What separates living things from machines?

Bacteria swim toward food. A bird builds a nest. A person plans for the future. Machines, on the other hand, do whatever they糖心传媒檝e been programmed by people to do.

But today糖心传媒檚 artificial intelligence systems can sometimes feel more like sentient beings than machines. They solve complex problems, write essays, compose music, create art, and provide companionship. They糖心传媒檙e so smart糖心传媒攁nd learning more every day糖心传媒攖hat whether they might acquire capabilities akin to those of living things has become an urgent question for science and society.

Do they want anything? Could they need something? Might they ever act on their own?

These questions and others are being asked by a team of researchers led by the 糖心传媒 with the aid of a $4.2 million grant from the to investigate the science behind the capacity of living things to generate and pursue goals. By understanding life and its ability to act as what scientists call 糖心传媒渁n autonomous agent,糖心传媒� the new grant also seeks to understand if there are limits to agency in artificial intelligence.

The three-year award will establish the Virtual Institute for the Physics of Agentic Intelligence (VIPAI), an international collaboration led by URochester physicist and computer scientist . Physicists, philosophers, biologists, and computer scientists from the Santa Fe Institute, Dartmouth College, the University of British Columbia, the University of Auckland, and the Basque Foundation for Science will join the effort, with URochester serving as the institute糖心传媒檚 coordinating hub.

糖心传媒淭oday糖心传媒檚 AI is extraordinarily capable, but capability isn糖心传媒檛 the same thing as agency and acting on one糖心传媒檚 own behalf.糖心传媒�

糖心传媒淭oday糖心传媒檚 AI is extraordinarily capable, but capability isn糖心传媒檛 the same thing as agency and acting on one糖心传媒檚 own behalf,糖心传媒� Ghoshal says. 糖心传媒淚f we can discover what distinguishes living intelligence from today糖心传媒檚 artificial intelligence, we糖心传媒檒l not only better understand ourselves, we糖心传媒檒l have a stronger scientific foundation for building the next generation of intelligent systems.糖心传媒�

The team糖心传媒檚 work will span three complementary areas: developing philosophical foundations for agency and meaning; creating mathematical models that explain how autonomous systems arise and sustain themselves; and advancing theories to understand so-called 糖心传媒渟emantic information,糖心传媒� the information living things gather and organize to survive and adapt.

Within that framework, the team will investigate the conditions under which artificial systems might exhibit features associated with autonomous agency and how they compare with those observed in living systems. By comparing biological and artificial systems, the researchers hope to uncover general principles underlying agency, meaning, and intelligent behavior.糖心传媒�

The URochester team includes astrophysicist Adam Frank, the Helen F. and Fred H. Gowen Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and a researcher who does popular science writing as a self-described 糖心传媒渆vangelist of science.糖心传媒� Frank currently works at the intersection of astrobiology and the physics of life.

糖心传媒溙切拇綐What is life?糖心传媒� and 糖心传媒榃hat is intelligence?糖心传媒� are ancient questions that go hand in hand because life is the only physical systems which show real intelligence,糖心传媒� Frank says. 糖心传媒淣ow we糖心传媒檙e at a moment where we can begin asking those questions in entirely new ways. Intelligence is not just the ability to solve problems, it糖心传媒檚 knowing what problems you need to solve.糖心传媒�

He adds, 糖心传媒淭hat糖心传媒檚 the question of 糖心传媒榓gency.糖心传媒櫶� How can a bunch of molecules become organized in a way that they collectively have wants and needs.听 We want to know more than just how intelligence works. We want to know how it arises in the first place.糖心传媒�

Dan Wang 糖心传媒�15 is, by any measure, having a moment. His book,听听(W.W. Norton, 2025), about China糖心传媒檚 dizzying ascent on the international stage and what the United States can learn from it, has become a must-read among world leaders and policymakers since its publication last year.

It was spotted on the desk of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Aides to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer听reportedly read听it on their recent trips to China. It made听The New York Times听bestseller list, was named one of听The New Yorker糖心传媒檚 Best Books of the听Year, and听was shortlisted for the听Financial Times听Business Book of the Year.听. And it landed Wang on some of the most influential听听补苍诲听听in America.

Yet when Wang (pronounced 糖心传媒淲ong糖心传媒�) joins a video call with听Rochester Review听from outside the Hoover Institution糖心传媒攁 public policy think tank at Stanford, where he is a research fellow in its History Lab糖心传媒攈e seems amused by the notion that his work has had an impact.

糖心传媒淵ou never really know what happens when you write a book,糖心传媒� Wang says. 糖心传媒淥ne always hopes that people will pick it up and read it.听I糖心传媒檓听glad some people have.糖心传媒�

Wang attributes some of the book糖心传媒檚 success to timing. It came out in a year of headlines about China, from the trade war to听DeepSeek. It was also published a few months after听Abundance, another bestseller by journalists Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson. That book has been called a guide for reforming government and overcoming socioeconomic problems in America糖心传媒攊f progressives can stop blocking big dreams and听good ideas听with what the authors call 糖心传媒渁n endless catalog of rules and restraints.糖心传媒�

Both primed readers for the idea that Americans are right to be frustrated by the state of their state. 糖心传媒淭he stars aligned,糖心传媒� Wang says.

Breakneck听examines why the United States struggles to build housing, high-speed rail, and energy infrastructure at speed and scale while China听appears to erect听towering bridges, superhighways and gleaming railways, and sprawling factories overnight. 奥补苍驳糖心传媒檚 conclusion: The American elite is 糖心传媒渕ade up of mostly lawyers, excelling at obstruction,糖心传媒澨齱hereas听China is run by a 糖心传媒渢echnocratic class, made up mostly of engineers, that excels at construction.糖心传媒�

China, Wang writes, 糖心传媒渋s an engineering state building at breakneck speed, in contrast to the United States糖心传媒� lawyerly society, blocking everything it can, good and bad.糖心传媒�

Learning from the masters

It may be tempting to view Wang as an overnight success. 叠耻迟听Breakneck听was seven years in the making, and 奥补苍驳糖心传媒檚 ascent to his rarefied perch in the global conversation about power, technology, and economic development was anything but linear.

