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From deepfakes and malign propaganda to conspiracy theories and anti-science movements, disinformation is a growing threat to our society. Visiting Kosciuszko Foundation Fellow, Fulbright Professor and IBS Research Scholar, Kacper Gradon, researches disinformation and how to best counteract its repercussions. Gradon will discuss his research at our upcoming IBS Speaker Series on March 31.

• Who: Kacper Gradon, Ph.D., D.Sc. Associate Professor of Security and Crime Science at the University College London (UCL), Associate Professor of Cybersecurity at Warsaw University of Technology
• When: Monday, March 31 from 12 – 1 p.m. MT (discussion to follow)
• Where: Richard Jessor Building, Room 155 or via Zoom (email ibs-contact@colorado.edu for passcode)
• Field: Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, Security and Crime Science

Gradon’s talk will showcase potential solutions aimed at the prevention, interdiction, and mitigation of disinformation. Recent political events in the United States have exacerbated the threat of disinformation and distrust in research. These events include the withdrawal of the U.S. from the World Health Organization, the rising role and power of Big Tech Executives in the Federal Government, the liquidation of fact-checking safeguards on social media, and the disruptive potential of Artificial Intelligence (deep fakes). Gradon will not only discuss ways to prevent and combat disinformation but also propose the creation of the interdisciplinary Working Group of Disinformation Prevention at the Institute of Behavioral Science.

The IBS Speaker Series is open to all CU Boulder faculty, staff, and students as well as the public. This talk is hosted by the Prevention Science Program at the Institute of Behavioral Science. 

This talk is specifically of interest for people who:

1. Are concerned about current political events and their impact on research and academia. 
2. Want to find solutions to restoring trust in research with the public. 
3. Are interested in cybersecurity, data science, artificial intelligence or crime science.

Gradon is the World Health Organization Global Infodemic Manager, Fulbright Senior Award Scholar, and the recipient of The Kosciuszko Foundation Fellowship. His area of expertise is disinformation, hybrid and information warfare, Generative Artificial Intelligence applications in security, human-centric dimensions of cybersecurity, and Future Crimes. He has been a frequent consultant of law enforcement agencies and intelligence institutions worldwide. He presented at over 200 conferences on all continents and is a triple TED(x) speaker. Gradon has held visiting professorships at CU Boulder, University College London, John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY), University of Southern California, University of Greenwich, Memorial University of Newfoundland and at law-enforcement academies, such as the Portland Police Department Training Division and Indian National Police Academy in Hyderabad. At CU Boulder, Gradon is pursuing his research in the application of crime prevention programs to the detection and mitigation of disinformation campaigns.

Learn more about Gradon’s research: 

A new initiative led by archaeologists and Indigenous scholars is calling for more respectful care of human remains and burial items housed in museums and research institutions. The effort emphasizes the importance of treating these ancestral remains with dignity rather than storing them in plastic bags or boxes. The group laid out its approach in a paper published this month in the journal Advances in Archaeological Practice. Assistant Professor of Sociology, IBS Affiliate, and archaeology curator at the CU museum, William Taylor, was the senior author for the paper. He highlights how current practices often disregard the cultural and spiritual significance of these remains, and how the initiative aims to promote more culturally sensitive approaches.

A new study co-authored by CU Boulder sociology professor David Pyrooz reveals that 7% of the U.S. population have witnessed a mass shooting. The research, based on a nationally representative survey of over 44,000 Americans, also found that people who have experienced mass shootings are more likely to suffer from psychological distress and hold more negative views of police. Pyrooz shared about his research with Science Writer for CU Boulder Today, Lisa Marshall. He emphasized the importance of understanding the broader societal consequences of mass shootings for victims and communities.

The CU Boulder-led Balancing the Components of a Comprehensive School Safety Framework, published through the National Institute of Justice, offers evidence-based strategies to enhance safety in K-12 schools. The report was led by Sarah Goodrum, research professor in the Prevention Science Program and director of the Violence Prevention Project, as well as Beverly Kingston, Sabrina Arredondo Mattson, Susanne Argamaso, Amanda Matthews, and Jody Witt. Goodrum sat down with Science Writer Lisa Marshall to discuss what insights can be taken from the report and how it makes an impact on school safety.

