Congratulations to Sungwon Park, current junior fellow and assistant professor with the School of Nursing, for earning the title of 2024-26 Ewha Global Fellow.
Ewha Womans University awards the fellowship to distinguished scholars from around the world for collaboration in research and education with its faculty members in Seoul, South Korea. Established in 1886, Ewha has grown into one of the world’s largest women’s educational institutes.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
The 55th-anniversary celebration of the Michigan Society of Fellows will take place on November 6-7, 2025, in beautiful Ann Arbor, Michigan. This momentous occasion will bring together the esteemed members of our community for a two-day symposium filled with enriching academic presentations and discussions by our alumni junior fellows, as well as joyous reunions by all current and former society members.
In anticipation of this event, David Gerdes, current chair of the Michigan Society of Fellows, interviewed three of our esteemed panelists to highlight their own experiences with the Society.
ANA VIENA Assistant Professor in the Department of Asian & Middle Eastern Studies at the University of North Carolina – Chapel HillSCOTT WATSON Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at Syracuse UniversityCÉCILE FROMONT Professor in the Department of History of Art and Department of Architecture at Harvard University
QUESTION: The Society brings together scholars at a pivotal early career stage. What aspects of the fellowship experience were most valuable in helping you develop into the scholar that you are now?
Vinea: For me, the most valuable aspect, or better gift, of the fellowship was the time it offered. Time to think, to experiment, to have doubts, to not rush, to escape for a little while the pressure of a merciless academic market. The fellowship did not turn me into a highly productive scholar, but I hope it made me a more thoughtful one.
Watson: The strongest aspect of the fellowship was the diversity. Getting to share my experiences in physics with others that were mostly in the humanities and getting to know their perspectives on the pursuit of knowledge. My favorite experience was when I gave my talk and was asked, “How does an electron feel?”. What a wonderful question!
Fromont: The Society gave me the gift of time and perspective. Being a fellow allowed me to turn many of the theoretical stones and follow many of the research threads that I had identified in my doctoral research but had not had the opportunity to fully explore. It also encouraged me to be ambitious and daring in the framing of my first book and in later projects. Above all, I benefited at that pivotal moment from the deep intellectual generosity of the University of Michigan community. I am in debt to the many scholars who made time to meet and discuss my research in a set of conversations that were both transformative at the moment and enduring in their impact on who I would become as a scholar.
QUESTION: Looking back, what was the most unexpected or surprising benefit of your fellowship period? This could be intellectual, professional, or personal.
Vinea: The cultivation of an openness to different ways of asking scholarly questions, which defines the fellowship, made me a better anthropologist, I like to think.
Watson: Honestly, at that period in my life I was a bit snobby towards the humanities in general (science was superior). But after my time of interacting with everyone I made great friends (some of which last to this day) and learned I was missing out on a lot that I needed to learn. It was a very special experience.
Fromont: Experiencing Michigan was a completely unexpected gift. I was born and raised in the French Caribbean, and the Great Lakes region was as distant and exotic a place as I could imagine. During my time at the Michigan Society of Fellows, I was awed by the beauty of this part of the world and amazed at the vibrant -and fraught- mix of heritage it hosted. It was humbling as a historian to witness history in the making as Detroit confronted the aftermaths of the financial crisis and the Midwest welcomed the Obama presidency. I will also always carry with me the memory of the most amazing librarians in academia, turquoise water, and white sand beaches, musical concerts, the cracks of ice breaking in the spring on Lake St Clair, Easter eggs hidden in the snow, the best Reuben sandwich I will ever eat, and inexplicably large coffees drinks.
QUESTION: Could you share a specific memory or moment from the Society’s gatherings (whether formal or informal) that exemplifies what makes this intellectual community unique?
Vinea: Honestly, there is no specific moment that comes to mind, but the most memorable moments were the lunch talks. I always thought that was where the magic of transforming minds in dialogue with others happened.
Watson: There is one experience I must share for the sake of honesty (as this was the most memorable), but I don’t know if it will be useful to quote. When I first joined the Society one of the fellows held a dinner party. There were around twelve of us, I was the only man. I kept my mouth shut for most of the night and learned what women go through in academia – and other issues as well. It shaped how I have gone on as a professor and person and attempted to address issues of inclusion, equality, and diversity.
As a separate memory, I could not go without mentioning the mentorship of Don Lopez (Buddhist studies — director of the society during my time). He really shaped my thinking and also what would become my future career. Moreover, he taught me what it means to have strong character and to give to others without wanting anything in return.
Fromont: A main focus of my dissertation had been the analysis of central African cosmology as a religious and political concept. Scott Watson, a physicist, and cosmologist, was in the same fellow class. Ironically, it was our common interest in cosmology that allowed us to size up and consider together the barriers that disciplines, methods, and training build around scholars. On many occasions, we genuinely attempted and largely failed to find commensurability in our deep interest in cosmology as an object of research. These conversations were intellectually thrilling. They also brought me much insight into the culture, aims, and practices of parts of academia very distant from my own, and made me curious about and attentive to the mission, promise, and challenges of universities.