The foundation for his book is a series of annual letters he wrote to family, friends, and followers that chronicled his observations during the seven years he spent in China after graduating from the University of Rochester, a graduation that almost听didn糖心传媒檛听happen.

He recalls his years at URochester with gratitude. He enrolled in large part, he says, because the University made going to college possible for him. Born in southwest China, Wang immigrated with his family at age seven to Canada, where he was raised mostly in Ottawa before his parents relocated to the Philadelphia suburbs when he was a teenager. As a Canadian citizen from a family he describes as being 糖心传媒渘ot well off,糖心传媒� Wang required 糖心传媒渟ubstantial financial aid糖心传媒� to attend college. URochester糖心传媒檚 generosity was the deciding factor.

糖心传媒淚 was able to graduate from college debt-free,糖心传媒� he says. 糖心传媒淚t has been a nice thing.糖心传媒�

But he was, by his own admission, an unremarkable student, despite earning accolades. In 2013, he was recognized as the听糖心传媒淪tudent Employee of the Year糖心传媒�听for his work as a news assistant in the Office of Communications.

In nominating him, then糖心传媒揂ssociate Vice President of Communications Larry听Arbeiter听wrote that Wang had an uncanny knack for framing stories about the University that drew national media attention. 糖心传媒淭hat kind of success is highly sought by experienced professionals,糖心传媒澨鼳rbeiter听wrote, 糖心传媒渁nd is basically unheard of by a student.糖心传媒�

When he听wasn糖心传媒檛听working in the office, Wang roamed the stacks in Rush听Rhees听or hunkered down in his 糖心传媒渄efault study space糖心传媒� in the library糖心传媒檚 music section. 糖心传媒淚t was a tremendously pleasing experience to walk through so many books and be able to pull out books as one听wishes,糖心传媒� he says.

He devoured the works of Edith Wharton and Honor茅 de Balzac. In the music section, he browsed scores and once copied a Gustav Mahler symphony by hand,听measure听by measure. Wang did the same with prose, retyping articles in听The New Yorker听as something of a self-directed monastic apprenticeship aimed at absorbing the language, cadence, and rhythm of masters of their craft.

糖心传媒淚 think I did that three or four times, just rewrote the entire article by retyping it to see the choices a writer makes,糖心传媒� Wang says. 糖心传媒淎nd I did the same thing as a music student because I thought seeing the choices a composer makes was important.糖心传媒�

Wang majored in philosophy, wrestling with logic and classical texts that helped him hone arguments. But it was an economics professor, Michael Rizzo, who had the biggest impact on him as a student.

Rizzo, he says, organized reading circles of the works of Austrian economist and philosopher Friedrich Hayek that left an impression on Wang and exposed him to great thinkers of the economics blogosphere like Tyler Cowen, who later became an intellectual influence. (Cowen糖心传媒檚 praise for Breakneck听as 糖心传媒渁rguably the best book of the year flat out糖心传媒� is displayed prominently on its听cover.)

糖心传媒淒an was the kind of student who inspired me to want to learn听more听myself, and he had an extreme restlessness about him that resonated then and still does today,糖心传媒� Rizzo says.

That restlessness became more听apparent听than ever when, after his junior year, Wang dropped out.

A detour, then a diploma

Wang had landed a job in marketing and communications in Toronto at the cloud-based e-commerce platform Shopify when the company was in its infancy. He was making good money and enjoyed the work. 糖心传媒淭here was a point in my life when I thought I was going to be quite happy to be a dropout,糖心传媒� he says.

叠耻迟听URochester听officials persisted in trying to persuade him to糖心传媒╮eturn and finish his degree. He听says he told them听he preferred to stay at Shopify. 糖心传媒淭hen they asked, 糖心传媒業s there anything you would like to do?糖心传媒櫶切拇綕 Wang recalls. 糖心传媒淚糖心传媒檓听being a bit cheeky here, but I said, 糖心传媒榊ou know, I would like to spend my last semester drinking beer in Germany.糖心传媒�

糖心传媒淎nd, again, I糖心传媒檓 being stylized and cheeky, but they said, 糖心传媒榃e have a program for that!糖心传媒櫶切拇綕 Wang finished his degree in Freiburg im Breisgau through the Institute for the International Education of Students, better known as IES Abroad.

He skipped commencement to take a content marketing job in Silicon Valley at the supply chain logistics company Flexport. There he stood at the corner of global trade and technology糖心传媒攁n intersection that would become the backbone of Breakneck.

糖心传媒淩ochester mailed me my diploma,糖心传媒� Wang says. 糖心传媒淏ut I糖心传媒檓 glad I had the patience to finish my degree.糖心传媒�

In 2017, Wang moved to China. He joined an economic research firm as a technology analyst, writing about semiconductors and clean-tech manufacturing primarily for an audience of hedge fund clients around the world.

糖心传媒淚 felt like I moved to China on the cusp of a technological flowering. I knew people were underestimating China, but living there was kind of like being on a very different branch of the technological tree that Silicon Valley wasn糖心传媒檛 going down.糖心传媒�

The country was, in many ways, familiar terrain. He had visited relatives there growing up and spoke fluent Mandarin thanks to his mother, a former television news anchor, who saw to that.