It’s been three years since Russia launched an attack on Ukraine. President Trump believes negotiations are on the horizon. But Ukraine has not been invited to participate in these negotiations. Sarah Wilson Sokhey, associate professor of political science and fellow at the Institute of Behavioral Science, studies the politics of post-communist European countries and recently hosted a multi-semester long Ukrainian Justice Series. She sat down with CUBT’s Jennifer Soules and Nicholas Gouda to discuss these new relationship dynamics under Trump.

In the summer of 2024, Bangladesh underwent a dramatic transformation sparked by student protests against a reinstated job quota system. What began as demonstrations led by Students Against Discrimination quickly escalated into a nationwide movement demanding democratic reforms. Following a brutal government crackdown, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country. A transitional government has taken place, with a new National Citizens’ Party forming six months later. Musabber Ali Chisty, a PhD student in Sociology and IBS affiliate, reflects on the new direction of democracy for Bangladesh in a recent op ed.

For many small farms in biodiverse areas, balancing economic survival with forest conservation is a daily challenge. Savannah Lehnert, a Ph.D. student in environmental studies at CU Boulder and Institute of Behavioral Science (IBS) research assistant, aims to help farmers balance economic and environmental sustainability through the IBS Training Program Fall Small Grant Award. The $1,500 award will fund preliminary fieldwork and language training essential for her research. 

“I hope to contribute to conservation efforts by generating a better understanding of different mechanisms that can be used to support people’s livelihoods and wildlife within agroforestry systems. Because agriculture intensification is occurring globally, this research is highly relevant to agroforestry systems elsewhere.” 

The small grant will help Lehnert achieve three research objectives:

1. Achieve Brazilian Portuguese language proficiency via a two week in-situ language school.
2. Establish a network of collaborations with local landowners and with scientists at the Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC) in Bahia, Brazil. 
3. Scout potential field site locations within cacao farms that implement different management strategies. 

Southern Bahia in Brazil produces half of the country’s raw cacao. It is also home to a large portion of the Atlantic Forest, one of 35 biodiversity hotspots in the world. The majority of Bahian cacao is grown by smallholder farmers in traditional agroforestry systems called ‘cabrucas’, in which cacao plants are grown under native Atlantic Forest canopy. 

Due to market pressures, many cacao farmers are intensifying production by removing native trees that provide habitat for rare and endangered species. Given that only 12% of the original Atlantic Forest biome remains, it is crucial to find a balance between economic and environmental sustainability. 

“I seek to understand how a combination of different on-farm management strategies and forms of external support (e.g., enrollment in certification programs) can be employed to optimize both biodiversity and economic farm outcomes,” says Lehnert. “Strategies for conservation need to be developed that go hand in hand with economic security for local landowners and managers.”

Lehnert has been passionate about protecting biodiversity and wild places since childhood. She was initially drawn to environmental science for its “Indiana Jones” appeal and allure of being able to travel to remote places. 

“Since then, I have found larger appeal in conservation biology and environmental studies because these disciplines tend to consider environmental problems within the context of social and economic issues, which I believe produce solutions that are more tailored to the real world,” says Lehnert.

One real world component in Lehnert’s research is an emphasis on compassion and support for the locals who live in biodiverse areas. These individuals depend on the land for their family’s survival. Lehnert warns long-term gains in conservation cannot be made without sustaining locals’ economic and social livelihoods. In addition, Lehnert encourages us to better understand the consequences of our purchasing power. 

“The truth is that as consumers in a globalized economy, we are all a part of a system that drives deforestation in biodiverse regions such as the Amazon and the Atlantic Forest,” says Lehnert. “As consumers with buying power, especially from Global North countries which largely drive demand, it is a responsibility to be literate, or at least aware, about where our food comes from and the consequences of those purchasing decisions.”

