No Democracy, No Discovery: why science needs freedom

Democracy and science share a common foundation: both depend on community and are strengthened when people with different perspectives come together. Nowhere is this more evident than in the study of dogs, our furry companions for the last 20,000 years. Join me as I share my collaborative work on woolly dogs, an extinct breed once kept by the Coast Salish Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest. By working together as a community, we not only uncover the science behind this remarkable animal but illuminate the complexity and ingenuity of Coast Salish culture - a reminder that the best discoveries, like democracy itself, are built by many hands.

Our minds inhabit an increasingly digital world. Processes that are central to who we are as human beings - like building relationships, solving problems, and processing emotions - often play out on digital platforms. It is important that we understand how these platforms shape our processes, and democratic values are essential to that effort. My own research in this area explores the use of digital media to manage moods, and the ways digital media habits might help or inhibit the development of health emotion regulation skills.