Hello, USC Dornsife parents! We hope all of the dads and father figures out there had a happy father’s day. Keep reading to learn about new research findings regarding the brains of dads.

Also in this issue, learn about the program that gives students a taste of U.S. politics and discover how our scholars are pulling harmful carbon emissions out of the air.

New fathers experience a decrease in brain volume during the transition to parenthood, , according to a study led by USC Dornsife psychology researcher Darby Saxbe.

Why it matters: Few studies explore brain changes in new fathers; previous research predominantly focused on new mothers.

In brief: Both new fathers and mothers experience some loss of brain gray matter, which is involved with higher-order functions such as language, memory and decision-making.

There are benefits to losing a little brain matter — it helps streamline the brain to process social information more efficiently, facilitating sensitive caregiving.

Yes, but: Fathers who lost more brain matter reported greater depression, anxiety and worse sleep.

Key takeaway: Results like these support policies such as paid leave and workplace efforts to normalize time away from work to support fathers — and parents in general — reducing stress in the months after birth, says Saxbe.

The USC Dornsife Washington, D.C. Program fosters career development by offering students real-world experiences to gain insight into the inner workings of government.

Why it matters: Talented students taking interest in and choosing a career in the public sector is key to a well-functioning government, says program supporter Markham Erickson, formerly a Washington-based lawyer (and a USC Dornsife parent).

How it works: The semester-long program includes lessons directly related to policy, taught by expert practitioners. Last year, for instance, the program offered unique experiences.

USC Dornsife staff help place participants in internships that match their professional interests.

In his words: “Interning at a federal agency gives you a unique opportunity to work alongside some of the most important policymakers in our country,” said Terry Wang, an international relations major.

Opportunities to network with influential government officials, particularly Trojans, are a highlight of the program.

The new USC Capital Campus provides a base for the program, strengthening connections between USC students and policy-makers.

Capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere is a challenging but potentially powerful way to counter climate change, and USC Dornsife scholars have developed an innovative way to do it.

Why it matters: Carbon capture can help some industries, such as agriculture, that can’t quickly lower their carbon output. Also, existing emissions continue to impact the climate even as new emissions are curbed.

Nature performs carbon removal through trees and oceans, but these processes can’t keep pace with climate change.

What’s new: Berelson is developing a carbon removal system that captures CO₂ produced by the shipping industry.

Yes, but: Some critics, like Joe Árvai, director of USC Dornsife’s Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability, say carbon removal technologies could disincentivize efforts to end reliance on fossil fuels by offering a perceived quick fix.

Go deeper: Experts gathered during a Dornsife Dialogues event to explore these issues in depth.

Watch a day in the life of USC Dornsife sociology major Kaylana Kaniaupio. Follow along as she takes on classes, work, student clubs and more!

Travel along with USC Dornsife tortoise researcher Charles Lehnen, a PhD candidate in integrative and evolutionary biology, to the Galapagos Islands. Learn about these amazing animals, their surrounding ecosystem and how his research could inform the study of other endangered species.