On April 24, 2024, the Department of Politics & Government hosted its 31st Annual Conference for Students of Political Science. Over 100 participants presented papers and attended panels. Presenters were undergraduate and graduate students from 29 universities and across six different time zones, making this a truly global student conference.
Panel topics included international bargaining, grassroots democracy, controversies in public policy, and the politics of fear, to name a few. Dr. Melissa Baker (University of Texas – El Paso) gave the keynote talk entitled “Does Stress Make Us More Susceptible to Political Misinformation?” In the address, Dr. Baker discussed how stress weighs on mental health in ways that adversely affect political behavior. She noted that providing resources to reduce stress and improve mental health changes how people interact with misinformation and engage civically. Student attendees were able to field questions to Dr. Baker, noting how important the issue of mental health is not just for student learning and success, but also their ability to be civically engaged in today’s world.
Panel discussants included faculty from the University as well as Illinois State alumni and professors at other institutions, including Purdue, the University of Illinois, the University of South Alabama, and the University of West Florida. Student attendees reported how encouraged they felt after presenting to continue moving their research forward. They also enjoyed discussing their work with fellow students as well as with faculty at other institutions.