We can’t thank Vinea, Watson, and Fromont enough for taking the time to speak with us and we look forward to hearing more from each of them at our 55th Symposium this November.
In an illuminating article titled “On Vitality: Chemical Possibilities and Politics of Life Force, Ease, and Everyday Life” published in Anthropological Quarterly, Elizabeth Durham, a Junior Fellow at the University of Michigan’s Society of Fellows, delves into the nuanced interplay between psychopharmaceuticals, alcohol, and the concept of vitality within Sommeil Psychiatric Hospital in Yaoundé, Republic of Cameroon.
Drawing from an extensive 24-month fieldwork period from 2016 to 2019, Durham examines contrasting perspectives on the role of psychopharmaceuticals among hospital staff and patients. While clinicians viewed these medications as means to empower patients to handle everyday responsibilities and contribute to the stability of a nation grappling with the Anglophone Crisis, patients often saw them as instruments for achieving a state of ease similar to that provided by alcohol, especially beer, which is culturally perceived as relaxing and therapeutic.
Durham’s insightful research highlights a critical distinction: staff aspired to use psychopharmaceuticals to reinforce patients’ duties and responsibilities, thus aligning with a broader vision of productivity and national integrity. In contrast, patients incorporated these drugs into their pursuit of everyday ease and relaxation, indicating a desire for a softer, more manageable way of life. This divergence points to an alternative notion of vitality, one that embraces the coexistence of life force and relaxation, action and ease.
By contextualizing the use of psychopharmaceuticals and their societal perceptions, Durham’s work opens a dialogue on how different groups navigate the complexities of mental health, medication, and daily life in a politically charged environment. Her article provides valuable ethnographic insights, challenging conventional understandings of vitality and underscoring the importance of viewing health practices through a culturally and politically informed lens.
We are thrilled to introduce groundbreaking research from Dr. Sungwon Park, a current Michigan Society of Fellows (MSF) postdoctoral fellow, recently published in BMC Public Health. In her insightful article titled “Sedentary Behaviors and Physical Activity of the Working Population Measured by Accelerometry: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” Dr. Park, along with her colleagues, explores how different occupational roles impact sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA) using precise accelerometry data.
This comprehensive study analyzes existing literature to reveal significant differences across various job types. Office workers, characterized by prolonged periods seated at desks, exhibit the highest levels of sedentary behavior. Conversely, nurses, whose work involves considerable physical activity, demonstrate the greatest levels of PA. These findings emphasize the inherent health risks and benefits tied to the physical demands of different occupations.
Dr. Park’s research highlights the critical need for targeted workplace interventions. By understanding the specific SB and PA profiles associated with different job types, employers and policymakers can develop more effective strategies to promote healthier lifestyles among employees. Potential interventions could include implementing standing desks and encouraging regular breaks for office workers, or providing sufficient rest periods for physically demanding professions like nursing.
Moreover, the study underscores the importance of using accelerometers in occupational health research. Unlike traditional self-reported data, accelerometry offers objective and detailed insights, reducing biases and enhancing the accuracy of health behavior studies.
For those interested in the intersection of occupational health, public health, and behavioral science, Dr. Park’s article is a crucial read. It advances our understanding of how job types influence health behaviors and sets the stage for future research and practical applications in workplace health promotion.
What is this generation of AI good at and where does it fall short? Ira Flatow, host and producer of Science Friday, talks to Melanie Mitchell, alumni fellow (1990-92) and professor at the Santa Fe Institute, about apps like ChatGPT and Lensa, deep fakes, and other current issues with artificial intelligence. Listen to Science Friday.
Abstract: We are in a modern biodiversity crisis that will restructure community compositions and ecological functions globally. Large mammals, important contributors to ecosystem function, have been affected directly by purposeful extermination and indirectly by climate and land-use changes, yet functional turnover is rarely assessed on a global scale using metrics based on functional traits. Using ecometrics, the study of functional trait distributions and functional turnover, we examine the relationship between vegetation cover and locomotor traits for artiodactyl and carnivoran communities. We show that the ability to detect a functional relationship is strengthened when locomotor traits of both primary consumers (artiodactyls, n = 157 species) and secondary consumers (carnivorans, n = 138 species) are combined into one trophically integrated ecometric model. Overall, locomotor traits of 81% of communities accurately estimate vegetation cover, establishing the advantage of trophically integrated ecometric models over single-group models (58 to 65% correct). We develop an innovative approach within the ecometrics framework, using ecometric anomalies to evaluate mismatches in model estimates and observed values and provide more nuance for understanding relationships between functional traits and vegetation cover. We apply our integrated model to five paleontological sites to illustrate mismatches in the past and today and to demonstrate the utility of the model for paleovegetation interpretations. Observed changes in community traits and their associated vegetations across space and over time demonstrate the strong, rapid effect of environmental filtering on community traits. Ultimately, our trophically integrated ecometric model captures the cascading interactions between taxa, traits, and changing environments.
