The theme for this issue of LSU Research magazine is the human condition. As a land-grant and flagship university, we at LSU are dedicated to improving the human condition through education, research, creativity, and scholarship. Now more than ever, we believe in this charge. The global pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of society and has forced deep introspection about our collective humanity. Given this moment in time, we see it fitting to dedicate this year’s issue of the magazine to shine a light on some of the most advanced scholarship and research in the humanities and social sciences at LSU. In the cover story, The Human Condition: Building Connections Across Neighborhoods, we feature a sociologist’s work that documents, through photography and oral history interviews, the rich stories of resilience from people living in New Orleans’ distinct neighborhoods.

Also, within these pages you will read about the work of a journalism scholar who has revealed how removing national politics from a local newspaper’s opinion pages has helped repair bipartisan rifts and rebuild community. You will also learn more about how a psychologist and her team of students are combatting the opioid crisis by providing much-needed treatment. As we continue to push the boundaries on research and scholarship at LSU with resilience and a passion to improve the human condition, we hope you enjoy reading about our latest discoveries. Visit lsu.edu/research and follow us @LSUResearch on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more stories throughout the year.