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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Authors Meet Critics

Recap

Published October 15, 2019

The Populist Temptation

Recorded on October 3, 2019, this "Authors Meet Critics" panel centered on Professor Barry Eichengreen's book, The Populist Temptation: Economic Grievance and Political Reaction in the Modern Era.

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Other Events

Recap

Published October 7, 2019

Will It Still Be The Economy, Stupid, In 2020?

Recorded on September 24, 2019, this panel discussion featured distinguished political scientists discussing the role the economy is likely to play in the 2020 elections.

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Economy

Article

Published September 16, 2019

Q&A: Professor Barry Eichengreen

A Q&A with Professor Barry Eichengreen, author of The Populist Temptation: Economic Grievance and Political Reaction in the Modern Era.

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Matrix News

News

Published August 27, 2019

Call for Proposals: Pop-Up Writing Workshops

Matrix invites proposals for single-session writing workshops for the 2019-2020 academic year.

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Grants and Opportunities

News

Published July 31, 2019

Erasmus+ Mobility Grants Awarded

EU-funded program supports exchange between faculty, staff, and students from UC Berkeley and Freie Universität Berlin.

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News

Published July 31, 2019

Marion Fourcade, Michael Watts to Serve as Directors of Matrix

Following Bill Hanks' successful six-year tenure, Marion Fourcade, Professor in the Department of Sociology, will serve as Director of Social Science Matrix. Professor Michael Watts will serve as Interim Director until July 2020.

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