Citation: Short, Rachel A., Jenny L. McGuire, P. David Polly, and A. Michelle Lawing. “Trophically integrated ecometric models as tools for demonstrating spatial and temporal functional changes in mammal communities.” PNAS, 120 (7) e2201947120. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2201947120.
Ben Green, research fellow (2020-23) and assistant professor of public policy, authored an article in Philosophy and Technology in which he argues that promoting justice with algorithms requires reforming the methodology of algorithmic fairness. Read the full article.
Abstract: Efforts to promote equitable public policy with algorithms appear to be fundamentally constrained by the “impossibility of fairness” (an incompatibility between mathematical definitions of fairness). This technical limitation raises a central question about algorithmic fairness: How can computer scientists and policymakers support equitable policy reforms with algorithms? In this article, I argue that promoting justice with algorithms requires reforming the methodology of algorithmic fairness. First, I diagnose the problems of the current methodology for algorithmic fairness, which I call “formal algorithmic fairness.” Because formal algorithmic fairness restricts analysis to isolated decision-making procedures, it leads to the impossibility of fairness and to models that exacerbate oppression despite appearing “fair.” Second, I draw on theories of substantive equality from law and philosophy to propose an alternative methodology, which I call “substantive algorithmic fairness.” Because substantive algorithmic fairness takes a more expansive scope of analysis, it enables an escape from the impossibility of fairness and provides a rigorous guide for alleviating injustice with algorithms. In sum, substantive algorithmic fairness presents a new direction for algorithmic fairness: away from formal mathematical models of “fair” decision-making and toward substantive evaluations of whether and how algorithms can promote justice in practice.
Citation: Green, B. Escaping the Impossibility of Fairness: From Formal to Substantive Algorithmic Fairness. Philos. Technol.35, 90 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13347-022-00584-6
What if we lived in a world without credit? Downside Up host Chris Cillizza discusses the complicated history of credit with alumni fellows Sarah Quinn (2010-12), who is an associate professor of sociology at the University of Washington, and Monica Prasad (2000-03), who is a professor of sociology at Northwestern University. Along with New York Times business reporter Emily Flitter, they explore the American economy, credit cards, loans, and other facets of the financial system. Listen to the Downside Up episode.
Joseph Feldblum, alumni fellow (2018-22) and assistant research professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University, co-authored an article investigating the predictors of gestation length, and the impact of gestation length on offspring survival, in chimpanzees, humans’ closest living relatives. They found that like humans, chimpanzees had shorter gestations after short inter-gestational intervals, and short gestations were associated with higher offspring mortality. Read the full article in the American Journal of Biological Anthropology.
Abstract:
Objectives Energetics are widely recognized to influence timing of birth in humans and other eutherian mammals, yet considerable variation exists in the relationship between energetic constraints and gestation length. In humans, poor nutrition and short inter-gestational intervals (IGIs) are associated with shorter gestations. In other mammals, lower energy availability is usually associated with longer gestations. We investigated the predictors of gestation length, and the impact of gestation length on offspring survival, in chimpanzees, humans’ closest living relatives.
Materials and Methods We used 50 years of demographic and behavioral data to estimate gestation lengths in the wild chimpanzees of Gombe National Park, Tanzania, and then used ecological and demographic data to explore the predictors and consequences of gestation length in our sample.
Results Gestation lengths were shorter for females in their early 30s (relative to younger and older females), and after short IGIs. Other predictors potentially associated with maternal energetic condition and maternal investment were not associated with gestation length. We also found that shorter gestation lengths corresponded to lower offspring survival.
Discussion Like humans, chimpanzees had shorter gestations after short IGIs, and short gestations were associated with higher offspring mortality. We consider competing explanations for the conflicting relationships between energetics and gestation length across eutherian mammals in light of these results.
Citation: Feldblum, J. T., Boehm, E. E., Walker, K. K., & Pusey, A. E. (2022). Predictors and consequences of gestation length in wild chimpanzees. American Journal of Biological Anthropology, 179( 3), 417– 430. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.24601
In 1935, W.E.B. Du Bois published Black Reconstruction in America: An Essay Toward a History of the Part which Black Folk Played in the Attempt to Reconstruct Democracy in America, 1860–1880. At that time, The American Historical Review did not review the book because the editors did not recognize it as history. The journal is reckoning with racist aspects of its work and influence; 88 years later, Elizabeth Hinton, alumni fellow (2012-14) and associate professor of history and African American studies at Yale University, writes the long overdue review. Read The Last Great Battle of the West.
Citation: Elizabeth Hinton, “The Last Great Battle of the West”, The American Historical Review, Volume 127, Issue 4, December 2022, Pages 1909–1915, https://doi.org/10.1093/ahr/rhac454
