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

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Event Date: February 24th, 2025
4:00 PM to 5:30 PM PT

Virtual Realities and Digital Spaces

The future of virtual reality (VR) is poised to be transformative, reshaping industries, enhancing human connection, and redefining how we work, play, and learn. However, the evolution of the metaverse also necessitates careful consideration of its societal and environmental impacts. The panel will feature Nicole Starosielski, Professor of Film and Media Studies at UC Berkeley; Emma Fraser, Assistant Teaching Professor in Media Studies and the Berkeley Center for New Media at UC Berkeley; and Clancy Wilmott, Assistant Professor in Critical Cartography, Geovisualisation and Design in the Berkeley Center for New Media and the Department of Geography at UC Berkeley. 

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Research Highlights

Article

Published July 1, 2015

Speech on the Brain

A UCSF neuroscientist and UC Berkeley linguist team up for leading-edge research that could one day help give speech back to stroke victims and people with paralyses.

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Research Highlights

Article

Published June 10, 2015

Penelope Anthias: “Gas and Land Rights in Bolivia”

In Bolivia, conflicting interests have led to complicated internal struggles over rights, land, and money, says a postdoctoral fellow in UC Berkeley's Department of Geography.

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Research Highlights

Article

Published June 1, 2015

Tribal Tongues

After nearing extinction, California Indian languages are gaining new speakers—and a digital presence—with the help of UC Berkeley’s Linguistics Department.

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Research Highlights

Article

Published May 12, 2015

After the Maidan

UC Berkeley scholars present diverse viewpoints on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

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Research Highlights

Article

Published May 7, 2015

Battling Ebola

A UC Berkeley professor has been part of a network of researchers working to apply local anthropological knowledge in the fight to contain the most deadly Ebola outbreak in history.

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Research Highlights

Article

Published May 7, 2015

Liz Carlisle: “Lentils to the Rescue”

Can lentils save American farms from drought? As California struggles with a water crisis, a UC Berkeley fellow shows how legumes can reduce dependence on irrigation.

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