Wow! We hope you were able to witness the eclipse. Look at that moon throwing shade.

In this issue, read about the disturbing trend of dissidents disappearing in Tajikistan, discover why where you eat affects what you eat and learn how to gauge the trustworthiness of a political poll.

🗓️ Tomorrow, 4/10: New technologies are emerging to combat climate change. But some think they could do more harm than good. Get the inside scoop and have your questions answered during a free Dornsife Dialogues event.

Tajikistan’s government systematically employs enforced disappearances to quell dissent, as they did in 2023 with Nasimjon Sharipov (pictured above), according to research by Steve Swerdlow, professor of political science and international relations.

What it means: The government practice of detaining, imprisoning or killing a person while refusing to acknowledge their whereabouts, leaving loved ones uncertain about their fate, is known as “enforced disappearance.”

Why it matters: As authoritarian governments proliferate, they’re turning to sanctioned disappearances as part of a troubling pattern of human rights abuses.

Case in point: Thousands are unaccounted for in Tajikistan since President Emomali Rahmon came to power in 1992, but an accurate count is difficult to achieve due to government interference.

Tajikistan has allegedly partnered with Russia, Turkey and Belarus to disappear Tajik dissidents living in those countries.

What to watch: The European Parliament in January 2024 issued a resolution calling on Tajik authorities to “unconditionally release those who have been arbitrarily detained.”

Food choices are primarily shaped by the food environments people encounter during their daily activities, rather than the options available near their homes, according to new research.

Why it matters: Poor diets are a leading cause of illness and death, and research suggests exposure to environments saturated with fast-food outlets makes choosing health foods harder.

What’s new: A new USC Dornsife study suggests that improving Americans’ diets requires focusing on the foods they consume outside their home neighborhoods and ensuring healthy options are available.

How it works: Using anonymized smart phone data (i.e., “mobility data”), the researchers examined more than 60 million visits to food outlets in 11 American cities over 6 months.

The findings: The more fast-food outlets people encounter during the day, the more likely they are to visit one.

The big picture: Past efforts to address nutrition insecurity concentrated on “food deserts” — areas lacking access to healthy, reasonably priced food — and “food swamps,” areas with an abundance of fast-food.

In her words: “Even when people want to eat healthy, there are too many things in their day-to-day lives and environments that make it hard,” said Kayla de la Haye, founding director of the Institute for Food System Equity at the USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research. “Now we’re gaining a more comprehensive understanding of how food environments affect diet beyond the home.”

The solution: The researchers recommend that policymakers who want to improve food environments use mobility data to identify where fast food is more prevalent than healthier food and where food decisions are most susceptible to the food environment.

Missed predictions from presidential election polls conducted in 2016 and 2020 left many Americans skeptical of the entire polling industry, but there are ways to distinguish good polls from bad.

Why it matters: Determining the reliability of polls is essential to preventing the spread of misinformation, which can distort public opinion and influence decision-making.

The strength of a poll depends on when it is done.

In her words: “When you’re thinking about calling races … one must consider not just how people describe their vote choice in the moment, but whether or not they are likely to turn out,” explains Jane Junn of political science and international relations (POIR) at USC Dornsife.

Watch out: There are two types of problematic polls to beware of: fake polls and biased internal campaign polls, according to Christian Grose of POIR.

Traditional polling methods, like telephone and in-person interviews, have declined due to increased costs and logistical challenges.

What to watch: The “social circle” polling methodology, developed by USC Dornsife's Center for Economic and Social Research, solicits respondents’ insights on the voting intentions of their friends, family and acquaintances to enhance polling accuracy.

Actor and USC Dornsife alumnus Jaren Lewison, star of the popular Netflix series Never Have I Ever, will deliver USC Dornsife’s commencement address May 10.

How can research universities play an even bigger role in tackling some of society’s biggest challenges? Dean Amber D. Miller shares her thoughts in an article for the Stanford Social Innovation Review and video interview with Dornsife News.

The USC Armenian Students’ Association presents an evening of dance, music, art and performances showcasing Armenian culture.

At this livestreaming event, learn about technologies to decarbonize our economy and our atmosphere. And bring your questions about this emerging field.

Connect with a diverse range of employers, including Fortune 100 companies and government agencies, at this career fair for juniors, seniors and master’s and PhD students.

Join USC Dornsife’s Center for Advanced Genocide Research to honor the victims and survivors of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda and reflect on the impact of and lessons learned from the genocide.

USC students receive free membership to the USC Recreational Sports fitness facilities, including access to the Lyon Center, an 80,000-square-foot facility with indoor athletic courts and a wide collection of cardio, cross training and strength equipment.