Faculty invited to participate in Purdue COVID-19 Social Science Research Pop-Up Lab sessions

Purdue faculty are being invited to join the Purdue COVID-19 Social Science Research Pop-Up Lab to connect virtually with colleagues across campus who want to explore emerging research topics around the social, political and economic implications of the current pandemic. The first session is scheduled for 11 a.m.-noon Friday (April 10).

The initiative is being organized by the College of Liberal Arts and Krannert School of Management The sessions primarily will focus on:

• Identifying the appropriate research questions (problem definition).
• Discussing emerging pieces of evidence and analysis.
• Brainstorming data sources.
• Developing strategies of analysis.
• Considering potential funding sources.

Individual participants who want to join a team to further explore a session’s topic should follow up with the discussion leader. Those interested faculty will be invited to join a Microsoft Teams group, where discussions and planning on next steps for organizing systematic inquiry on the topic can be developed. A convener (a single person or a small group of people) will lead a discussion on a topic.

The initiative will kick off Friday with a discussion on “COVID-19 and the Food Supply Chain. What's Happening? What are the Research Questions?” The discussion will be led by Jayson Lusk, department head and Distinguished Professor of Agricultural Economics, and Ananth Iyer, professor of supply chain management and senior associate dean in the Krannert School of Management.

Faculty will attend through WebEx (meeting number: 611 845 589; password: Boiler123).

Subsequent sessions will be on Friday mornings and will take place on a weekly basis as interest continues. Information will be sent by email through the Office of the Provost and shared through Purdue Today.

To submit a topic, convene a session, or get more information, email CLADean@Purdue.edu.