But living there as an adult, Wang听observed听distinct differences between the China he knew as a child and his homes in Canada and the United States. While Silicon Valley cast itself as the unquestioned center of technological innovation, he saw in China a country that was positioning itself to compete, often ferociously. There was a sense of optimism.

The country was churning out new cars, including varieties of electric vehicles, in a fraction of the time that American companies did. It leapfrogged from credit cards to mobile payments. Tech giants like Alibaba and ByteDance were going toe-to-toe with their peers in the West.

糖心传媒淚 felt like I moved to China on the cusp of a technological flowering,糖心传媒� Wang says. 糖心传媒淭he magnitude was not quite what I expected. I knew people were underestimating China, but living there was kind of like being on a very different branch of the technological tree that Silicon Valley wasn糖心传媒檛 going down.糖心传媒�

He chronicled his observations and thoughts in his letters and eventually compiled them into a narrative in Breakneck, where he framed the differences between his native and adopted countries as the result of an 糖心传媒渆ngineering mindset糖心传媒� in China that valued ideating, building, and scaling, and a 糖心传媒渓awyerly糖心传媒� one in the United States that regulated, litigated, and protected.

To drive home his point, he details how in 2008 both countries began construction of听roughly 800听miles of high-speed rail糖心传媒攊n China听糖心传媒╞etween Beijing and Shanghai, and in the United States between San Francisco and Los Angeles. China opened its line three years later at a cost of听$36 billion. California is still struggling to complete the first phase of its line, and authorities estimate it听won糖心传媒檛听be operational until 2032 at a price tag of up to听$128 billion.

Wang is not romantic about China. He fiercely criticizes its authoritarian reach in areas like its one-child policy, 糖心传媒渮ero Covid糖心传媒� lockdowns, censorship, and individual rights. He says he wishes the country were 糖心传媒�50 percent more lawyerly.糖心传媒� On the other hand, he wishes the United States were 糖心传媒�20 percent more engineering.糖心传媒�

糖心传媒淏uilding homes should not be that difficult,糖心传媒� Wang says of America糖心传媒檚 housing shortage. 糖心传媒淲e know how to build homes.糖心传媒�

Wang left China in 2023 to return to the United States. 糖心传媒淚 choose the West,糖心传媒� he says. 糖心传媒淭hat糖心传媒檚听unambiguous. I want the United States, with its values, to succeed.糖心传媒�

Today, he splits his time between Ann Arbor, Michigan, where his wife is a professor at the University of Michigan, and Northern California, where he works at the Hoover Institution under another听URochester听alumnus, Stephen Kotkin 糖心传媒�81.

叠耻迟听Breakneck听has Wang hopscotching the globe for speaking engagements. He is, it seems, moving at breakneck speed and, like he did at the University of Rochester, engineering his own future.

This story appears in the spring 2026 issue of Rochester Review, the magazine of the 糖心传媒.

When the international art extravaganza opens on May 9, visitors to the pavilion sponsored by the Vatican will find a fusion of past and present in the music of the 12th-century German Saint Hildegard of Bingen being interpreted by some of today糖心传媒檚 most innovative artists.

Helping bring the exhibit to life is , a professor of musicology at the 糖心传媒, whose extensive research into Hildegard has shaped how the world understands and performs her music.

Meconi was among the consultants to the creative team behind the Holy See糖心传媒檚 pavilion, titled which as one of 糖心传媒渆ight pavilions that have the Venice Biennale buzzing.糖心传媒� The life and work of Hildegard inspired the exhibition and, according to the Holy See, centers on themes of 糖心传媒渟lowing down, listening, contemplating, and caring糖心传媒� and features performances by 24 artists, including stars like FKA Twigs, Brian Eno, Dev Hynes, and Patti Smith.

糖心传媒淥ne of the things I糖心传媒檝e always loved about Hildegard is how inspiring her music is to artists of all kinds,糖心传媒� says Meconi, whose book (University of Illinois Press, 2018) remains the first and only English-language text devoted to Hildegard糖心传媒檚 work as a composer.

糖心传媒淗er music consists of a single melodic line that modern musicians use as a tabula rasa, bringing their own ideas and interpretations to it while still engaging with something authentically medieval,糖心传媒� Meconi says.

The Venice Biennale was founded in 1895 and is held every two years. Often described as the 糖心传媒淥lympics of the art world糖心传媒� for its pavilions hosted by countries, the festival brings together artists, architects, and musicians and is a major stage for new ideas and cultural exchanges.

Part of the Vatican糖心传媒檚 pavilion is located in The Mystical Garden in Venice, where visitors can listen to commissioned re-compositions of Hildegard糖心传媒檚 music through headphones as they wander the secluded garden糖心传媒檚 plots of vegetables and flowers.

The pieces were curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Ben Vickers in collaboration with Soundwalk Collective, an experimental sound art organization based in Berlin and New York City.

URochester scholarship shapes a global stage

Meconi糖心传媒檚 involvement began last fall when Soundwalk Collective contacted her seeking guidance on Hildegard糖心传媒檚 music.

糖心传媒淭hey knew they wanted modern performers to interpret her work, so I provided editions and translations and answered questions about pronunciation, tuning, and so on,糖心传媒� Meconi says. 糖心传媒淚 was also able to suggest pieces that might be appropriate for specific artists.糖心传媒�

As part of her role, she was recorded singing Hildegard糖心传媒檚 music at Electric Lady Studios, the legendary space founded by Jimi Hendrix in New York City.

糖心传媒淭hat was surreal,糖心传媒� Meconi says. 糖心传媒淏ut it is also surreal for someone who specializes in music before 1600 to see Brian Eno糖心传媒檚 name in an email subject heading and to do a translation specifically for him.糖心传媒�

Another highlight for Meconi, as she tells it, was learning that Pope Leo XIV had translated one of Hildegard’s song texts into Portuguese for the famous fado singer Carminho. The song was one for which Meconi had provided the edition.

