College of Social Sciences & Humanities Archives

Why do companies struggle with ethical artificial intelligence?

Responsible artificial intelligence practices are easier said than done for most companies, Northeastern researchers find. The harder work is moving from abstract concepts to substantive, practical commitments that are action-guiding and measurable.

by Peter Ramjug September 23, 2021

international arrivals section signifies us foreign policy

Despite lifting of travel ban, tensions toward U.S. linger among European allies

European nations thought working with Biden would be easier than with Trump, but in some ways the president is continuing his predecessor’s policies, say Northeastern international relations experts. Even with the lifting of the U.S. travel ban, the transatlantic relationship remains frayed, they add.

by Peter Ramjug September 22, 2021

mai'a k davis cross interviewing ben rhodes

Obama’s chief speechwriter diagnoses rising authoritarianism in the changing world order

Ben Rhodes, a senior foreign policy aide to Obama, visited Northeastern to talk about his new book on autocratic rulers and the decline of democracy. “The more I pulled this thread, I discovered America's fingerprints on this world more than I think we would like to acknowledge,” he says.

by Peter Ramjug September 21, 2021

Labor trafficking impacts vulnerable US citizens who often suffer in silence

U.S. citizens face intimidation, sexual harassment, and and other forms of exploitation from their employers, says Amy Farrell, director and professor of criminology and criminal justice at Northeastern. Farrell, who conducted a rare study on labor abuses of U.S. citizens, found that a majority of those offenses go unreported, however.

by Hillary Chabot September 21, 2021

masked man walking by nyc mobile vaccine clinic bus

Why aren’t the unvaccinated getting their shots?

Vaccine risks and concerns about side effects were the primary reasons why people remain unvaccinated, according to a U.S. study by researchers from Northeastern and several partner institutions. Those who are vaccine willing are almost equal in number to those strongly vaccine resistant, the survey found.

by Peter Ramjug September 16, 2021

What would it take to vaccinate the world against COVID-19?

In a world of 7.9 billion people, some 5.57 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered globally. But in low-income countries, only 1.9% of the population has received even one dose. At the root of that vaccine inequity, say Northeastern experts, is an issue of who is calling the metaphorical shots and why.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki September 8, 2021

A new sustainability seminar lets students propose their own sustainability program. They learn to think critically and propose solutions, says Jacob Glickel, who works in the Office of Sustainability. Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University

New course to cultivate ideas about how to expand campus sustainability efforts

A weekly seminar this fall will bring together researchers, campus operations, and people who live near the Boston campus into the discussion about the environment. Universities are anchors in their communities, and the class is an opportunity to demonstrate best practices for environmental sustainability and resilience, say faculty experts.

by Peter Ramjug September 7, 2021

Why the Remain in Mexico policy, recently upheld by the Supreme Court, can still be trumped

Northeastern experts on the high court and U.S. immigration law say the Supreme Court told the Biden administration it will have to create a new, more carefully-worded rule justifying why it wants to end the Remain in Mexico program.

by Peter Ramjug September 3, 2021

Why the pandemic is more confusing than ever

Mask on. Mask off. Now, put your mask on again. Don’t leave your house. Hug your grandparents. Stop hugging Grandma. Trying to navigate the renewed risks of the pandemic amidst the Delta variant may make your head spin. “We are in a situation where the ground rules have changed,” says Rory Smead, associate professor of philosophy at Northeastern.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki August 23, 2021

Student military vets say US needs to help endangered Afghans

Michael Trudeau and Amanda Knowles served in the U.S. military before coming to Northeastern. Both of them are personally touched by the frenetic refugee situation in Afghanistan.

by Peter Ramjug August 20, 2021