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In an era of social, cultural, and political divides, the University of Delaware's social and political scientists have a singular focus—to advance the conversation. Dr. Jennifer Lambe, associate professor of communication at UD, exemplifies this goal. Since 2015, Lambe has been hosting free speech programs for the UD community, bringing to campus nationally recognized scholars, legal experts, non-profit leaders, and journalists to discuss issues related to the First Amendment.
Currently, Dr. Lambe is developing the Initiative on Free and Responsible Expression (I-FRE), with a mission to conduct research and engage the public about issues where free expression conflicts with other important values. Initial areas of emphasis include hate speech, misinformation, and the quality of public discourse. "The initiative formalizes work our faculty have been doing so we can maximize and grow its impact," said Lambe. "It has become apparent that some of the intractable issues of our time—the deliberate spread of misinformation, the coarseness of our political discourse, and the increase of hate speech—put freedom of expression at odds with other important social values. I-FRE starts from the premise that free expression is essential to democracy, but that the harms which sometimes result must be addressed in creative ways that maintain a commitment to free expression for everyone involved."
UD's civil discourse experts share common interests in public opinion, American electoral politics, messaging, identity, free speech, media, and psychology. Their research is nationally recognized in academic journals and the media. The following list highlights their research interests and initiatives, and includes links to their curricula vitae, websites, and news stories.