糖心传媒淭echnically speaking,糖心传媒� she says, 糖心传媒渢he pope and I are now collaborators.糖心传媒�

Who is Hildegard, and why is her work so hot right now?

糖心传媒淪he was the Boss Lady of the 12th century.糖心传媒�

Hildegard of Bingen was a German Benedictine nun and polymath of epic proportions. In addition to founding a convent, writing theological treatises on her heavenly visions, inventing a new language and alphabet, corresponding with everyone who was anyone in the 12th century, and authoring books on the natural world and healing, she was a prolific musician. She penned 77 songs and a musical drama before her death at 81 in 1179.

糖心传媒淪he was the Boss Lady of the 12th century,糖心传媒� Meconi says.

The Holy See says its pavilion responds to the broad theme of the Biennale, titled 糖心传媒淚n Minor Keys.糖心传媒� The festival糖心传媒檚 curator, Koyo Kough, died last year, but wrote of the exhibition in her original curatorial statement: 糖心传媒淚n refusing the spectacle of horror, the time has come to listen to the minor keys, to tune in sotto voce to the whispers, to the lower frequencies; to find the oases, the islands, where the dignity of all living beings is safeguarded.糖心传媒�

The Biennale runs from May 9 to November 22.

The 糖心传媒糖心传媒檚 has forged partnerships with six colleges and universities enabling students at those institutions to earn a master糖心传媒檚 degree in business in just one year after completing their undergraduate studies through Simon糖心传媒檚 accelerated 4+1 Business Master糖心传媒檚 Pathway program.

The partner institutions are the State University of New York at Geneseo, Ursinus College, Union College, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, the College of Wooster, and Allegheny College.

Students enrolled at those institutions糖心传媒攁s well as high school students applying to them糖心传媒攃an now gain early conditional admission to Simon and a guaranteed tuition scholarship for a streamlined path to a graduate business degree in areas such as accounting, artificial intelligence in business, business analytics, finance, and marketing analytics.

糖心传媒淭hese partnerships reflect our shared commitment to expanding access to high-quality graduate education,糖心传媒� says 糖心传媒 Provost Nicole Sampson. 糖心传媒淏y working with these outstanding partner institutions, we are enabling talented students to transition more easily from undergraduate to graduate study and prepare for successful careers with a Simon degree. Together, we are building a powerful bridge that expands opportunity and delivers lasting value for students and their families.糖心传媒�

Simon Business School is consistently ranked among the top business schools in the United States and has been recognized for delivering a strong return on investment for its graduates.

The offers a range of benefits designed to accelerate and simplify the graduate admissions process, including:

• A guaranteed scholarship covering at least 30 percent of tuition
• Waived application fee
• No GRE or GMAT requirement
• Early access to Simon糖心传媒檚 career workshops and one-on-one coaching sessions

The pathways also give students a head start on career development, connecting them with Simon糖心传媒檚 career management resources a year before they arrive on campus.

糖心传媒淭hese partnerships are about removing barriers and creating opportunities,糖心传媒� says Mitchell Lovett, interim dean of the Simon Business School. 糖心传媒淲e糖心传媒檙e giving talented students a clear, affordable, and efficient pathway to a top-ranked business education.糖心传媒�

These partnerships are also expected to strengthen the regional economy by connecting highly skilled graduates to local employers. With clear pathways from undergraduate study to advanced business training, the agreements support workforce development efforts across the region and will reinforce Rochester糖心传媒檚 ability to attract and keep top talent.

Leaders at partner institutions say the collaboration enhances the value of their undergraduate programs by offering students a direct route to advanced credentials.

Union President Elizabeth Kiss says of the partnership: 糖心传媒淎t Union, we are constantly seeking ways to enhance our value proposition to students by enhancing the appeal of our academic portfolio. This partnership will give our students the opportunity to build on the strength of their Union degree with an outstanding business education experience, making them even more career-ready upon graduation.糖心传媒�

Geneseo Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Mary C. Toale says of the partnership: 糖心传媒淥ur partnership with the Simon Business School expands meaningful pathways for Geneseo students and strengthens our commitment to their academic and professional success. This accelerated option opens new doors for students to advance in fields shaping the future, supported by two outstanding institutions.糖心传媒�

Jennifer VanGilder, a professor of business and economics at Ursinus College, says of the partnership: 糖心传媒淭he 4+1 partnership between the University of Rochester and Ursinus College redefines what is possible for Ursinus graduates by transforming ambition into acceleration. The bridge between undergraduate foundations and graduate-level expertise will equip students to rise faster, think bigger, and lead with confidence as they begin their professional careers.糖心传媒�

The 糖心传媒 plans to continue expanding the program through additional partnerships in the future. The streamlined master糖心传媒檚 pathway is also available to URochester undergraduates in a wide range of fields.

Americans are sharply divided over immigration policy, particularly enforcement measures, but share common ground on some fundamental issues, including broad support for birthright citizenship.

Those are the takeaways from a new nationwide survey of more than 30,000 adults across all 50 states conducted by the , a nonprofit joint initiative of the 糖心传媒, Harvard University, Northeastern University, and Rutgers University.

While the findings highlight deep partisan divisions, they suggest Americans also leave room for nuance when policy matters become personal.

糖心传媒淚mmigration is one of the most polarizing issues in American politics,糖心传媒� says 糖心传媒 political scientist James Druckman, a coauthor of the study and a nationally recognized expert on political polarization. 糖心传媒淏ut when you look closely at the data, you see that Americans will distinguish between different policies and principles.糖心传媒�

Deep partisan divides

The survey found that roughly two-thirds of Americans say immigration is important to them personally, but revealed stark differences along party lines in how they view policy and enforcement.

