CSDE Affiliate Ann Bostrom and an international, interdisciplinary team of co-authors recently published “Scientists’ mental models of microplastics: insights into expert perceptions from an exploratory comparison of research methods” in the journal, Microplastics and Nanoplastics. The article presents results from two complementary studies of the causal beliefs—that is, the “mental models”—microplastic scientists hold related to the risks of microplastics in freshwater systems, an emerging global environmental problem. Study 1 examined core concepts in their mental models from a decision analysis perspective. In Study 2, microplastics scientists used a visual mental mapping tool (the M-Tool) to draw causal connections between core ideas about microplastics. Across both studies, scientists emphasized household consumption of plastics as a direct and indirect source of microplastics, but there were gaps in how they talked about dose–response functions. To read more, click here.
Tom Publishes Article on Religion and Racial Bias in Artificial Intelligence Large Language Models
CSDE External Affiliate Joshua Tom (Seattle Pacific) and co-authors recently published an article titled, “Religion and Racial Bias in Artificial Intelligence Large Language Models” in Socius. Tom and co-authors examine if LLMs hold implicit assumptions with regard to religious identities by prompting LLMs to generate religious sermons, specifying different combinations of race and religious tradition of the clergyperson. Evangelical Protestant pastors had easier to read AI–generated sermons, whereas Jewish rabbis and Muslim imams had more difficult to read synthetic texts. To read more, click here.
Martin Co-authors Opinion Piece on Youth Prisons in The Imprint
CSDE Affiliate Karin Martin (Public Policy) and co-authors recently shared an opinion piece in The Imprint on the incarceration of youth, which overwhelming evidence shows does not work and disproportionately affects communities of color. Drawing on their article published in the American Journal of Public Health, Martin and co-authors highlight the recent trend in closure of youth prisons and call on policymakers to redirect resources and attention to community-based alternatives. To read more, click here.
Dunbar Publishes on Development and Protocols of the Brain Health Study (BHS)
CSDE Research Scientist Matthew D. Dunbar, PhD, and co-authors recently published an article in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, titled “The companion dog as a translational model for Alzheimer’s disease: Development of a longitudinal research platform and post mortem protocols.” The authors describe the objectives, infrastructure, platform development, and protocol of the Brain Health Study (BHS). The BHS aims to establish the role of privately owned companion dogs as a translational model for Alzheimer’s Disease research.
Why dogs? Companion dogs share genetic diversity, environmental exposures, and cognitive traits with humans. Their condensed lifespans and human-like aging patterns make them an ideal model for understanding cognitive decline. The study’s research infrastructure is in place for longitudinal data collection, annual biospecimen collection and postmortem sample collection, with 500 dogs enrolled and 21 postmortem specimens already collected.
Dr. Dunbar, in his role as the Data Core Director for the Dog Aging Project, helped build the operational infrastructure for the BHS to support this diverse national cohort of companion dogs for an in-depth, longitudinal analysis of brain and cognitive health over their lifespan. A complex and well-maintained research platform was critical to facilitate enrollment, retention, ongoing participant surveys, and biobanking of biofluids and postmortem tissue. Dr. Dunbar has decades of experience designing primary data collection systems, managing field data campaigns, and he currently oversees CSDE’s own REDCap instance supporting population researchers.
To arrange a consultation appointment with Matt Dunbar or any of CSDE’s scientific support staff, please use the CSDE Science Core Consultation Request form.
Register Now: CUGH Virtual Symposium on the Triple Environmental Crisis (10/14/25)
UW West Coast Poverty Center Seminar: Register for 1-Credit
Looking for a 1-credit course at UW for Autumn 2025?
The West Coast Poverty Center Seminar (SOC WL 556A) is a 1-credit course that meets on Zoom selected Thursdays from 9:30am-11:00am.
Students will consider the role of research in policy making and in social service programs, learn about locally relevant research, and complete a professional development activity.
Students will attend three researcher-practitioner Roundtables, focused on locally-relevant housing, economic security, and criminal legal issues. Recent topics have included the impacts of legal financial obligations, findings from evaluations of guaranteed income pilot programs, and research on the effectiveness of renter protection laws.
CACHE – Virtual Center for Aging, Climate and Health Invites Participation and Contributions
CSDE and its partners at CUNY, CU Boulder, El Collegio, and University of Minnesota, invites you to participate and contribute. Here are new data updates:
- Code linking SHELDUS with ACS Data
- Analysis Using the Household Pulse Survey – Disaster Displacement
- Add your code to others’ code or explore more….
The CACHE team would like to hear about what you are reading… submit a post here or see posts about what others are reading.
There are many more resources on the CACHE website including links to research matchmaking, workshop recordings, employment opportunities, grant opportunities and much more.
Register Now: CUGH Virtual Symposium on the Triple Environmental Crisis (10/14/25)
Addressing the Triple Environmental Crisis: A Way Forward
- October 14th, 2025, 10:00am – 1:00pm PT / 1:00pm – 4:00pm ET
Join the Consortium of Universities for Global Health for this engaging symposium where they will exchange ideas and explore solutions to combat the pressing challenges of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, which pose significant risks to our health and security. Register here and visit their website for more information.
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars Program – Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (11/05/25)
CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars Program
Organization: Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
Award amount: $72,000
Deadline: 11/05/2025
Description:
The CIFAR Global Scholars Program offers early-career researchers the opportunity to develop and lead high-risk, high-reward interdisciplinary research, expand their professional networks and receive focused leadership training in their pivotal first years as independent investigators. These experiences accelerate the rise of research leaders who are positioned to drive new discoveries and open new fields of inquiry.
CIFAR welcomes applications from candidates across the natural, biomedical, and social sciences, as well as the humanities. Successful applicants join one of CIFAR’s interdisciplinary research programs, collaborating with global research leaders to advance transformative knowledge and address some of the most important questions facing science and humanity.
In 2025/2026, the following CIFAR research programs are accepting applications:
- Child & Brain Development
- CIFAR MacMillan Multiscale Human
- Future Flourishing
- Humanity’s Urban Future
- Learning in Machines & Brains
- Quantum Materials
CIFAR programs are interdisciplinary, with an objective to spark new ideas, collaborations and knowledge advances. We welcome applications that offer new perspectives or approaches that could enrich and diversify a program’s scope.
Eligibility:
Early-career, Faculty & Pls
IPUMS: Caregiving Workshop at GSA (11/12/25)
Understanding and addressing the misalignment of care demands between an aging
population and a shortage of healthcare workers in the US requires research-ready data to study caregiving. Join IPUMS and NDIRA the morning of Wednesday, November 12 for a GSA workshop: Population Data for Studying Formal and Informal Caregiving.
- Overview of IPUMS data that are relevant to caregiving
- Demonstrations of features to streamline data management
- Discussions about analytical considerations
- Review of non-caregiving topical coverage in these data
- Guidance on identifying informal caregivers, the healthcare workforce, and individuals receiving home healthcare
- Opportunities for hands-on exercises and individual consultations
Please register to join us or circulate this opportunity with your networks. The early bird registration rate for GSA expires on September 3.