University as a laboratory for new ideas in the research of emerging social contexts

Jeremy Cohen, Professor of media studies, founded Penn State's Laboratory for Public Scholarship and Democracy. The Laboratory brings together Penn State University students, faculty and staff, and community partners who view education as a democratic keystone. Serving as a catalyst for teaching, research and civic engagement designed to build democratic capacity, the Laboratory explores and models ethical habits and practices of citizenship

It is worth to learn more about the American Democracy Project (ADP), an initiative focused on higher education’s role in “preparing the next generation of informed, engaged citizens for our democracy”.

Another interesting project run by the Laboratory for Public Scholarship and Democracy is about Rethinking Urban Poverty.