Cookies: Tech Security & Privacy: When we use the internet, most of us don’t think twice about entering our credit card numbers and we don’t tend to worry that someone might be looking over our shoulder. This episode’s guest, Princeton’s Jennifer Rexford, knows better than most how the internet works and what kind of vulnerabilities exist that allow hackers to exploit its weaknesses. https://engineering.princeton.edu/news/2020/09/30/how-secure-internet-attacks  

Politics & Polls: Some criticize the way the media covers political issues, spurring conversations about how journalism can be improved, especially within the next generation of reporters. One 12-year-old — Jaden Jefferson — is already on his way to contributing to the news world through his local reporting efforts in Toledo, Ohio. Jefferson, who joins Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang in this episode, has already interviewed a number of prominent figures including Sen. Elizabeth Warren. He’s been interviewed by Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, and others. You can find his stories on his YouTube channel at Jaden Reports. https://spia.princeton.edu/news/politics-polls-203-next-generation-journalism-jaden-jefferson

Before the Ballot: A new podcast series designed to educate voters about policy choices before they cast their ballots this November. It features faculty at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. https://spia.princeton.edu/before-the-ballot

Princeton University celebrated the academic accomplishments of its students with the awarding of four undergraduate prizes to seven students. While the annual prizes are typically awarded at Opening Exercises, there was no ceremony this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. https://www.princeton.edu/news/2020/09/29/undergraduate-prizes-awarded-seven-students-academic-achievement

AGU: Several Princeton faculty among 85 distinguished scientists who received accolades from groups representing their disciplines within AGU, the world’s largest Earth and space science society. https://eos.org/agu-news/2020-agu-section-awardees-and-named-lecturers

From The Daily Princetonian: The Princeton Footnotes, an all-male a cappella group founded in 1959, was recently selected as a top 32 collegiate a cappella group from over 160 video entries in the first-ever UpStaged National Collegiate Performing Arts (NCPA) A Capella competition. The winning group will receive over $10,000 in social justice charity donations and the 2020 NCPA A Capella Champion title.  https://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2020/09/princeton-footnotes-a-capella-competition

From People: Features undergraduate student Sarina Krishnan, founder of Pathways to Assimilation, a nonprofit offering ESL education, résumé help and job-prep services. https://people.com/human-interest/girls-changing-the-world-2020/?slide=4ef41796-7e38-4d87-b0f6-bbd4903167da#4ef41796-7e38-4d87-b0f6-bbd4903167da

From Ms. Magazine: Features the Poll Hero Project (PHP) founded in part by a group of Princeton University students. PHP aims to recruit thousands of college and high school students to be paid poll workers during the upcoming election. Quotes sophomore Ella Gantman.  https://msmagazine.com/2020/10/01/poll-workers-elections-young-people/

Brooke Johnson, a third-year graduate student at Princeton who works with Mohammad “Mo” Seyedsayamdost, an associate professor of chemistry, answered questions about her journey from being a first-generation college student to earning her Ph.D. at Princeton. https://www.princeton.edu/news/2020/09/29/chemistry-phd-student-brooke-johnson-shares-her-journey-princeton

Angelo Campus, a 2016 alumnus, became motivated to find solutions to the impacts of climate change while studying at Princeton University. Today his California-based company, BoxPower, provides containerized microgrids — a sustainable and reliable power source — to customers throughout the world. https://www.princeton.edu/news/2020/09/28/angelo-campus-electrifies-renewable-energy-business-boxpower

From ROI-NJ: Several Princeton alumni on the list, including Assemblyman Herb Conaway, Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano. https://www.roi-nj.com/2020/09/29/roi-influencers/people-of-color/roi-nj-presents-our-roi-influencers-people-of-color-2020-list/

From Inside Philanthropy: Highlights Princeton alumni Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano’s recent gift to the University. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2020/9/30/people-of-color-belong-a-rising-donor-couple-supports-princetons-plan-to-boost-inclusion

Howard Stone:Covid warning: Indoor conversations quickly create ‘jet-like’ spray of potentially viral droplets (Study Finds)and Coronavirus particles can project from your mouth during regular conversation (Mic) 
Ramanan Laxminarayan: Is Pakistan really handling the pandemic better than India? (The Economist) 
Andrew Appel:What you need to know before you vote in the Nov. 3 general election (Community News) 
Ismail White:What Brings Black Americans Together in Politics? (Princeton Alumni Weekly) 
Lauren Wright:For Donald Trump, There’s More at Stake on Election Day Than Just His Political Future (Time) 
Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor: Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor: Breonna Taylor’s Rigged Case Further Erodes Legitimacy of U.S. Institutions (Democracy Now!) 
Herschel Rabitz and Christian Arenz, postdoctoral research associate: Alchemy Arrives in a Burst of Light (Quanta Magazine) 
Jenny Greene: Some Physicists See Signs of Cosmic Strings From the Big Bang (Quanta Magazine) 

Researchers from Princeton will help lead a $1 million project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) that will use artificial intelligence to simulate the nation’s natural groundwater system in an effort to improve water management and help people better prepare for flooding and drought. https://www.princeton.edu/news/2020/09/28/princeton-researchers-join-1m-nsf-effort-model-nations-groundwater

A Princeton-led study of more than a half-million people in India who were exposed to the novel coronavirus suggests that the virus’ continued spread is driven by only a small percentage of those who become infected, known as superspreaders. The paper is the largest COVID-19 contact tracing study to date. https://www.princeton.edu/news/2020/09/30/largest-covid-19-contact-tracing-study-date-finds-children-key-spread-evidence

Related coverage from NPR: Kids And Superspreaders Are Driving COVID-19 Cases In India, Huge Study Finds

Gender and sexuality studies are ideally positioned to help us to understand the complex world we face, says Wallace Best, professor of religion and African American studies, who was recently appointed director of Princeton University’s Program in Gender and Sexuality Studies (GSS). https://www.princeton.edu/news/2020/09/30/wallace-best-leads-program-gender-and-sexuality-studies-dynamic-new-era

From The Daily Princetonian: University Health Services (UHS) will offer students, faculty, and staff free flu shots at its annual FluFest, held in Jadwin Gymnasium.  https://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2020/09/flu-fest-princeton-2020

From Town Topics: The design includes outdoor terraces that diminish borders between indoors and out, including spaces for performances and events that can accommodate 200 to 2,000 users. A Grand Hall for lectures, performances and events; numerous classroom spaces and two “creativity labs”; and a rooftop café will serve University audiences, adults and K to 12 students. Two “art walks,” or pedestrian pathways, will go through the building. http://www.towntopics.com/wordpress/2020/09/30/princeton-university-announces-design-for-new-art-museum/

Related from Princeton Alumni Weekly: Design Unveiled for New Art Museum With ‘Its Own Character’ 

From The Daily Princetonian: The comprehensive database offers a weekly overview of the number of COVID-19 tests conducted by University Health Services (UHS) on both asymptomatic and symptomatic students, faculty, and staff. It also reports various isolation and quarantine statistics. https://www.dailyprincetonian.com/article/2020/10/university-covid19-dashboard-test-campus