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November 22, 2021

Keivan Stassun, Stevenson Professor of Physics and Astronomy, professor of computer science and founding director of the Vanderbilt Initiative in Data-Intensive Astrophysics, contributed to a report that will influence U.S. research into outer space for at least the next decade. He served on the steering committee of the Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics 2020 (Astro2020), which forecasts research pathways and makes recommendations for the nation’s multibillion-dollar investments for the next decade of astronomy and astrophysics research. In essence, Astro2020 lays out a blueprint that will fundamentally improve how space exploration missions are planned and executed to avoid delays and cost overruns, starting now and as far out as 2050. Essential to achieving this ambitious set of scientific goals are new investments that provide far greater support for researchers, including those currently underrepresented in the discipline. Support for programs that have demonstrated success—such as the Fisk-Vanderbilt Master’s-to-Ph.D. Bridge Program—and the respect and benefit of local communities, such as Indigenous groups who may be impacted at the sites where large observatories are built, is also underscored. Astro2020 was sponsored by NASA, National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, and U.S. Air Force. MORE

Democracy is still struggling in the Americas, with citizens reporting high skepticism about electoral democracy, according to the newly released 2021 Pulse of Democracy report from Vanderbilt University’s [Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP)] Lab. In 2021, researchers discovered that support for democracy recovered slightly to 61 percent of 60,661 people interviewed across the same 22 countries in the region. And, although support for democracy remains lower than the 68 percent of about a decade ago, the new data also reveals hopefulness: Despite the pressures that the COVID-19 pandemic on governments across the region, belief in democracy as a preferred system of remained steady. Though more government assistance was needed during the pandemic, many citizens surveyed reported they prefer freedom of speech over guaranteed access to basic income and services. The AmericasBarometer has been conducted every two years since 2004 by LAPOP, a survey research lab at Vanderbilt University. [Core support for LAPOP comes from USAID.] MORE

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is funding research led by Kelly Aldrich, associate professor of nursing informatics, to analyze daily hospital personal protective equipment on-hand inventory to measure trends, patterns or statistically significant changes in PPE supply in the nation’s nearly 7,000 U.S. hospitals. The project will support the CDC’s National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, which is dedicated to generating new knowledge in occupational safety and health. Aldrich is working with four second-year data science students under the supervision of Jesse Spencer-Smith, chief data scientist of the Data Science Institute, and Dana Zhang, professor of computer science and electrical engineering, to leverage artificial intelligence and data modeling for this large-scale analysis and reporting effort. The necessity of this effort was brought to light by pandemic-related lack of access to PPE due to supply shortages or prohibitive costs. MORE

Twelve Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows arrived this fall at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development for a year of professional development, cultural exchange and Southern hospitality. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Humphrey Fellowship Program focuses on leadership and professional development and mutual exchange for mid-career professionals committed to leadership and service in their home countries. Members of this year’s cohort hail from Bangladesh, Barbados, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Estonia, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Pakistan, Philippines, Turkey and Ukraine. The 12 fellows bring a diverse array of professional experiences in a wide range of contexts to the Peabody and Nashville communities. MORE

(Op-ed by Chancellor Daniel Diermeier) In recent weeks, we’ve seen more stories of universities being co-opted for political ends. Academics have been prevented from doing what they do best: conducting research and talking about it. It’s happening across the nation to faculty from schools large and small, including those from Vanderbilt, the university I lead. When political interference prevents the nation’s universities from carrying out their missions, America is worse for it. That should alarm not only university leaders like me, but Americans everywhere. Academic institutions owe it to their students and faculty, and to society at large, to guard against this sort of radicalization and politicization of ideas by any group, no matter where it falls on the political spectrum. Whether from the right or from the left, calls to silence faculty voices on America’s campuses are entirely inconsistent with the values of a university. MORE

Clue: He’s an expert on First Amendment law and technology policy who will compete on television’s most popular quiz show on Dec. 6. Answer: Who is Gautam Hans, associate clinical professor of law? Hans is scheduled to appear on Jeopardy! for the gameshow’s inaugural “Professors Tournament,” where he’ll compete against Hester Blum, an English professor at Penn State University and Gary Hollis, a chemistry professor at Roanoke College. Hans, a longtime Jeopardy! fan, grew up in the suburbs of Detroit shouting answers at the television while host Alex Trebek peppered guests with questions. It was one of the few shows that his parents, both doctors who are immigrants from India, considered acceptable viewing because of its educational value.  He is one of 15 college professors from across the country to compete in the tournament. The champion will be determined in a showdown scheduled for Dec. 17. MORE