Why Public Engagement?

As citizens and as scholars, we have an interest in today’s debates about public policy, conversations about the state of the world, and imagining a different future. Read more about the Public Engagement Projects' Mission and Vision

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Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, 2025 PEP Fellow, was part of a research team that found “very low-certainty evidence” to support the belief that nicotine vaping is a gateway to cigarette smoking for young people

The research team found “very low-certainty evidence” to support the belief that nicotine vaping is a gateway to cigarette smoking for young people. And because smoking rates among young people are down, Hartmann-Boyce says it’s also possible to interpret the findings that vaping can reduce the rates of smoking. Read more here and here

Paul M. Collins, 2015 PEP Fellow, is quoted in an article about President Donald Trump’s actions during the early days of his second term, including an executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship

“The idea that a president is authorized to unilaterally reinterpret an amendment [to the U.S. Constitution] is a crazy legal theory,” Collins says. “I think the courts will ultimately reject it, but I would not be surprised if some of Trump’s first-term justices support it.”
Read more here

Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, 2024 PEP Fellow, has additional coverage of a review she co-led which found incentives are successful methods for smoking cessation

Additional coverage highlights a review co-led by Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, which found that rewards and financial incentives are effective tools for helping people quit smoking. The study reinforces the role of behavioral and financial motivation in smoking cessation efforts, offering valuable insights for public health initiatives. Read more here and here

Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, 2024 PEP Fellow, has additional coverage of a new study she co-led which reviewed the most effective strategies to use to quit vaping

Jamie Hartmann-Boyce is receiving additional coverage for a study she co-led, which examines various strategies for quitting vaping. The study provides valuable insights into evidence-based methods that can help individuals successfully stop vaping, contributing to ongoing public health efforts. Read more here and  here

Erica Scharrer, 2017 PEP Fellow, has co-authored new research finding that persistent news coverage of school shootings can take a significant toll on teenagers’ mental health

Erica Scharrer has co-authored new research finding that persistent news coverage of school shootings can take a significant toll on teenagers’ mental health and that cognitive coping strategies may inadvertently exacerbate stress rather than alleviate it. “We were so sad to learn this. It went exactly against what we had hypothesized,” Scharrer says. The research examined the May 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas as a case study. Read more here and here
 

Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, 2024 PEP Fellow, has continued covergae of a new study she co-led which reviews the best strategies to quit vaping

Jamie Hartmann-Boyce co-led a groundbreaking study that reviews the most effective strategies to help individuals quit vaping. The research provides critical insights into evidence-based methods for breaking nicotine dependence, addressing a growing public health concern as vaping continues to rise, particularly among young adults. This continuing coverage highlights practical solutions and the study's implications for health policy and cessation programs worldwide. Read more here and here

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In appreciation of their generous support, the UMass Public Engagement Project would like to thank the Office of the ProvostUniversity Relations, and the Colleges of Natural SciencesSocial and Behavioral Sciences Humanities and Fine ArtsEngineeringPublic Health and Health Sciences, and Education.  The UMass Public Engagement Project also recognizes and appreciates in-kind contributions and collaborations with the Center for Research on Families and the Institute for Social Science Research