The Institute of Politics at Florida State University (IOP@FSU) is a world-class, nonpartisan, and nationally renowned institute that promotes engagement in politics by students and citizens. Housed within the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, the IOP@FSU supports applied political research by a cadre of world-class scholars and mobilizes the talents of our alumni, students, faculty,…
Undergraduate Spotlight: Kaylah Ross from the Department of Political Science
What is your major and why did you choose it? My major is Political Science and I have a minor in Religion. I chose to do Political Science due to the fact that I hope to go to law school after I do my undergrad. I have always been fascinated with government practice and public…
Graduate Student Spotlight: Giulia Venturini from the Department of Political Science
What department are you a graduate student in? I am a 4th year Ph.D. candidate in the Political Science Department. Why did you decide to go to graduate school? Since I was a little kid, I have been fascinated with learning and understanding how the world works. While I was studying for a M.Sc. in…
Honors Thesis Spotlight: Will the Demographic Dividend Affect South Asia?
As fertility rates drop, it is evident that there are major economic and demographic consequences across the world. According to the researcher Melissa Pregasen, the replacement level of fertility at which the population will become stable is 2.1 children per woman given typical contemporary mortality levels. In other words, the average amount of births is…
College Award Winner Spotlight: Teresa Roach from the Department of Sociology
Research, teaching, and service are typically considered the three pillars of an academic appointment. Service, though, is considered a time – suck—there are so many committees that faculty are asked to serve on and administrative responsibilities that seem never ending. However, as a result of my recent service commitments (Director of Undergraduate Studies in the…
Undergraduate Spotlight: Delylah Rodriguez from the Department of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences
What is your major and why did you choose it? The major I chose was interdisciplinary social sciences. I chose this major because I knew it would offer me a lot of flexibility in what classes I would be taking. This was a very important aspect for me as I am a very indecisive person…
Graduate Student Spotlight: William Stevenson from the Department of Economics
What department are you a graduate student in? I am currently a graduate student in the Master in Applied Economics program. Why did you decide to go to graduate school? I decided to enter the graduate program for the value. I graduated when COVID was still at its height and I was curious about what…
Research Quick Take: Postpartum Depressive Symptoms during the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Examination of Population Birth Data from Central New Jersey
Between nine and thirteen percent of women report symptoms of depression during pregnancy or the postpartum period, constituting a significant public health problem. Studies have found that postpartum depression is correlated with many forms of stress, including divorce, the death of a loved one, poverty and financial strain, and overall poor health. During the first…
Honors Thesis Spotlight: The Role of Education in Improving Human Development in Central America: A Comparative Analysis of Guatemala and Costa Rica
Costa Rica and Guatemala are two comparable countries in Central America that share similar geographic and cultural characteristics, yet maintain noticeably different levels of human development. Additionally, both countries are not considered economically wealthy (2). Regardless, Costa Rica is ranked first out of 140 countries and territories on the Happy Planet Index. The Happy Planet…
Research Spotlight: Remarkably Long-Term Benefits of School Desegregation
Nearly 70 years ago, the Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka ruled that race-separate schools were unconstitutional under the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment. The unanimous decision rejected racist provisions declaring, for example, “White and colored children shall not be taught in the same school,” (Florida Constitution of 1885,…
Wicked Problems, Wicked Solutions 