What works best to teach children in our schools? How does pollution affect public health? Why is economic inequality on the rise? These are just some of the big and important questions researchers try to answer every day. But all too often, their findings don't actually help usher in improvements in the lives of people. Why not? The William T. Grant Foundation's Vivian Tseng shares the history of research use in U.S. education policy, how a new approach to research can improve connections between scholars and policymakers, and what further changes are needed to make research matter.

For more on this topic:

• Read Vivian's blog post about evidence use across sectors and around the globe
• Find her paper with Professor Cynthia Coburn on using evidence in the U.S.
• Check out the William T. Grant Foundation's research grants on improving the use of research evidence

Twenty-one years ago this month, a gay University of Wyoming student by the name of Matthew Shepard was brutally murdered. His story brought national attention to anti-LGBT hate crimes and spurred a popular movement for hate crime legislation. Since then, the LGBT community has won major advances and become more visible than ever - but hateful attacks are on the rise. Professor Liz Coston explores why these crimes keep happening, what they look like in 2019, and what can be done to protect and support the LGBT community in the years to come.

For more on this topic:

• Check out Liz's SSN brief, Understanding and Handling Hate Crimes against Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People
• Read the Virginia Commonwealth University's write-up on their research and public outreach

America is the richest country on Earth with some of the most advanced healthcare services you can find. And yet, every year, hundreds of women die during childbirth, an issue that particularly affects black women. One of the potential solutions that's being offered: returning to the centuries old practice of community midwives. Rachel Applewhite lays out what research can tell us about the effectiveness of midwives and doulas, how they help serve communities left behind by our healthcare system, and what can be done to expand access to their potentially life-saving services.

For more on this topic:

• Check out the organizations mentioned in the episode: Roots of Labor Birth Collective and Alabama Prison Project
• Read about Professor Monica McLemore's research mentioned in the episode

Despite an ongoing impeachment inquiry, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has been signaling that a new trade deal with Mexico and Canada is in the final stages of negotiations, and Congress could be ready for a vote in the near future. In this archive episode, Professor Alyshia Gálvez dives into the often overlooked consequences of this trade agreement on food and health in both the U.S. and Mexico.

For more on this topic:

• Check out Alyshia's SSN brief, How the North American Free Trade Agreement Contributed to Health Setbacks in Mexico
• Read her book, Eating NAFTA: Trade, Food Policies, and the Destruction of Mexico

With a global climate strike on September 20th and waves of protests surrounding the UN summit on climate change, public interest in science seems to be on the rise. And scientists are answering the call, with more researchers than ever taking to social media to share their work with the public and each other. Professor Sara Yeo discusses how different audiences perceive science communication, the ways in which emotions can factor into it, and how scientists can make the most of engaging online.

For more on this topic:

• Check out Sara's SSN brief, Adapting Science Communication to the Changing Media Landscape
• Read her pieces for The Scientists and The London School of Economics blog on academics' use of social media

America's schools are supposed to treat all students fairly. But we know that all too often, black students face racial discrimination, stigma, and stereotypes in their schools. And for black girls in particular, that can be compounded by their gender as well. Professor Seanna Leath explains how do these experiences affect the lives and development of black girls, what broader stereotypes and stigmas exist around mental health for black women, and what can be done to improve the situation.

For more on this topic:

• Read Seanna's SSN brief, How the Expectation of Strength Harms Black Girls and Women

Memphis, Baltimore, and Detroit. East Cleveland, Ohio, and Wilkinson, Pennsylvania. Black cities are on the rise. In 1970, Black people made up a majority of 460 cities and towns across the United States. Forty-seven years later, the number of majority Black municipalities is up to 1,262. Dr. Andre Perry discusses what is driving this increase, why black cities and black neighborhoods have been devalued, and how America can do right by these places.

For more on this topic:

• Check out his Brookings Institution reports, The Rise of Black-Majority Cities and The Devaluation of Assets in Black Neighborhoods
• Read his column for The Hechinger Report

Climate change is threatening our world, that much is becoming more and more apparent every year. And often it seems like little is happening on a policy level to address this impending crisis. But, in 2008, a group of states in the Northeast managed what seemed nearly impossible. They put in place a robust, multi-state system to put a price on carbon. Professor Leigh Raymond explains how they were able to overcome obstacles that have doomed so much other climate policy, how exactly this system works, and what lessons can be learned for other climate proposals.

For more on this topic:

• Check out Raymond's SSN brief, Building Political Support for Carbon Pricing
• Read his book, Reclaiming the Atmospheric Commons

For many people, regular visits to the dentist are little more than a necessary inconvenience. But in lower-income communities, access to dental care can be all but nonexistent - with serious consequences for public health. Professor Donald Chi lays out how a single childhood cavity can lead to a lifetime of problems, why so many people struggle to access even basic dental care, and what policymakers can do to provide every American with the coverage they need.

For more on this topic:

• Check out Chi's SSN brief, Why Inadequate Dental Care Leads to Escalating Health Problems for Low-Income Americans
• Read Pew's summary of his research on dental therapists
• Find Mary Otto's article in The Washington Post on Deamonte Driver

Back-to-school season is upon us, and back as well are some familiar debates. From charter schools to voucher programs, education in America is becoming more privatized than ever - and some communities are pushing back. Professor Janelle Scott reveals why so many schools are shifting toward privatization, why these reforms are so controversial, and what they mean for inequality in America's education system.

For more on this topic:

• Check out Scott's research paper with Jennifer Holme on this topic (paywall)