After graduation, Lehnert would like to work as a researcher or consultant for a conservation, biology-oriented non-profit in Latin America. A longer-term dream of Lehnert’s is to open a research station in the Chocó region of South America. She has deep emotional ties to this biodiverse hotspot, which faces a myriad of threats. Lehnert hopes to contribute to the region’s conservation in a way that is socially sustainable. 

For aspiring graduate students, Lehnert advises taking time off to gain perspective on your research. 

“Even if your interests don’t change, your understanding of how you and your work fits into the bigger picture will be better situated,” says Lehnert. “I took three years in between my undergraduate degree and my master’s degree, and again between my master’s and PhD program, and am very grateful for that time in giving me greater perspective.”

With the backing of the IBS Training Program grant, Lehnert is one step closer to making a lasting impact in both environmental conservation and economic sustainability for farmers. Her work in Brazil will help biodiversity thrive amidst human modified landscapes and ensure farmers receive the support they need to be both sustainable and economically prosperous.

When a supervisor expresses gratitude for employees in a way that the employee prefers, that employee will participate more at work. This is according to a recent study from CU Boulder Professor of Organizational Leadership and Information Analytics (OLIA), Dejun “Tony” Kong. Kong will discuss his new research at our upcoming IBS Speaker Series on March 3.  

Who: Dejun “Tony” Kong, Associate Professor at Leeds School of Business, Director of OLIA PhD Program, and Faculty Director of the Leadership Certificate Program

When: Monday, March 3 from 12 – 1 p.m. MT

Where: Richard Jessor Building, Room 155 or via Zoom (email ibs-contact@colorado.edu for passcode)

Field: Organizational Leadership and Information Analytics (OLIA), Business Administration

 “Feeling appreciated is integral to developing and sustaining high-quality relationships, but many employees do not feel appreciated at work,” – Tony Kong

For his talk, Kong will share his risk regulation model (RRM) showing the relationships among supervisor gratitude expression, employee felt appreciation, and employee voice at work. Kong and his team performed a systemic analysis using an inductive multi-step process with pilot studies. They then tested their model with 124 supervisor-employee dyads. Kong will discuss the theoretical and practical applications of his findings.

The IBS Speaker Series is open to all CU Boulder faculty, staff, and students as well as the public. This talk is hosted by the Health and Society Program at the Institute of Behavioral Science. 

This talk is specifically of interest for people who:

1. Want to understand how to better connect with teammates or collaborators
2. Want to better connect with employees and boost team moral
3. Are interested in organizational leadership, team dynamics, information analytics, or relationships

Kong is a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and a top 2 percentile scientist (based on single years) in the world (ranked by Elsevier BV and Stanford University). He is also a Poets & Quants 40-under-40 Best Business Professor (2019). He has published nearly 70 journal articles, many of which appear in top journals in Management and Psychology, and 1 co-edited book. His research addresses the following overarching question: How can we enable people to be more prosocial (to promote others or collective interests)? To address this question, he focuses on three streams of research: (1) fostering individuals’ positive experiences, (2) fostering excellent organizational systems, and (3) fostering a high-trust society. He has received many awards for his research, teaching, and service. He is an associate editor of the Journal of Management and the Journal of Organizational Behavior. In 2024, he was elected to be Program Chair-Elect (a five-year leadership track) of the Academy of Management’s Conflict Management Division. 

Learn more about Kong’s research: 

On February 23 1945, during the Battle of Iwo Jima, 20-year-old Marine and future IBS co-founder, Richard Jessor witnessed the iconic flag-raising on Mount Suribachi. After days of intense combat and personal injury from shrapnel, Jessor recalls the profound impact of seeing the American flag hoisted atop the mountain, a moment that bolstered the morale of U.S. forces and symbolized a turning point in the battle. Read more about Jessor’s recount of the flag raising with Bradley Worrell for CU Boulder’s College of Arts and Sciences Magazine.