UC Berkeley’s flagship institute for social science research

Our purpose is captured in our name: we provide an organizational framework—a “matrix”—that supports cross-disciplinary research pursued by social scientists across the University of California, Berkeley campus and beyond.

Matrix On Point

Recap

Published April 10, 2025

Mainstreaming Psychedelics

Psychedelics are steadily moving from the fringes of counterculture to the heart of mainstream society, driven by a growing body of research and shifting public perception. As psychedelics shed their stigma, they are catalyzing a broader conversation about mental health, spirituality, and the boundaries of human consciousness. Recorded on March 6, 2025, this panel featured Diana Negrin, David Presti, Charles Hirschkind, and Graham Pechenik, with Poulomi Saha moderating.

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California Spotlight

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Event Date: September 22nd, 2025
12:00pm-1:30pm

California Spotlight: Tech Authoritarianism

The rise of powerful tech entities and the rapid advancement of digital technologies are giving way to new forms of control, raising concerns about tech authoritarianism and its impact on democratic processes and communities. This panel will bring together experts to delve into the manifestations of tech authoritarianism, with a particular focus on its emergence and implications within California. The panel will include Elijah Baucom, Finn Brunton, and Lee Crandall, with James Holston moderating.

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Matrix On Point

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Event Date: October 27th, 2025
12:00 PM to 1:30 PM PT

Matrix on Point: Conspiracy Theories

Drawing on diverse academic perspectives, this panel discussion will explore the nature of conspiracy theories, their societal implications, and how they are understood and addressed. The panel will feature Michael M Cohen, Associate Professor of American Studies and African American Studies at UC Berkeley, and Tim Tangherlini, Professor in the Department of Scandanavian and the School of Information at UC Berkeley. Lakshmi Sarah, journalist and lecturer at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, will moderate.

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Matrix News

Research Teams

Published July 10, 2025

Matrix Welcomes New Research Teams for 2025-2026

Social Science Matrix is proud to welcome eight new Matrix Research Teams — three faculty-led teams and five graduate student-led teams — for the 2025-2026 academic year. Matrix Research Teams are groups of scholars who gather regularly to explore or develop a novel question or emerging field in the social sciences. The teams convene participants […]

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Matrix On Point

Recap

Published June 12, 2025

Technology and China in the New Political Economy

Recorded on April 18, 2025, this Matrix on Point panel brought together experts of the Chinese political economy and law and society in a conversation to discuss the political, economic, security, and social dimensions and complexities of technology in China’s internationalization during times of global tensions. The panel featured Mark Dallas, Roselyn Hsueh, and Rachel E. Stern; it was moderated and chaired by AnnaLee Saxenian.

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Matrix On Point

Recap

Published June 12, 2025

Governing Giants: Law, Politics, and Antitrust

Recorded on April 25, 2025, this panel brought together scholars of political science, economics, and law to discuss the changing landscape of antitrust policy in an era of multinational corporations. Moderated by Ryan Brutger, the panel included Amy Pond (Washington University St. Louis, Political Science), Prasad Krishnamurthy (UC Berkeley, Law), and Michael Allen (Stanford, Political Science).

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Matrix On Point

Recap

Published May 20, 2025

150 Years of Border Control: The Legacy of the 1875 Page Act

Recorded on April 23, 2025, this panel marked the 150th anniversary of the Page Act of 1875, one of the first federal laws to restrict immigration to the United States — especially Asian immigration, as the law prohibited the importation of Asian contract workers, prostitutes (a provision targeted against Chinese women), and criminals.

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Matrix News

Iris Hui Memorial Fund

Published May 19, 2025

Ethnic Studies PhD Student Receives Iris Hui Memorial Scholarship

Irene Franco Rubio, a doctoral student in the UC Berkeley Department of Ethnic Studies, has been selected to receive the 2025 Dr. Iris Hui Memorial Graduate Student Scholarship. Irene is a first-generation scholar-activist whose research explores multiracial coalition-building, grassroots resistance, and social movement histories in the U.S. Southwest.

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Matrix On Point

Recap

Published May 14, 2025

Matrix on Point: The New Gender Gap

New research reveals a growing gender gap in attitudes across a range of topics, particularly striking among younger generations. Recorded on April 7, 2025, this panel brought together experts to discuss the contours and complexities of this “new gender gap” and explore its ramifications for politics, demography, and societal cohesion.

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