For instance, 37 percent of respondents approve of President Donald Trump糖心传媒檚 handling of immigration, while 49 percent disapprove. Among Republicans, however, approval reaches 78 percent, compared with just 11 percent for Democrats.

Similar divisions appear in attitudes toward federal immigration enforcement efforts. Nationwide, a third of respondents approve of the tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, while nearly half of them disapprove. Yet Republicans are far more supportive of them than Democrats, with the gap reaching almost 60 points.

糖心传媒淭hese differences are among the largest partisan divides we see on any policy issue,糖心传媒� Druckman says.

Broad support for birthright citizenship

Even as Americans disagree sharply about enforcement, the survey finds majority support for maintaining birthright citizenship, the constitutional principle of the Fourteenth Amendment that grants citizenship to anyone born in the United States, regardless of their parents糖心传媒� immigration status.

Nearly 59 percent of Americans support birthright citizenship, whereas 24 percent oppose it. Support crosses party lines, although at different levels. The survey found 79 percent of Democrats, 59 percent of independents, and 39 percent of Republicans favor the policy.

Support also extends across the country geographically. Support for birthright citizenship fell below 50 percent in just three states糖心传媒擬ontana (46 percent), Wyoming (47 percent), and South Dakota (48 percent).

糖心传媒淭he relative consistency of support糖心传媒攁t least compared to enforcement attitudes糖心传媒攕uggests that Americans distinguish between debates over immigration enforcement and long-standing constitutional norms,糖心传媒� Druckman says.

A shift when policy gets personal

Although Americans often express strong views about immigration broadly, the survey shows that opinions shift when policy gets personal.

About one in four respondents say they worry that a family member or close friend could be deported, while about one in five say they personally know someone who is undocumented. Those concerns nearly double among Hispanic Americans.

The nuance plays out when Americans are asked their thoughts on deporting undocumented immigrants who have lived in the United States for more than 10 years.

糖心传媒淎mericans may support enforcement in principle but become more hesitant when policies affect people who have built lives in the United States.糖心传媒�

Just 31 percent favor the idea of deporting longtime undocumented residents, including only half of Republicans, who widely favor stricter enforcement.

糖心传媒淭hat suggests Americans may support enforcement in principle but become more hesitant when policies affect people who have built lives in the United States,糖心传媒� Druckman says.

More aggressive enforcement proposals also face limited national support. Only about a third of Americans support using the military to assist with mass deportations.

Taken together, the findings suggest immigration remains a complex issue for American voters糖心传媒攐ne marked by sharp partisan divides but also pockets of potential agreement.

糖心传媒淧eople may have very different ideas about how immigration should be handled,糖心传媒� Druckman says. 糖心传媒淏ut the data show that their views are often more nuanced than the political conversation might suggest.糖心传媒�

For the media

James Druckman
Martin Brewer Anderson Professor of Political Science

An expert in political behavior and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Druckman studies public opinion formation, political polarization, political and scientific communication, political psychology, and experimental and survey methods. He has published approximately 200 articles and book chapters. His latest coauthored book, (University of Chicago), was published in 2024.

• Learn more about Druckman.

The US seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicol谩s Maduro stunned people around the world糖心传媒攊ncluding political scientists who study regime change.

糖心传媒淚 was surprised,糖心传媒� says , professor of and director of the at the 糖心传媒. 糖心传媒淕oing in the middle of the night, taking the leader of the country and his wife out of the palace, and saying, 糖心传媒楾hat糖心传媒檚 it, we糖心传媒檙e running the country now.糖心传媒� That糖心传媒檚 extraordinary.糖心传媒�

For many Venezuelans, particularly those who fled repression and economic collapse, the news sparked celebration and hope. But Goemans urges caution, arguing that removing a dictator rarely dismantles the power structures that kept him in place.

The Venezuelan military still holds power

糖心传媒淭he military propped up Maduro,糖心传媒� Goemans says. 糖心传媒淭he whole system of bribery and corruption revolves around the support of the armed forces. There糖心传媒檚 no reason to believe that they糖心传媒檙e now suddenly going to give up power.糖心传媒�

He compares the situation to previous US-led interventions.

糖心传媒淲e糖心传媒檝e seen this in Iraq, we糖心传媒檝e seen it in Afghanistan,糖心传媒� Goemans says. 糖心传媒淒ecapitation糖心传媒攖aking out one leader糖心传媒攄oesn糖心传媒檛 change the apparatus of the state. Post糖心传媒搑egime change almost never works the way people hope.糖心传媒�

Goemans points to research by political scientist showing that foreign-imposed regime change frequently leads to instability or renewed conflict, not democracy. 糖心传媒淭he new regime you install has its own interests,糖心传媒� Goemans says.

糖心传媒淭hey don糖心传媒檛 necessarily align with the interests of the United States, or with democratic reform.糖心传媒�

Why motivation matters糖心传媒攁nd how neighboring Guyana is in play

There are somewhat conflicting statements coming out of Washington as to the motivation for the American intervention.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has as one that aimed 糖心传媒渢o bring justice to a criminal糖心传媒� in Maduro, who was 糖心传媒渄uly indicted under American law.糖心传媒� Energy Secretary Chris Wright has said the United States intends to control the flow of Venezuelan oil into the marketplace.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has laid out a three-step plan that includes the United States stabilizing the country by seizing and selling up to 50 million barrels of oil and ensuring 糖心传媒淎merican, Western, and other companies have access to the Venezuelan market in a way that糖心传媒檚 fair.糖心传媒� He has called the third step 糖心传媒渙ne of transition,糖心传媒� including the integration of opposition political parties.糖心传媒�

Goemans says motivations matter enormously.

