Social Sciences

News about UB’s social sciences programs, including anthropology, psychology and social work. (see all topics)

  • Prehistoric Response to Global Warming Informs Human Planning Today
    3/10/10
    Since 2004, University at Buffalo anthropologist Ezra Zubrow has worked intensively with teams of scientists in the Arctic regions of St. James Bay, Quebec, and northern Finland, to understand how humans living 4,000 to 6,000 years ago reacted to climate changes. Their findings will tell governments, scientists and NGOs how relationships between human beings and their environments may change in decades to come as a result of global warming.
  • Ancient Texts Present Mayans As Literary Geniuses
    3/5/10
    Literary critics, cultural scholars and aficionados of the Mayans, the only fully literate people of the pre-Columbian Americas, have lined up to call the first fully illustrated survey of two millennia of Mayan texts assembled by award-winning scholar Dennis Tedlock, "stunning," "astounding," "groundbreaking" and "literally breathtaking."
  • Taxing Junk Food Could Stem Obesity Better Than Subsidizing Healthy Food, Study Shows
    3/2/10
    One way to stem the rising rates of obesity may be to mimic the successful approach used to decrease smoking: taxes.
  • Low-Wage Earners Are the Focus of the Latest Policy Brief by UB Regional Institute
    2/24/10
    From cashiers to child care workers, low-wage jobs are filling a growing segment of the Western New York economy, placing more and more Western New Yorkers on the brink of poverty, according to a policy brief released today by the UB Regional Institute.
  • Hypnosis Can Help Control Pain Among Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer, UB Researcher Finds
    2/24/10
    Hypnosis can help alleviate the pain and suffering experienced by women being treated for breast cancer, according to a study by a University at Buffalo School of Social Work professor.
  • Law Dean to Speak Against Homophobia During Week-long African Trip
    2/12/10
    Internationally renowned human rights scholar and activist Makau W. Mutua, dean of the University at Buffalo Law School, will deliver public lectures on sexual orientation and human rights during a week-long trip to Africa. He will depart Saturday, Feb. 13, to travel to Nairobi, Kenya, and Kampala, Uganda. He will return to the U.S. on Saturday, Feb. 20.
  • UB Regional Institute, Border Policy Research Institute of Western Washington University Release 'Border Barometer' Measuring Economic Trends Along U.S.-Canadian Border
    2/11/10
    An analysis released today of economic activity along the U.S.-Canadian border likely reflects the impact of economic recession and tighter border controls, as the value of trade between the two nations dropped 9 percent in 2008 and auto and truck traffic declined nearly 5 percent.
  • UB Geographers Help Map Devastation in Haiti
    2/8/10
    In the wake of the earthquake in Haiti, University at Buffalo geography students are participating in a global effort to enhance the international response and recovery effort by helping to assess damage, using images hosted by Google Earth and the Virtual Disaster Viewer, which shares imagery of disasters from various sources.
  • Residence Hall to Be Named for William R. Greiner
    2/2/10
    The University at Buffalo will name its newest and most innovative residence hall after William R. Greiner, who devoted 42 years of service to the institution as president, provost and longtime Law School faculty member
  • Carter to Step Down as Dean of Architecture and Planning
    1/29/10
    Brian Carter announced today that he will step down as dean of the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning after more than seven years in the post. He will devote more time to design research and practice as a member of the school's faculty.