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The Institute is a community of researchers dedicated to analyzing complex problems at the interface of biology and society and training the next generation of cross-disciplinary thinkers.
Recently at ISG
- Danielle Carr Research Featured in the New York Times
Danielle’s Carr research has been featured in the “Big Tech Wants Direct Access to Our Brains” article in the NYT. - Danielle Carr, Educational Innovation Recipient of the 2026 Life Sciences Excellence Awards
Congratulations to Danielle Carr for the Educational Innovation recognition of the 2026 Life Sciences Excellence Awards, recognizing outstanding achievement, innovation, and leadership across our community. - Faculty Mentor Award Winners; Nanibaa’ A. Garrison, Bharat Venkat and Valerie Tornini
Congratulations to Nanibaa’ A. Garrison, Bharat Venkat and Valerie Tornini who have been awarded the Faculty Mentor Award for exceptional dedication to mentoring undergraduate researchers.
The Institute’s Index
Featured Projects
Students in the Human Biology and Society major at UCLA complete an original research project at the intersection of biology and society in just 10 weeks. Students in Winter and Spring 2020 completed this project remotely during the COVID19 pandemic, and finished them during some of the largest protests against police violence in US history. To view their projects, click here.
Spotlight
Avantika Aggarwal, Hanna Boughanem & Saanvi Rai (HBS, ’25)
This Fall’s 108 Capstone projects have showcased remarkable creativity, collaboration, and impact. We are proud to spotlight Avantika Aggarwal, Hanna Boughanem and Saanvi Rai for their stand out project In the Grey Zone: Doctoring Post-Dobbs.
Student Research Projects
How Sympathy Struck — A Study of American Public Opinion on Eugenics Surrounding WWII
This project zooms in on how the public’s opinion of eugenics changed over the course of the war by following the discussion around eugenics and Nazi Germany through New York Times articles spanning from 1930-1950.
The Promise of a Cure: An Analysis of the Social Construction of Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease
This Capstone project explores the social construction of science through the contradictory narrative of the SCD gene therapy CASGEVY.
Media, Mistrust, and the Genome: How Media Shapes Public Perceptions of Genetic Data Collection
This project examines how media narratives shape public trust, participation, and ethics in genetics research, highlighting historical injustices and pathways to rebuilding trust.
Genes on Trial: MAOA-L, The Legal Interpretation of Behavioral Genetics
This paper examines how behavioral genetic evidence has been used in criminal cases to shape ideas of violence, intent, and legal responsibility.
Fear, Identity, Obsession – How Contemporary Media Reflects and Shapes Genetic “Common Sense”
This project examines how contemporary media, from advertising and entertainment to politics and gaming, shapes modern “common sense” about genetics.