🍗Mmmmm. We can already smell the tantalizing scents of Thanksgiving dinner. Wishing you and your family a safe and joyful holiday.

In this issue, learn how tigers in captivity might save their wild cousins, discover how USC Dornsife has led the way in helping ease elementary school students’ anxiety, delve into innovations for the deluge of plastic waste and more.

A first-of-its-kind study on captive tigers, conducted by Jazlyn Mooney of quantitative and computational biology, indicates that captive tigers could contribute to the conservation of wild tiger populations.

Why it matters: Many tiger populations have declined by up to 90% over the past century, which makes conservation efforts critical.

The big picture: There are more tigers in captivity in the U.S. than in the wild, largely due to the illegal wildlife trade, circus acts and cub petting facilities.

How they did it: The researchers analyzed the complete genomes of over 100 captive tigers to assess their genetic diversity and ancestry.

What they found: Captive tigers have genetic diversity comparable to wild populations, offering hope they could help boost wild populations.

Yes, but: “In theory, captive tigers with genetic diversity could be used to help boost numbers in the wild. But the issue is, how do we do that? We don’t know the answer,” cautions Mooney.

What else? The detailed tiger genetic data can also help government law enforcement trace confiscated tiger-derived products and tigers.

What’s next: The researchers plan to continue investigating the tiger genome, expanding their study to include more captive tigers from various sanctuaries worldwide

Schools nationwide increasingly are embracing mindfulness practices, but USC Dornsife’s Little Yoginis program has been introducing yoga and children’s literature to students in inner-city elementary schools for more than a decade.

Why it matters: Mental health challenges among students in the United States continue to rise, and mindfulness practices can help support their mental well-being.

How it works: USC students enroll in a class offered through a collaboration between USC Dornsife’s Department of Physical Education & Mind Body Health and Joint Educational Project (JEP) to learn yoga practices and principles, and how to lead yoga sessions in elementary classrooms.

In her words: “We focus on helping … students develop a sense of calm and control in their daily lives. Through yoga and breathing techniques, we help them learn skills to center themselves, become more focused and build confidence,” explains JEP’s Tina Koneazny, who developed the program.

Service learning is the core of the Little Yoginis program — USC students apply academic skills to community service, benefiting both university and elementary students.

Says Koneazny: “It’s a two-way street. Our USC students teach, but they also grow through their connections with these young students. It’s a deeply rewarding experience on both sides.”

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The number of acres occupied by USC Dornsife’s Wrigley Marine Science Center on Catalina Island.

The USC Sea Grant Program received nearly $2 million from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to reuse plastic waste from oceans and investigate eco-conscious behavior.

Why it matters: Plastic waste is one of the most serious ocean pollution issues of the 21st century, poisoning marine ecosystems as it breaks down into microplastics.

How it works: The project aims to find ways to prevent future plastic debris from entering the ecosystem while simultaneously transforming existing debris into valuable resources.

Using a chemical/biological process, plastic waste from Southern California waterways will be converted into useful materials like eco-friendly dyes and enzymes for laundry detergents.

Addressing social barriers to consumer adoption of products made from plastic waste is also part of the project, along with educating the public about these sustainable technologies.

The Jimmy Gauntt Memorial Awards honor exceptional USC Dornsife seniors majoring in English, creative writing or narrative studies.

Why it matters: Recognizing young writers validates their talent, encourages their growth, and can ignite their passion.

The award commemorates Jimmy Gauntt, a talented writer and USC Dornsife graduate whose life ended abruptly in 2008, only three years after he completed his English degree.

Faculty nominate students who demonstrate exceptional curiosity, creativity and commitment to the arts — attributes that Jimmy Gauntt himself embodied.

At an award dinner in May, faculty introduced the students they nominated, who then shared their experiences at USC.

Bottom line: The Gauntt family hopes their endowment further elevates the English department’s ability to nurture well-rounded, articulate students.

In his words: “The best students in my law classes were English majors,” said Casey Gauntt. “They knew how to think, how to write and how to look deeper into things.”

The beloved mountain lion that roamed Los Angeles and inspired a wildlife movement, artists and even musicians was first discovered living in Griffith Park by Miguel Ordeñana ’05.