UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) has announced the program awardees for joint projects in the arts, humanities, and social and behavioral sciences. Co-sponsored by SSRI, the College of the Liberal Arts, and the College of Arts and Architecture, these joint projects integrate work in the arts and design and/or the humanities with the social and behavioral sciences.  

The awardees are:  

• Sarah Myruski, assistant research professor of psychology, for her project titled “Integrating Drawing and Mindfulness to Reduce Anxiety in Adolescents: A Randomized Pilot Study.”  

• Peter Stempel, associate professor of landscape architecture, for his project titled “New Tools for Visualization Research to Improve Hazard and Risk Communication.” 

• Ellen Skirvin, assistant teaching professor of English, for her project called “Demonstrating the Transformative Power of Higher Education for Incarcerated and Previously Incarcerated Students in Pennsylvania.” 

The program will provide financial support for these interdisciplinary research and collaborative projects that link the social and behavioral sciences with art and design, humanities, or all three disciplines. The aim of these proposals is to complete feasible projects that can be accomplished in one to two years of preliminary work like a concept or model before awardees pursue targeted external funding.