With nearly 44,000 listens in 2022, the Michigan Minds podcast provided its audience with expert insight into a wide array of topics including the complexities of social media ethics and algorithms, the significance of the James Webb Space Telescope images, and the implications of the unprecedented leak of the Supreme Court’s draft decision on Roe v. Wade.
This year, there were 65 episodes published featuring 72 University of Michigan faculty and researchers from 17 U-M schools and colleges highlighting their work through brief and informative analyses. Listen to the 10 most popular episodes of the Michigan Minds podcast in 2022 below and subscribe today.
Examining the Responsibilities of Social Media Platforms and Users
Season 6, episode 5
What are social media platforms doing to reduce the circulation of traumatic content? How has the role of social media evolved in recent years? Scott Campbell, PhD, discusses what social media platforms are doing to lessen disturbing content, ethical strategies users can practice online, and media mindedness. Campbell is the Constance F. and Arnold C. Pohs Professor of Telecommunication in the Department of Communication and Media.
Space Science Success: The Significance of James Webb Space Telescope Images
The images taken by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope amazed the world with never-before-seen views of the galaxy. Michael Meyer, PhD, professor in the U-M department of astronomy, discusses the significance of those images and shares his unique perspective as one of the scientists who had a role in the design and construction of the telescope.
How Intimate Partner Violence Affects Mental Health and Economic Insecurities
Lisa Fedina, PhD, School of Social Work assistant professor, and faculty affiliate at U-M Poverty Solutions, the Injury Prevention Center, the Youth Depression and Suicide Prevention Program, and the Institute for Research on Women and Gender, talks about her research exploring how intimate partner violence and economic insecurity play a role in the lives of these groups.
Social Media Algorithms and the Infrastructure of Disinformation
How do misinformation and disinformation work? Irene Pasquetto, PhD, assistant professor of information, studies how various groups on the internet produce and share what they think is informational, but what may also be known as alternative facts. Her work aims to understand both the rhetorical and media tactics used to justify arguments online.
The Reconciliation of Racial and STEM Identities
Postdoctoral research fellows Kathryn Hosbein and Paulette Vincent-Ruz were among six teams from across the University of Michigan to be awarded grants from the National Center for Institutional Diversity’s (NCID) Anti-Racism Collaborative to support projects aiming to inform anti-racist action. They talk about the project, which aims to better understand how mentors can influence the development of STEM identity in racially marginalized graduate students.
Fostering Innovation to Create Economic Growth for Companies and Communities
In the first 2022 episode of Michigan Minds, Director of the Economic Growth Institute (EGI) Steve Wilson discusses the ways in which EGI works with businesses and communities to help them mitigate challenges and create positive economic impact. Wilson explains how EGI’s work is focused at the intersection of industry, communities, and innovation, helping companies navigate the innovation ecosystem.
How Social Media Usage & Online Navigation Change During a Crisis
Paul Resnick, PhD, the Michael D. Cohen Collegiate Professor of Information at the U-M School of Information and the Director for the Center for Social Responsibility (CSMR), shares insight on the use of social media during times of national crisis, the impact of digital search filters, and how users can stay apprised about misinformation. Resnick outlines the importance of getting information from trusted news sources, and discusses how social media users can ensure they aren’t being misinformed.
Understanding Sickle Cell Disease and the Concept of Bounded Justice
Melissa Creary, PhD, discusses sickle cell disease research, the concept of bounded justice, and her work on how public health researchers can help create anti-racist institutions. As an assistant professor of Health Management and Policy, Creary researches how science, culture, and policy intersect—particularly around ethical, legal, and social concerns. She is also the associate director for the Michigan Social Health Innovations to Eliminate Disparities (MSHIELD) Collaborative Quality Improvement (CQI) initiative at Michigan Medicine, supported by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
Puerto Rican Opinion Lab: Understanding how US Policies Affect Islanders
Mara Ostfeld, PhD, associate faculty director at Poverty Solutions, assistant research scientist at the Ford School of Public Policy, research director at the Center for Racial Justice, and faculty lead for the Detroit Metro Area Community Study, focuses her research on understanding the relationship between race, gender, media, and public opinion. She joins Michigan Minds to discuss a study that surveys residents of Puerto Rico to better understand their opinions, experiences, and aspirations.
Constitutional Law Expert on the Supreme Court Draft Decision Leak
Leah Litman, assistant professor of law at Michigan Law, talks about the unprecedented leak of the Supreme Court draft decision to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. She discusses the implications of leaks such as this, explains the draft decision and impact of overturning Roe v. Wade, and what it would mean in Michigan specifically. (recorded on May 3, 2022, prior to the 2022 elections).
By Erica Colaianne
