Season’s Greetings and good tidings we bring to you and your kin! We hope your holiday is safe and full of cheer.

In this issue, find out how we’re helping low-income L.A. neighborhoods get much needed shade, learn about the startling impact of the opioid crisis on children and discover how cutting sugar early in life can lead to long-term health benefits.

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 complex social 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.

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The number of fascinating Dornsife Dialogue events we’ve hosted to date.

Using World War II sugar rationing as a natural experiment, researchers found that restricting sugar during pregnancy and infancy significantly reduced risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension in adulthood.

Why it matters: Chronic diseases significantly shorten life expectancy and increase health care costs.

The big picture: During WWII, the United Kingdom limited sugar to 8 teaspoons per day while the rest of their diet did not change much.

In her words: “It is hard to find situations where people are randomly exposed to different nutritional environments early in life and follow them for 50 to 60 years. The end of rationing provided us with a novel natural experiment to overcome these problems,” explains Tadeja Gracner, the study’s lead author and economist at the USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research.

How they did it: Researchers examined U.K. Biobank data, comparing health records of people born just before and after sugar rationing ended.

What they found: Sugar restrictions during the first 1,000 days of life substantially reduced the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood.

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.

Photos from this year’s USC Dornsife Homecoming picnic.

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.

The MS in Mathematical Data Science at USC Dornsife offers rare advanced training and unparalleled, hands-on experience in an ever-expanding field. From AI to finance, health care to sustainability, nearly every industry relies on data for strategic advantage.

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

“I don’t need to have a fancy kitchen. I don’t need to have fancy ingredients, and I can make something that’s going to be good and it’s going to be comforting and it’s going to be nostalgic.”

Jorge Barraza of psychology was interviewed by The Washington Post about a viral Dollar Tree Thanksgiving dinner video highlighting economic empathy.

“The damning evidence in this report is a call to action to international courts against impunity.”

Steve Swerdlow of political science and international relations was quoted by CBC Canada about Azerbaijan’s actions in Nagorno-Karabakh and allegations of ethnic cleansing.

“In this wellness industry, millions of dollars in supplements and other things are being sold by many of these influencers.”

Gale Sinatra of psychology spoke with Popular Science about tackling science misinformation.

Join USC economics for a networking happy hour to connect, share experiences and expand your network over light bites and drinks. This event is open to all USC Alumni. Learn more >>

Attend a discussion with Danzy Senna, professor and acclaimed author of Colored Television, to discuss her literary career, themes of identity and her contributions to contemporary fiction. Learn more >>

Discover strategies to optimize your profile, amplify your professional narrative and connect with industry leaders — all using free, powerful AI tools. Learn how to boost your personal brand, attract the right connections and open doors to exciting career opportunities. Learn more >>

Discover upcoming events on the Dornsife Alumni Events Calendar.

A wide array of events are available to alumni highlighting USC’s excellence in the arts and humanities. Featuring musical groups, high-profile speakers and visual artists, events are free and open to alumni and their guests through the Visions & Voices initiative.