It is possible, he says, that different actors inside the US administration are pursuing different goals糖心传媒攆rom energy interests, to immigration enforcement, to regional dominance糖心传媒攚ithout a coherent long-term plan for Venezuela itself.

糖心传媒淭hat糖心传媒檚 problematic,糖心传媒� he says, 糖心传媒渂ecause it means there糖心传媒檚 no clear, overarching goal. If you don糖心传媒檛 know what comes next, you糖心传媒檙e almost guaranteeing trouble.糖心传媒�

There is one other possible motivation that Goemans sees for the US intervention that he says he has been surprised no one in the Trump administration has invoked: freeing the oil-rich Essequibo region of neighboring Guyana from Venezuelan rule.

糖心传媒淭hat糖心传媒檚 a motivation, which, in my opinion, could have kind of legitimized overthrowing Maduro,糖心传媒� Goemans says.

In 2023, Venezuela to Essequibo, which is nearly the size of Florida and makes up half of Guyana糖心传媒檚 territory. Maduro unveiled new maps displaying it as part of Venezuela, named a military general as its governor, and issued Venezuelan identity cards to people living there.

糖心传媒淕uyana has serious worries about Venezuela,糖心传媒� Goemans says. 糖心传媒淚t糖心传媒檚 a real threat to the sovereignty of Guyana and it糖心传媒檚 surprising that nobody in the Trump administration has invoked that.糖心传媒�

糖心传媒淭here was no claim that this was about restoring democracy,糖心传媒� he continues. 糖心传媒淭hat was never raised as one of the motivations. That should concern people.糖心传媒�

A dangerous precedent for world order

Beyond Venezuela, Goemans warns that forcibly removing heads of state undermines long-standing international norms.

He explains this using a classic political science concept: cooperation only holds if countries believe rules will be enforced over time.

糖心传媒淚f you treat this as a one-shot game that says, 糖心传媒榃e can do this once and nothing follows,糖心传媒� that糖心传媒檚 very dangerous,糖心传媒� he says. 糖心传媒淥ther countries will respond eventually. Maybe not immediately, but the system will unravel.糖心传媒�

He argued that even US allies may feel compelled to push back if territorial integrity and sovereignty no longer carry weight.

糖心传媒淚f the United States defects from the rules, others will have incentives to defect too,糖心传媒� he says. 糖心传媒淚n the long run, that糖心传媒檚 not in America糖心传媒檚 interest.糖心传媒�

Can the US try Maduro?

Another uncertainty is whether US courts can legally prosecute Maduro if he is considered Venezuela糖心传媒檚 legitimate president, which Maduro insists he is despite doubts by many world leaders.

糖心传媒淭his is going to be fought out in court,糖心传媒� Goemans says. 糖心传媒淛udges will have to decide whether he is head of state, and that糖心传媒檚 not a simple legal question.糖心传媒�

Unlike Panama糖心传媒檚 Manuel Noriega, who was never an elected president but was that country糖心传媒檚 de facto ruler before the United States seized him with an invasion in 1989, Maduro originally came to power through constitutional succession before consolidating his authority through a series of widely condemned elections in 2018 and in 2024.

What are the alternatives?

If US military intervention is unlikely to produce a stable democracy in Venezuela, what could?

Goemans points to historical examples in Eastern Europe and elsewhere, where authoritarian regimes collapsed after mass domestic mobilization, sometimes with outside support and an independent media.

糖心传媒淭he only way the masses can overcome a repressive elite is if they successfully organize,糖心传媒� he says. 糖心传媒淭hat means supporting opposition groups, election monitoring, information access. Not sending troops through jungles to Caracas.糖心传媒�

But he acknowledges how grim that sounds to Venezuelan people suffering now, whether in the country or living abroad.

糖心传媒淚 understand the desperation,糖心传媒� he says. 糖心传媒淧eople have had their lives stolen from them. Of course they want immediate change.糖心传媒�

Still, he warns that celebrating too early could result in disappointment.

糖心传媒淧eople were very happy when Saddam糖心传媒檚 statues came down,糖心传媒� he says, speaking of the former president of Iraq, Saddam Hussein. 糖心传媒淭hen came the question: What comes next?糖心传媒�

Meet your expert

Hein Goemans

, a political science professor and the director of the University of Rochester糖心传媒檚 , is an expert on international conflict糖心传媒攈ow wars begin and how they end. He听is the author of (Princeton University Press, 2000) and coauthor of 听(Cambridge University Press, 2011).

Diversifying the ranks of scientists in the United States is crucial to engendering more trust in the scientific community among more Americans.

That糖心传媒檚 the takeaway from published in Nature Human Behaviour.

糖心传媒淲hen it comes to trusting scientists, who is practicing science matters almost as much to Americans as what their science reveals,糖心传媒� says , the Martin Brewer Anderson Professor of Political Science at the 糖心传媒 and lead author of the study.

The study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from nine universities and research institutions.

Minding the trust gaps

Americans, on the whole, have long held scientists in high esteem. There are long-standing trust gaps, however, specifically among certain demographic groups.

Women and people who are Black, live in rural areas, identify as religious, have low levels of education or are working-class, for instance, exhibit less confidence in the scientific community. That has been the case for decades and has been well documented.

What has not been well documented are why and the implications of trust gaps, Druckman says.

糖心传媒淥ur work shows that people generally exhibit more trust in scientists who share their characteristics,糖心传媒� he explains. 糖心传媒淣ot surprisingly, groups with low trust in scientists are notably underrepresented in the field of science.糖心传媒�

White men make up about two-thirds of the scientific workforce in the United States, and nearly all scientists糖心传媒�92 percent糖心传媒攁re from non-rural areas, according to the study.

