprising factor: peer influence in middle school. Even when girls outperform boys in math, classmates who believe “boys are naturally better” can undermine their performance. Over time, these early barriers can influence who steps into the role of founder in STEM fields and tech. In 2024, startups founded solely by women received just 1.8% of U.S. venture capital dollars, yet generated 78 cents of revenue per dollar raised compared to 31 cents for male-founded startups (Inc.). This research is a reminder that interest in a STEM career or in entrepreneurship can begin at a very early age. At the Venture Accelerator and Price Center, we aim to support all founders with the tools, connections, and guidance they need to build confidence and grow their ventures. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/e2KDb29v #uclaentrepreneurs #womeninstem #UCLAresearch

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🌎 Mathematics helps us see the world through a different lens. It gives us a tool to uncover patterns and illuminate truths that might otherwise remain unseen. LMU mathematics professor Lily Khadjavi is leading a national movement to bring real-world social justice issues into the math classroom. Her students aren’t using hypothetical textbook problems — they’re using real datasets on racial profiling in traffic stops, environmental racism, income equality, voter access, and human trafficking to name a few. Her math students are learning to use mathematical tools to ask better questions, understand complex systems, and confront inequity with evidence. 📘 Learn more about her transformative work in this LMU Magazine piece: https://bit.ly/4bjE6m7

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Reminder: AI & Mathematical Skills (AIMS): Supporting Student Success — From Research to Implementation in STEM Courses at UCLA is happening today! Join in person or online to explore how AI and math skills are transforming STEM education. #AIinEducation #STEM #UCLA #EdTech #AIMS #StudentSuccess Alexander Kusenko

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This week, UC Berkeley’s Institute of Human Development hosted a powerful conversation on Advocating and Implementing Equity-Based Systems-Change in Early Childhood, featuring leaders from across campus and the state. Panelists Rebecca Cheung (UC Berkeley School of Education), Ted Lempert (Children Now), and Dean Susan Stone (UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare) explored how leadership development, policy advocacy, and social work can drive more equitable early childhood systems. Together, they emphasized the importance of collaboration, family engagement, and reimagining fragmented systems to ensure all children and families thrive.

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Can a weekly email really help students get better at math? A massive study — featuring UCLA Anderson's Ilana Brody, Hengchen Dai, and Hal Hershfield — tested 15 behavioral "nudges" on 140K+ teachers and 3M students nationwide using Zearn Math. The verdict? Nudges helped... but just a little. The best-performing email led to a modest 3.3% boost in student progress. Still, the research breaks ground by testing behavioral science— a major win for real-world learning insights. #BehavioralScience #EducationInnovation #MathEducation #StudentSuccess #AndersonResearch #UCLAExecEd #UCLAAnderson #uclaalumni #uclaandersonalumni #UCLA  https://lnkd.in/ewhAjcf3

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Renowned mathematician Terence Tao, often called the ��Mozart of Mathematics,” is facing a funding crisis at UCLA due to Trump-era cuts to federal research grants. His lab, which was working on major number theory problems like the Chowla and twin prime conjectures, has lost critical NSF support, leaving graduate students and projects in limbo. Tao’s situation reflects broader challenges in the U.S. scientific community, where institutions like UCLA, Harvard, and Duke have seen billions in funding suspended. Meanwhile, China is actively recruiting top global talent—including mathematicians—with generous research grants, housing subsidies, and family support packages. Tao, who was born in Australia to Chinese immigrant parents and became a tenured professor at 24, has not committed to leaving the U.S. but acknowledges the growing appeal of China’s academic environment. His story is emblematic of the tension many scientists feel amid political uncertainty and shifting global research priorities Tao also advocates for a balanced approach to nurturing gifted children, emphasizing passion and freedom over rigid academic benchmarks. He credits his success to the autonomy his parents gave him and warns against pushing prodigies too hard. Source: South China Morning Post #TerenceTao #Mathematics #STEMFunding #ChinaInitiative #ScientificTalent #GlobalResearch #AcademicMobility #GiftedEducation #FieldsMedalist #NSFCuts #UCLA #STEMLeadership #ResearchCrisis

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