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.

Learn More >

Cities

Article

Published May 22, 2018

Urban Planning in China’s “Ecological Civilization”

Jesse Rodenbiker, a Ph.D. student in the UC Berkeley Department of Geography, studies the process of ecological planning in China's growing urban areas.

Learn More >

Other Events

Recap

Published May 17, 2018

Radical Markets

On May 11, 2018, Matrix hosted a panel discussion featuring E. Glen Weyl and his book, Radical Markets (co-authored with Eric Posner), which introduces provocative ideas on how to use markets to tame monopoly, lessen inequality, and enhance inclusiveness. This event was presented as part of the Social Science Matrix Solidarity Series.

Learn More >

Other Events

Recap

Published May 8, 2018

2018 Social Science Fest / Matrix Open House

On May 1, 2018, Social Science Matrix hosted the first-ever joint Social Science Fest / Matrix Open House, a celebration of the accomplishments of the Division of Social Science over the past year—and an opportunity to highlight the work of Matrix for the broader community.

Learn More >

Matrix Lecture

Recap

Published April 9, 2018

Human Rights in the Neoliberal Maelstrom

On March 15, 2018, Social Science Matrix was honored to host Samuel Moyn, Professor of Law and History at Yale University, for a lecture entitled "Human Rights in the Neoliberal Maelstrom," drawing from his recently published book Not Enough: Human Rights in an Unequal World.

Learn More >

Solidarity

Published March 22, 2018

Threatened Scholars

Recorded on February 27, 2018, panelists discuss the various types of threats facing scholars around the world, as well as as solutions that have been developed by governments, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations, including Scholars at Risk, which works to protect threatened scholars and promote academic freedom around the world.

Learn More >

Matrix Lecture

Recap

Published February 6, 2018

Craig Calhoun, “Cosmopolitanism and Belonging”

On January 31, 2018, Craig Calhoun, President of the Berggruen Institute and Centennial Professor at the London School of Economics, presented the UC Berkeley Social Science Matrix Distinguished Lecture, "Cosmopolitanism and Belonging."

Learn More >