Researchers and students at the School of Public Policy are examining issues that increasingly shape daily life, from artificial intelligence and online safety to housing affordability and democratic governance. That work was on display during Research Day, which brought together faculty and doctoral, master’s and undergraduate students to present research and policy analysis on areas such as social policy, sustainability, international policy, public health and community well-being.
Presentations throughout the day highlighted how emerging technologies are reshaping public policy, from online child safety to energy infrastructure and labor markets. One doctoral student examined how parents, researchers and advocacy organizations are pushing for stronger protections for children online as social media platforms increasingly rely on engagement-driven algorithms. Another explored how the rapid expansion of data centers tied to AI development may affect local power reliability and community vulnerability to outages.
“In today’s world, AI is becoming increasingly prevalent, sparking debates about its role in different sectors of society,” said graduate student Apurva Hari, whose project examined the implications of generative AI in education and labor markets in Latin America. “My project was critical to understanding how technology can be used beneficially in education and labor markets in Latin America, especially considering current and future implications of its rapid implementation.”
Other projects examined how policy decisions shape access, opportunity and lived experience. Presentations explored links between prolonged power outages and mental health hospitalizations in Maryland, barriers to sustainable infrastructure financing following the Paris Agreement and how zoning and land-use regulations shape housing affordability.
Several faculty and student projects focused on how institutions measure social progress and whether those measurements reflect reality. One faculty-led project questioned whether advances tied to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals correspond with improvements in people’s reported well-being and happiness over time.
Another project explored how different societies define and experience concepts such as happiness and life satisfaction. “I can’t think of many more important questions to answer than ‘What is a good life?’” said graduate student Connor Burke. “How happiness is thought of around the world gives us some great clues into this.”
Other presentations examined political representation, criminal justice reform, homelessness policy, child care access and health-related social care needs among older adults. Undergraduate student Ashley Hernandez examined the implications of the end of race-conscious admissions policies and how those changes may affect students from underrepresented backgrounds, including first-generation and lower-income students.
Graduate student Daniela Gava Duarte, whose project examined LGBTI+ rights protections in Latin America, said her research topic is especially important amid ongoing political and social tensions affecting marginalized communities. “LGBTI+ rights have advanced significantly on paper, yet violence and discrimination still exist in practice in Latin America,” she said.
Research Day also featured work examining how climate modeling assumptions shape policy outcomes. “Modelers and policymakers need to be more aware and conscious of the results they portray and assess,” said Postdoctoral Research Associate Mel George. “This may open up more avenues for climate action if we get away from preconceived assumptions.”
