The University of Utah Honors College is pleased to announce that Dr. Eunbin Chung, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Utah, will deliver the 2025 L. Jackson Newell Liberal Arts & Sciences Lecture on Thursday, October 2, at 6 p.m. in the A. Ray Olpin Student Union Ballroom.
“Thinking Hard, Believing Strong: How Politics Shapes Our View of Science”
Dr. Chung’s lecture, “Thinking Hard, Believing Strong: How Politics Shapes Our View of Science,” takes on a timely and pressing question: why do smart people sometimes ignore clear evidence, even when the science seems obvious? Think back to the debates over mask-wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Chung’s research shows that people who usually love to think hard about problems were often the very ones who find clever ways to explain away the evidence when it clashes with their political beliefs. In this talk, we will explore why facts alone don’t always change minds, how our identities shape the way we see the world, and what this means for navigating big debates over science and politics in everyday life.
About Dr. Eunbin Chung
Dr. Chung’s research explores international security, conflict resolution, and political psychology. She is the author of Pride, Not Prejudice: National Identity as a Pacifying Force in East Asia (University of Michigan Press, 2022), which won the American Library Association’s Choice Outstanding Academic Title Award and earned her recognition as the Sherman Emerging Scholar by The Korea Society. Her work has appeared in leading journals such as Political Research Quarterly, PLoS ONE, and World Development, and has been supported by organizations including the Korea Foundation, the Japan Foundation, and the Academy of Korean Studies. Dr. Chung holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from The Ohio State University and an MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
About the Newell Fellowship and Lecture Series
In 2019, the Honors College established the L. Jackson Newell Fellowship and Lecture Series to showcase the remarkable work of arts and sciences faculty across campus. Named for Jack Newell—a historian and philosopher of higher education, longtime Dean of Undergraduate Studies, founder of the Clemente Program in the Humanities, and former President of Deep Springs College—the series honors his legacy of scholarly depth, creative inquiry, and ethical leadership. Each year, the fellowship and lecture celebrate faculty who share their passion and expertise in ways that enrich public understanding and highlight the enduring value of the liberal arts and sciences.