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Bobby Donaldson receives Order of the Palmetto

USC historian Bobby Donaldson was awarded South Carolina's highest civilian honor, the Order of the Palmetto, for his decades-long work preserving and elevating the state's civil rights history through research, education and public engagement.

Senior chemistry student turns his degree into a career in cybersecurity

Chemistry senior Christian Ruff's journey from the lab to a cybersecurity role at Mastercard highlights how exploring beyond your major can open unexpected career paths.

AutismConnect serves more than 1,000 people in its third year

AutismConnect at USC brings together researchers, families and providers to support individuals with autism, offering workshops, resources and community through the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences.

Conference will explore civic education as a solution, producing report for South Carolina

University of South Carolina's conference on civic engagement and the constitutional order will bring scholars and campus leaders together to explore civic education, democratic challenges and a new report on civic literacy in South Carolina.

Mutual aid and self-sufficiency are key to life near USSR's contaminated nuclear test zone in Kazakhstan

Writing for The Conversation, associate professor Magdalena Stawkowski describes her field research at a Soviet-era nuclear test site in Kazakhstan. Thousands still live around its cratered perimeter and stay because of their collective refusal to reject systems that had abandoned them and instead create their own terms for survival.

How a chemist became nationally recognized for studying the biology of plants

Learn how USC professor Beth Krizek transitioned from chemistry to plant biology, earning national recognition for her research on transcription factors and mentoring students at the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences.

USC researchers put humans at the center of the AI conversation

Artificial intelligence can churn out a 2,000-word essay in seconds. It can even replicate some of the world's most famous pieces of art in incredible detail. Could it soon replace human creativity altogether?

Remembering Lacy K. Ford

"History, fairly and accurately told, is a valuable guide. It gives us the opportunity to make better decisions."

Discover USC student Ansley Martin shares innovation

Each year, Discover USC presents more than 1,000 research projects covering hundreds of subject areas by students from all areas of the university. We reached out to students who previously participated to learn what the experience is like. Neuroscience junior Ansley Martin shares how presenting has helped her bring greater innovation to her research.

Cool Classes Fall 2026

We're back again for another year and another round of some of the coolest classes you can take for fall 2026. There are a ton of unique learning experiences waiting to be uncovered. Whether you’re into sports, true crime, dancing, cooking or even something a little otherworldly, South Carolina has you covered.

USC has five Goldwater Scholars in 2026

Five University of South Carolina students earned the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship in 2026. This sets a record for the most Goldwater Scholars at USC in a single year and marks the 34th consecutive year the university has had at least one Goldwater Scholar.

Design internship leads studio art major to optimistic career outlook

Designing logos, collaborating with artists and working with real clients, USC studio art student Jon Glover is gaining real experience and turning his passion into a creative career path.

Discover USC student Katherine Palmer looks back

Each year, Discover USC presents more than 1,000 research projects covering hundreds of subject areas and students from all areas of the university. We reached out to a student who previously participated to learn what the experience is like. Psychology senior Katherine Palmer reflects on what she gained from presenting her research on misophonia.

The long history of silent meditation retreats

Silent meditation and silent prayer have shaped spiritual lives within a variety of religious traditions for thousands of years. Today, however, those practices are often being offered in secular settings. Daniel M. Stuart, an associate professor of religious studies at USC, writes for The Conversation about emerging trends in secular meditation practices.

Award-Winning USC faculty bring Southern history to life in dance

USC professors Tanya Wideman-Davis and Thaddeus Davis earn national honors, including a 2026 United States Artists Fellowship, for their innovative dance work that brings Black Southern history, memory and landscape to life through performance.

Bringing the buzz back to Greene Street

Student Body Treasurer Ashley Reynolds helps Give 4 Garnet return to the heart of campus.

USC linguist weighs in on Supreme Court case

University of South Carolina linguistics professor, Brandon Waldon, contributed to a U.S. Supreme Court amicus brief in Flowers Foods v. Brock, arguing a commerce law should be interpreted based on ordinary language meaning, a decision that could affect millions nationwide.

USC team conducting research on endangered North Atlantic right whales

There are only about 384 North Atlantic right whales remaining on Earth. That’s fewer than the number of students living in the Capstone dorm. The latest count is cause for alarm, and the whales’ leading killers are entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes.

Honors College sophomore finds community at USC

Honors College sophomore Faith Fitzgerald wasn’t sure how or if she could merge her interests in psychology and linguistics. It wasn’t until she was introduced to psycholinguistics, or the study of the relationships between linguistic behavior and psychological processes, that she discovered a new path.

Baruch scientists study food impacts of juvenile blue catfish on native species in Winyah Bay estuary

Scientists at USC’s Baruch Institute are studying the semi-invasive juvenile blue catfish, normally a freshwater animal, that has appeared in estuarine habitats of the Winyah Bay. The researchers are trying to determine whether the interloper’s diet is interfering with the food supply of native estuarine species.

USC students lead in adopting AI at ADDY Awards

AI is everywhere — and marketing is no exception. This year marked the first time that the American Advertising Federation incorporated an AI category into its Midlands ADDY Awards, and University of South Carolina students rose to the challenge, showcasing what is possible in dynamic, creative concept and design in collaboration with AI.

USC anthropology team maps historic Black cemetery near former Kinsler Plantation

University of South Carolina anthropologist Terrance Weik is helping to map and preserve Cedar Creek Cemetery in Richland County, with hopes to reveal an untold history of enslavement in South Carolina.

USC to launch hybrid exchange for Russian language learning

A new Hybrid Student Exchange Program, led by Olesya Kisselev, makes study abroad more accessible for USC's Russian language students by pairing virtual exchange with The Arctic University of Norway and a transformative 10-day immersive experience that builds language fluency and confidence.

Passion for photography brings nationally-published freelancer to USC

Freelance photographer Nora Williams, now a second-year MFA candidate at the University of South Carolina, turned a passion for documenting history into a national career and continues to use her work to spotlight underrepresented stories across the American South.

USC youth summer camps 2026

With only a few short months until summer, it’s time for parents to find summer activities for their children. USC offers a wide variety of summer camps for all ages and all interests from music to soccer, dance and engineering.


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