That the scientific community looks a lot less like the country it serves is more than symbolic, the authors argue. Indeed, it influences how different groups of people trust scientists and scientific institutions, and how likely recommendations of scientists are to become public policy.

糖心传媒淪cientists provide important information to the public,糖心传媒� Druckman says. 糖心传媒淲hether that information influences decision-making depends on trust.糖心传媒�

The study found that women and people of color, in particular, relied heavily on demographic-based judgments when deciding whether to place confidence in scientific claims. By contrast, men and white Americans showed more variability in what drives their trust, suggesting their faith in science is less based on people who 糖心传媒渓ook like me.糖心传媒�

The role of representation

The authors also tracked how these demographic perceptions relate to broader feelings about scientific objectivity and the usefulness of science in society.

When people viewed scientists as demographically distant from themselves, they were more likely to question whether scientists remain unbiased and whether scientific knowledge benefits people like them. These beliefs, in turn, strongly shaped whether participants said they trusted scientists.

Despite these patterns, some groups糖心传媒攕uch as Asian Americans糖心传媒攔eported high trust in scientists regardless of representation. This suggests that representation alone cannot fully explain public attitudes.

Still, the researchers conclude that demographic inclusiveness plays a central role in shoring up public trust across major social groups.

Improving representation, they write, may help bridge the growing gap between public expectations and scientific institutions at a time when misinformation, political polarization, and vaccine skepticism have put scientific credibility under strain.

糖心传媒淲hen people can see themselves in science,糖心传媒� Druckman says, 糖心传媒渢hey糖心传媒檙e more likely to believe in it.糖心传媒�

As families around the world prepare to celebrate Hanukkah, 糖心传媒 associate professor can expound on the deeper stories behind the holiday糖心传媒檚 foods, rituals, and evolving traditions.

Rubel, a scholar of Jewish studies and chair of the , specializes in how Jewish identity is expressed through everyday practices and food. For instance, her work explores how dishes like latkes and sufganiyot (fried jelly donuts) carry meanings beyond the kitchen.

糖心传媒淔ood is one of the most powerful ways communities tell their stories,糖心传媒� Rubel says. 糖心传媒淒uring Hanukkah, the foods we make and share help us remember the past, celebrate resilience, and connect with one another.糖心传媒�

Rubel was among the featured experts in a new PBS documentary, , a historical, genealogical, and culinary journey through the Jewish diaspora in homes across America. 糖心传媒淛ewish cuisine is influenced by the economics, agriculture and culinary traditions of the many countries where Jewish communities have settled and varies widely throughout the whole world,糖心传媒� says Rubel.

Oil at the heart of Hanukkah: Why fried foods matter

Many people recognize the holiday through its signature fried foods. But Rubel notes that these traditions developed over centuries and vary widely across cultures.

• Ashkenazi Jews typically serve potato latkes.
• Sephardic and Mizrahi communities prepare sufganiyot, bimuelos, zalabiya, and other fried sweets.
• Some families incorporate dairy dishes, drawing on medieval interpretations of the Hanukkah story.

What unites these foods, Rubel explains, is the symbolism of oil, which commemorates the miracle at the heart of the Hanukkah story.

As Rubel explains, 糖心传媒淛ewish food, as we think about it now, is a culture of foods connected with holidays and rituals. In the United States, these foods are an amalgamation of recipes carried here by Jewish immigrants from their countries of origin. Cookbooks and family recipes are vital historical documents that preserve culture and history by recording culinary traditions, revealing social life, and demonstrating how communities adapt over time.糖心传媒�

Many ways to celebrate

Rubel emphasizes that Hanukkah is not a monolithic holiday. Its rituals, from lighting the menorah to singing blessings and exchanging gifts, vary across communities and generations.

Some families add new traditions such as:

• Hosting 糖心传媒渓atke tasting糖心传媒� gatherings
• Experimenting with global Jewish recipes
• Incorporating social justice themes into nightly candle-lighting
• Sharing stories of family immigration and heritage

糖心传媒淗anukkah is a living tradition,糖心传媒� she says. 糖心传媒淚t continues to evolve, and food is one of the ways people reinterpret what the holiday means for them today.糖心传媒�

糖心传媒 students, faculty, and staff no longer need to leave campus to satisfy their Wegmans craving. Under a new partnership, are now stocking many of the beloved grocery chain糖心传媒檚 most popular prepared foods糖心传媒攆rom Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies and Ultimate Chocolate Cake, to protein bowls, pasta, Asian meals, and vegetarian options.

The collaboration makes it easier than ever for the University of Rochester community to grab a Wegmans favorite between classes or after work. Delivered to campus throughout the week, the prepared meals and snacks are available for purchase at select dining locations with student meal plans, Rocky Bucks, and credit cards.

Delivering prepared meals to a university campus is a new venture for Wegmans糖心传媒攏ot just in its hometown of Rochester, but anywhere in the country. The grocery store chain has more than 100 locations across nine states and Washington, DC.

糖心传媒淧artnering with the University of Rochester to launch our new 糖心传媒楳eals Market糖心传媒� concept is an exciting milestone for us,糖心传媒� says Frank Guidice, Wegmans digital restaurant director. 糖心传媒淲hen the University of Rochester team brought the idea forward, we saw a unique opportunity to bring the quality, convenience, and variety Wegmans is known for directly to students and staff.糖心传媒�

The partnership began as a pilot program in 2024 and was such a hit that the University and Wegmans kept it going. For the University community, the micro-Wegmans displays marry the experience of shopping at Rochester糖心传媒檚 favorite supermarket with on-campus convenience.

