Hope everyone is bundling up and staying warm! As the semester comes to a close, we wish you a safe holiday full of cheer.

In this issue, find out how low-income L.A. neighborhoods are getting some much-needed shade, learn about the devastating impact of the opioid crisis on children and explore  our scholars’ evaluation of a curriculum for discussing controversial topics in the classroom.

The Urban Trees Initiative, spearheaded by Public Exchange, is planting and maintaining trees in the Los Angeles neighborhoods that need them most — low-income communities.

Why it matters: Low-income communities often lack greenery and miss out on the benefits trees offer like providing shade, boosting air flow and filtering out pollutants.

Tree shade can reduce temperatures by up to 15 degrees, making hot summer days more bearable and helping to prevent heat-related illnesses like heat stroke.

USC Dornsife’s Public Exchange pinpointed the city’s most vulnerable areas and collaborated with community partners to plant and maintain trees there.

The big picture: The Urban Trees Initiative highlights how Public Exchange uses academic scholarship to tackle important societal issues.

In her words: “[This] is a great example of what we can do when we work together — and just the beginning of our work to protect residents from rising temperatures and improve quality of life,” says Kate Weber, executive director of Public Exchange.

The opioid crisis has led to 1.4 million U.S. children losing an immediate family member to a drug overdose, according to a study by USC Dornsife and Penn State.

Why it matters: Losing a family member can cause trauma and long-term challenges for children.

The big picture: Since 2006, opioid-related deaths have been rising faster than those caused by other substances.

By the numbers: The researchers found that the opioid crisis has had a stunning impact on children across the U.S.

What else: The sharp rise in overdose deaths between 2020 and 2023, not covered by the study, suggests that researchers’ estimates may understate the full scope of the crisis.

40%

USC undergraduate courses offered by USC Dornsife.

A new curriculum promises to teach K-12 students how to think about and discuss controversial topics, but is it effective? USC Dornsife researchers receive a record-breaking grant to find out.

What’s new: Anna Saavedra and Amie Rapaport of the Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR) at USC Dornsife received nearly $4 million from the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES) to evaluate the efficacy of Talking About Current and Contested Issues in Schools (TALCCS).

Why it matters: TALCCS is designed to improve classroom discussion of current and contested issues. It may also boost student attendance and academic performance, and prepare them for the responsibilities of citizenship.

Over the next five years, Saavedra and Rapaport will study TALCCS as about 250 California civics and social studies teachers implement the curriculum.

Researchers will assess short- and long-term outcomes like:

What to watch: Researchers will produce their first report in 2027 and a second in 2029–2030, incorporating data from the 2028 presidential election.

In her words: “Productive discussion about contested topics is a learned skill. Clearly, given the state of our national political discourse, many adults have not learned this skill. With support, the next generation can do better,” says Saavedra.

USC Dornsife scholars explore “home” — from its depiction in historic artwork to nature’s architectural miracles. Wishing you, your family and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season and a happy, healthy new year.

7. 🛍️ Black Friday shopping

6. 🎈Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade

5. 🏈 Football

4. 📺 Classic Thanksgiving movie

3. 🥡 Leftovers

2. 🦃 Turkey dinner

🥁 Drum Roll 🥁

🎉 1. 🥧 Pumpkin pie 🎉

🙌 They’re great! I make them every year.

👍 They’re fun, but I don’t take them too seriously.

🤷 I don’t care for them personally.

🗓️ Why wait for New Years? Goal setting is good year round.

Poll results will be published in next month’s issue of Dornsife Connect.

Dexter Holland has three degrees from USC Dornsife: a bachelor's in biological sciences, a master’s in molecular biology and, after two decades making hit music, a PhD.

Explore how digital technologies can document and address the impacts of urban displacement, inspired by Mindy Thompson Fullilove’s concept of “root shock.”

Discover what superfoods are and how to incorporate them into your diet for potential benefits.

Examine the complexities of scientific censorship and its impact on research, ethics and freedom of inquiry. This conference gathers experts to discuss mechanisms, ethical dilemmas and societal implications, aiming to define and evaluate censorship in science.

Sign-up to receive NewsRound, a weekly listing of news stories featuring USC Dornsife scholars.

“My group is nearly 100% international and we have always been affected by visa issues.”

The Los Angeles Times quoted Anna Krylov of chemistry for the article “‘You don’t know what’s next.’ International students scramble ahead of Trump inauguration.”

“Trump’s proposed tariff policies, especially at higher rates, would disproportionately harm middle- and low-income Americans while failing to deliver meaningful economic benefits.”

The HuffPost quoted Monica Morlacco of economics for the story “What Items Should You Buy Before Trump's Tariffs Kick In?”

“We normally look for demonstrated competence in a nominee. This is a case of demonstrated incompetence. … She was obviously selected solely because she’s loyal to Trump.”

The Los Angeles Times quoted Gregory Treverton of international relations for the article “Column: Tulsi Gabbard as intelligence czar? The Trump Cabinet pick most likely to fail.”

USC faculty and staff who are going out of town during winter recess can receive free and secure parking on campus.