Research from Around the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
Posted March 17, 2025
Research from Around the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
From highlighting science fiction’s role in innovation to examining the emotional toll that Covid-19 took on assisted living center employees, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts experts have been hard at work expanding our knowledge of the world and the impact of technology on people and society. Here are a few of their recent contributions:
Media and Communication: Science Fiction’s Innovation Role
Science fiction fans have long known that the genre’s best artists imagine a range of possible futures by carefully studying and logically extrapolating from the scientific and social trends of their own historic moment. A special edition of the journal Technovation, co-edited by Regents’ Professor Lisa Yaszek (Literature, Media, and Communication), examines how the genre, sometimes known as “SF,” now “has transcended its traditional entertainment function to become a significant resource for strategic foresight, ethical deliberation, and organizational creativity.” The research pieces included in the journal “argue for the incorporation of SF into interdisciplinary research agendas and organizational practices, stressing that its transformative potential hinges on addressing the ethical, cultural, and power dynamics that shape real-world outcomes.” Yaszek’s co-authored introduction is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2025.103172.
Healthcare Policy: Medication Upkeep Among Released Inmates
Many former prison inmates face difficulties staying on medications for chronic conditions after they return to the community, according to a new JAMA Network Open study co-authored by Cici McNamara (Economics). In the paper, “Continuity of Prescription Medication Use Among Adults Leaving State Prison,” the researchers found that only 51.7% of those receiving medications for chronic conditions in prison continued their prescriptions within six months after release, despite being enrolled in Medicaid. The researchers found that one thing mattered more than anything else when it came to how well former inmates stuck with their prescriptions: an outpatient visit within 60 days. These findings suggest that effective transitional care should emphasize connecting former inmates with outpatient clinicians. Providing insurance and initial medication supplies are also crucial, they say. The paper is available at https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.61982.
Healthcare Policy: Covid-19’s Emotional Toll on Assisted Living Center Employees
The Covid-19 pandemic took an emotional toll on many people, but it especially may have affected assisted living center employees, according to a new study authored by Yaqi "Sam" Yuan (History and Sociology). For the paper, published in Social Science & Medicine, the research team interviewed employees at a private assisted living facility in Oregon. The study found that employees emotionally struggled as they worked to enforce pandemic safety measures while simultaneously providing compassionate care to residents. The study calls for new strategies to better support both staff and residents in long-term care settings. The paper is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.117803.
Energy Policy: Location Matters When It Comes to Energy Assistance, Study Shows
A new study in Local Environment, co-authored by Michelle Graff (Public Policy), finds that millions of low-income U.S. households live too far from energy assistance offices to easily apply in person. In fact, only 6% live within close walking distance to such an office, where staff help households enroll in programs that offset heating and electricity costs. The study finds these gaps in access create significant barriers for vulnerable populations, particularly those with limited transportation options. The authors urge policymakers to expand service coverage and improve outreach, ensuring that assistance reaches those who need it most. The paper, “The Local Context of Energy Assistance: Exploring Spatial Associations Between Community Characteristics and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Facilities,” is available at https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2025.2467389.
Energy Policy: Solar, Battery Storage, Require Significant Adaptation from Electrical System
As rooftop solar panels and home battery storage become more common, they are reshaping the way electricity is generated, stored, and used. A new book chapter by Matthew E. Oliver (Economics) explores the economic challenges of integrating these distributed energy resources into the power grid. While such sources offer clean, low-cost electricity, they also create complications. Solar panels generate power only when the sun is shining, disrupting supply-demand balance and traditional utility business models. Home batteries help manage these fluctuations, but costs and market rules affect how widely they are adopted. Oliver emphasizes that to integrate distributed energy sources effectively, the entire electricity system must adapt, including generation, transmission, and distribution systems. Oliver’s study recommends updating market structures, rethinking regulations, and developing financial incentives that encourage both grid stability and widespread distributed energy adoption. Oliver’s chapter, “The Economics of Integrating Distributed Energy Resources Into the Electricity System,” was published in Distributed Generation — Pioneering the Future of Decentralized Energy. It is available at https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.1009105.
IAC Communications used AI tools to collect, analyze, or generate information contained in this article.
