Bob Graham Center for Public Service

Recent studies on human variation seem to confirm what we have known for several decades; the biological concept of race is a crude and inaccurate tool to represent human diversity. Yet, technological advances in DNA research have reinvigorated scientific interest in questions on human differences. Such research has received much public attention and has led …

Explore More – a forum for scientists and scholars  featured in UF’s Explore research magazine – presented two UF elections experts, computer science Professor Juan Gilbert and political science Associate Professor Michael McDonald on Tuesday, October 18, at 6 p.m. in the Pugh Hall Ocora. Gilbert is the Andrew Banks Family Preeminence Endowed Professor and chair …

Muslims have been at the center of political rhetoric and discourse from both parties, especially during this election. Research shows that it is political rhetoric, not terrorist events, that stoke the fires of anti-Muslim sentiment. On Thursday, Oct. 20, at 6 p.m. in the Pugh Hall Ocora, the Executive Director of the Institute of Social …

The Gainesville Sun hosted a panel discussion at the Bob Graham Center on Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. which will focus on health disparities and how they relate to issues of education, crime and economic opportunities in our community. The panel featured Dr. Nancy Hardt, professor emeritus in the University of Florida College of Medicine; David Denslow, …

Two of Florida's most prominent political commentators, Susan MacManus and Dan Smith, discussed the results and implications of the 2016 elections at the Bob Graham Center on Monday, Nov. 14, at 6 p.m. in Pugh Hall. Dr. Susan MacManus, Florida’s most-quoted political scientist, is a Distinguished University Professor at the University of South Florida in the …

Food is, by and large, trust-based commerce. What ends up on your plate doesn't have a bar code and is nearly impossible to track. Yelp will tell you if people think something is tasty, but there's no Consumer Reports, no Angie's List or litmus test for the veracity of menu claims. And the government isn't equipped …

Former Florida Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham and Chris Hand discussed the newest edition of their book, America, the Owner’s Manual. With Americans voicing overwhelming frustration with the political process, Graham and Hand showcase how the hope for a better democracy begins with individual citizens, not political candidates. America, the Owner’s Manual challenges ordinary citizens to be victorious participants rather than tranquil …

In 2015 the Tampa Bay Times began publishing an investigative series which explored the effects of a school district’s decision to re-segregate its schools. The series, Failure Factories, exposed how failed promises of money and resources resulted in five “average” schools becoming some of the worst over an eight year period. The series was awarded a Pulitzer Prize …

The University of Florida Office of the Provost and the Bob Graham Center for Public Service hosted the 2017 Provost Symposium on January 26-27 at Emerson Alumni Hall.  The program focused on implicit bias and how we address cultural climate issues on the UF campus. Kate Ratliff, assistant professor in UF’s Department of Psychology and Executive …

Ibram X. Kendi, Assistant Professor of African American history at the University of Florida, spoke in the Pugh Hall Ocora on Jan. 31 about his recently published book Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America. The book recently won a National Book Award for Nonfiction. In the book, Kendi examines …