Welcome to pumpkin season! It's time to embrace the cozy aroma of pumpkin spice, bake delicious pies and get creative with those jack-o'-lanterns.

In this issue, delve into a Maymester course focused on human rights, learn some surprising things about how your gut is linked to health and discover a threat to the declining wild bee population.

A Maymester course at USC Dornsife took students to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, where they met with activists, politicians and journalists to learn about the challenges and rewards of advocating for human rights.

Why it matters: As acts of repression increase in regions like Central Asia, inspiring students to consider careers in human rights is crucial to addressing these issues.

The big picture: Authoritarianism is rising in Central Asia, with countries like Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan increasingly cracking down on dissent.

During the Maymester, students heard from activists and public officials entrenched in the region’s ongoing human rights struggles.

In his words: “Before this program, I knew nothing about Central Asia. Now I see how Central Asia is vital to understanding Russia, Ukraine and the lingering Soviet legacy,” said Radulf Mohika, a philosophy, politics, and law major.

Alongside their human rights studies, students also immersed themselves in Central Asia’s local culture by engaging with communities, exploring traditional cuisine, and participating in cultural events.

The gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem of trillions of microbes in the intestines influencing our overall health. USC Dornsife experts recently discussed the latest science about our gut during a recent Dornsife Dialogue.

Why it matters: The gut microbiome affects the body’s physiology, metabolism and immunity, yet it is often overlooked, underscoring the need for further research.

Certain gut bacteria prevent inflammation, while others can trigger it, and diet influences the balance between them.

What to do? Focus on consuming a diet rich in fiber, which beneficial bacteria can break down to enhance metabolism.

What else: In addition to a high-sugar diet negatively affecting the gut microbiome, Scott Kanoski, professor of biological sciences, has shown that it can be especially harmful during key developmental stages, such as adolescence.

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Views of stories written by Dornsife scholars for The Conversation.

Pesticide use could be a major contributor to the decline of wild bee populations, with significant ecological and agricultural consequences, according to research by Laura Melissa Guzman, of biological sciences and quantitative and computational biology.

Problem: Wild bee populations are experiencing a widespread decline across the United States.

Why it matters: Wild bees are vital pollinators that support natural ecosystems, ensuring plants reproduce and maintaining the balance of food webs that sustain diverse animal species.

Guzman headed a team of researchers to investigate the reasons behind the decline, focusing on the impact of pesticide use.

What they found: They discovered a strong correlation between pesticide use and fewer wild bee sightings, with sightings of some species dropping by as much as 56% in areas of high pesticide use.

Solution: Reserving pesticides as a last resort and using alternative strategies like natural predators and traps can help protect declining wild bee populations.

Tuesday, Oct. 15
Michelson Hall
Open to all USC Dornsife faculty, postdocs and PhD students

Learn the benefits of sharing your expertise with the public and explore the resources that the USC Dornsife Office of Communication provides.

Topics include:

Deadline to RSVP: TODAY, Oct. 9

Earthquake Drill – 10/17 at 10:17. USC will participate in the annual Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill. Faculty and staff are encouraged to drop, cover and hold on at 10:17 a.m. on Oct. 17.

To learn more, visit the Office of Fire Safety & Emergency Planning website.

News headlines and social media are filled with people questioning the validity of election polling. USC Dornsife’s Christian Grose, a professor of political science and public policy, explains the challenges of polling and why they’re crucial to informing research and policy.

Ask an expert panel about the issues driving engagement among underrepresented voters, the challenges they face and their potential impact on swing state results.

Discover how creativity can drive climate action as Jake Barton, a visionary designer known for award-winning immersive experiences, shares how storytelling can inspire solutions for climate change.

Learn how the history and culture of the Plateau Vivarais-Lignon made it a significant place of rescue during the Holocaust.

Explore political experts’ predictions for Election Night and which key states to watch. Get insights on campaign strategies and potential outcomes in this crucial moment for America.

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

“There’s sort of this little change that occurs in us when we find a way to laugh at ourselves.”

PBS News Hour interviewed Danzy Senna of English for the story “Danzy Senna’s ‘Colored Television’ spotlights difficult realities of life with humor.”

“I think that people are concerned in our communities because Spot follows a long and flawed history of predictive policing in Los Angeles.”

KTLA-TV interviewed Brittany Friedman of sociology for the article “Meet Spot, LAPD’s new crimefighting robot dog.”

“Russia could counter-escalate in a number of ways, from more brutal attacks on Ukrainian civilian targets to sabotage of Western satellite or undersea communications.”

Al Jazeera quoted Robert English of political science and international relations, Slavic languages and literatures, and environmental studies in the article “Long-range missiles to hit Russia: Where does NATO stand on Ukraine demand?.”

Save on USC gear at the USC Bookstore. Faculty and staff receive 10% off in-person and online purchases.