Inside Out

A REAL YET RANDOM, PLAYFUL YET SERIOUS SPIN AROUND CAMPUS— AND JUST BEYOND

BY VALERIA VELASQUEZ ’23

BACK-TO-BACK DIRECTORS’ CUP FINALISTS

EXCITING NEWS from the athletics department: for the second year in a row, Tufts University has placed among the top two nationally in the Learfield Directors’ Cup! Tufts has a strong tradition of excelling in Division III sports, with multiple top place and finalist finishes across a variety of fields (see what we did there?). In 2022, Tufts won the Learfield Directors’ cup for the NCAA Division III, which is awarded to the athletic program with the broadest participation and achievement during the postseason, and in 2023 we came in second while beating our score from the previous year. These achievements are a reflection of the incredible work that Jumbo athletes put into their efforts on and off the field, as well as the support that coaches provide for them to be both a student and an athlete while at Tufts.

RESEARCH COMES FULL CIRCLE AT TISCH

THE JONATHAN M. TISCH College of Civic Life is home to various research groups centered on civic engagement and citizenship that bring together undergraduate researchers from multiple disciplines. One such group is the Center for Information Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), a non-partisan organization focused on youth voter participation. CIRCLE utilizes its research to promote the civic engagement of young people and the elimination of systemic barriers that keep marginalized peoples and youth voices underrepresented. Some of CIRCLE’s research areas include broadening the youth vote, the impact of K–12 civic education on youth voting, and understanding youth attitudes and beliefs.

EXCOLLEGE COURSE: THE KARDASHIANS: QUEENS OF AMERICAN CULTURE

TUFTS’ EXCOLLEGE invites visiting lecturers and undergraduate students to teach classes on innovative topics or ultra-niche subjects: the sky’s the limit! In Spring 2023, sociology student Ryan Siblis taught a class titled The Kardashians: Queens of American Culture. This course focuses on the multi-mogul family of the Kardashians, who have been mainstays of American pop culture for more than a decade. In particular, this class investigates the Kardashian’s branding strategies, their impact on beauty standards, and their reputation with cultural appropriation through sociological and cultural analysis.

PROFESSOR, LEADER, ARCHITECT, ARTIST: THE NEW DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT and long-time educator Scheri Fultineer is the new Dean of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA at Tufts). She believes in the importance of entrepreneurial preparation and encourages students to approach problems by exploring nuances and examining ethics. With her passion for interdisciplinary learning and zest for creating art that catalyzes, Fultineer is excited to continue and expand SMFA’s tradition of artistic innovation.

ENGINEERING WEARABLE BIOPOLYMERS

RESEARCHERS at Tufts’ School of Engineering recently developed a wearable biopolymer sensor that detects toxins and pathogens including a COVID-causing virus, a growth receptor factor that indicates breast cancer, and the food-borne toxin botulinum neurotoxin B. They collaborated with SilkLab, a research lab that is focused on sustainable biomaterials and works to advance their application in technology, science, and art.

T-TRIPODS

INTERESTED IN CUTTING-EDGE data science research that is centered on benefitting society? T-TRIPODS is the perfect institution to explore these interests! Overseen by the Tufts Data Intensive Studies Center and part of the National Science Foundation’s Transdisciplinary Research in Principles of Data Science (TRIPODS), T-TRIPODS is an effort to explore the theories and principles of data science and apply them to real-world problems. The project is an interdisciplinary undertaking that brings together computer scientists, mathematicians, data scientists, electrical engineers, and other specialists in a mutual effort to educate communities about the transformative power of data science.