Two From Duke Named Guggenheim Fellows
Studying social media 'echo chambers' and the diversity of mouse lemurs
Two members of the Duke faculty have been awarded 2018 Guggenheim Fellowships by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.
Sociologist Christopher Bail will spend six months conducting a study designed to disrupt social media ‘echo chambers.’
Bail is the Douglas and Ellen Lowey Associate Professor of sociology and public policy at Duke. His research looks at how nonprofit organizations and others shape public opinion about controversial social issues. In particular, he looks at how organizations use digital platforms to reach new and broaden existing audiences. He is the author of “Terrified: How Anti-Muslim Organizations Became Mainstream.”
Biologist Anne Yoder will be pursuing a sabbatical project entitled “Building and Saving Trees in Madagascar.” Using a field laboratory in a relatively unspoiled dry forest in northwestern Madagascar, she will be trying to better understand speciation in mouse lemurs and build a better “family tree” for the animals.
Yoder is the Braxton Craven Professor of Evolutionary Biology and outgoing director of the Duke Lemur Center.
This year’s 173 Guggenheim Fellows were chosen from a group of almost 3,000 applicants. They will receive six months of support. This year’s class of fellows includes scholars, artists, and scientists who have been recognized for their prior achievements and exceptional promise.