I frequently travel between the UK and the US due to my work on US-related topics. I am a regular participant in the ICPSR program at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. I highly recommend this program to any quantitative and computational social scientist. My participation in ICPSR led me to shift my initial focus from a general BSc in Social Science to a BSc in Social Science with Quantitative Methods, which significantly shaped my interest in empirical and analytical sociology. While I enjoy the energy of US cities, I definitely prefer the peace and quiet of the countryside, like Ann Arbor—though that might be because I always visit in the summer!
Beyond my involvement in the ICPSR program, I had the privilege of working with the MIT Media Lab, a world-renowned incubator of cutting-edge innovation in technology, design, and more. At the Media Lab’s City Science Research Group, I explored the complexities of gentrification in East Palo Alto, California. I gathered and refined census data and visualized the shifts in local demographics before and after gentrification. This interdisciplinary experience highlighted the stark differences in approach between social science and fields like policy-making and engineering. While engineers often focus on the precision of predictions and the accuracy of black-box models, social scientists are drawn to unraveling and explaining intricate social phenomena. Policy-making, with its emphasis on driving progress, contrasts sharply with the social scientist’s dedication to detail and accuracy—a quality I find deeply compelling. This experience solidified my passion for explanatory work, especially in distinguishing between explanation and narrative.
I’ve also had the chance to travel to the US just for fun! Many of my friends are studying there, and it’s always a joy to spend time catching up and chatting with them. Interestingly, most of my trips have centered around Chicago or the Bay Area, leaving me less familiar with the East Coast. I’ve developed a particular fondness for Chicago—it has a unique vibe that feels completely different from any European city I know.
I’ll definitely keep hopping across the pond between the US and the UK, with my next stop being Washington, DC, for the PAA conference. I’m excited to explore the city and hopefully return with some new and interesting stories to share.
Haohao Lei 