糖心传媒淭his is more than just convenient access to food we all feel good about,糖心传媒� says University Vice President for Student Life John Blackshear. 糖心传媒淚t糖心传媒檚 a celebration of two iconic Rochester institutions working together to enrich campus life. When I arrived at the University, I saw bringing Wegmans to campus as a key first step in the strategy to bring the City of Rochester into URochester dining offerings.糖心传媒�

Katherine Guallpa 糖心传媒�27, a third-year student, says visiting the Wegmans display in Hillside Market in Susan B. Anthony Halls between classes has become part of her routine.

糖心传媒淚 love Wegmans,糖心传媒� says Guallpa, who picked up a bowl of Wegmans pasta Alfredo with broccoli and chicken to go. 糖心传媒淚 don糖心传媒檛 know what I糖心传媒檇 do without it.糖心传媒�

The arrangement builds on decades of shared history between the University and Wegmans, two of Rochester糖心传媒檚 most recognizable names.

The Wegman family has been a longtime and generous supporter of the University, helping to establish Wegmans Hall糖心传媒攈ome to the Goergen Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence糖心传媒攁nd funding major advancements in children糖心传媒檚 health. Wegmans chairman Danny Wegman served as the University糖心传媒檚 Board of Trustees chairman from 2016 to 2018, and Wegmans CEO Colleen Wegman earned her MBA at the in 2000. Recently, Mary Ellen Burris, the longtime head of consumer affairs at Wegmans and an alumna of the , was the subject of a 糖心传媒 profile.

Higher education in the United States enjoys broad public support, but Americans are concerned about its costs and some aspects of campus culture, according to a sweeping new national survey led in part by , a political scientist at the .

The study糖心传媒斕切拇綔Higher Education Public Opinion Analysis: Strong Support Amid Specific Vulnerabilities糖心传媒澨切拇綌is the first report from the (AHEB), a collaboration among researchers at the University of Rochester, Northeastern University, Rutgers University, Harvard University, and others. It draws on more than 31,000 survey responses from all 50 states, making it one of the most comprehensive snapshots of public opinion on US colleges and universities in recent years.

Druckman, the Martin Brewer Anderson Professor of Political Science, says the findings paint a nuanced picture of an institution that Americans trust and view as a crucial incubator for technology and scientific innovation糖心传媒攄espite facing challenges in the way of public perception.

糖心传媒淯niversities remain among the most trusted institutions in American life,糖心传媒� Druckman says. 糖心传媒淏ut there糖心传媒檚 clear evidence that the public wants higher education to take its challenges seriously, from affordability to free speech. The good news is that broad support provides a foundation for doing just that.”

Broad support, deep concerns

According to the report, 59 percent of Americans approve of the role US universities play in society, and 75 percent say they trust them at least somewhat. This places higher education fourth among major institutions evaluated in terms of 糖心传媒渋nstitutional trust,糖心传媒� behind only hospitals and doctors, the military, and scientists and researchers.

Nine in 10 Americans recognize universities as vital for science and technology, while 83 percent credit them with advancing healthcare and economic growth. Nearly three-quarters also view them as crucial for democracy.

At the same time, the survey found widespread anxiety about campus life and rising costs:

• 87 percent of respondents say they are concerned about tuition and student debt.
• 84 percent worry about free speech on campus, and 77 percent about what they perceive as universities and colleges having a 糖心传媒渓iberal bias.糖心传媒�
• More than eight in 10 express concerns about discrimination on campus, including racism, antisemitism, and Islamophobia.
• Three-quarters have concerns about transgender athletes.

糖心传媒淭hese aren糖心传媒檛 fringe issues,糖心传媒� Druckman says. 糖心传媒淭hey糖心传媒檙e shared concerns across the political spectrum, even if people disagree on solutions. The data suggest the public isn糖心传媒檛 anti-university. People just want to see institutions engage constructively with difficult topics.糖心传媒�

Majorities oppose federal and state funding cuts

Another key takeaway is that the public strongly rejects government efforts to reduce university research support.

Majorities opposed cutting federal or state funding for science, health, or education by margins of roughly four or five to one. Nearly half of Americans say they favor more investment in scientific research, and 57 percent want more medical research funding.

The survey found that many respondents would act to protect research funding:

• 57 percent say they would contact a member of Congress to oppose cuts to science funding if asked by a university to which they have ties.
• 62 percent would do the same to defend health research.

Those findings, Druckman notes, show universities have an underused reservoir of public goodwill.

糖心传媒淭here糖心传媒檚 enormous potential for mobilization,糖心传媒� he says. 糖心传媒淧eople want to stand up for the research and innovation that make universities essential to national progress.糖心传媒�

A complex but promising picture

The report, authored by Druckman along with David Lazer and Mauricio Santillana (Northeastern), Katherine Ognyanova (Rutgers), and Matthew Baum (Harvard), argues that higher education operates from a 糖心传媒減osition of relative strength,糖心传媒� but faces 糖心传媒済enuine vulnerabilities糖心传媒� that could erode that strength if left unaddressed.

The researchers recommend that universities emphasize shared values糖心传媒攕uch as scientific discovery, technological innovation, and community benefit糖心传媒攚hile proactively acknowledging public concerns about affordability, discrimination, and free expression, and avoiding dismissing them as partisan attacks.

AHEB plans to release additional reports tracking changes in attitudes over time and exploring how public views of universities intersect with politics, media coverage, and policy debates.

For Druckman, who is widely considered an authority on political polarization and trust in institutions, the findings offer a measure of optimism.

糖心传媒淲e live in an era in which many institutions have lost credibility,糖心传媒� he says. 糖心传媒淯niversities haven糖心传媒檛. They still enjoy the confidence of most Americans糖心传媒擠emocrats, Republicans, and independents alike.

糖心传媒淭hat糖心传媒檚 an extraordinary asset,糖心传媒� he adds, 糖心传媒渂ut one that must be nurtured.糖心传媒