Rutgers launching 'Democracy Lab' to battle disinformation, inspire future voters

By Tina Kelley | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Updated: Nov. 22, 2024, 12:33 p.m.|Published: Nov. 22, 2024, 12:06 p.m.

Rutgers University is launching a “Democracy Lab” to promote civil discourse and political participation, school officials announced Friday.

The lab, based at the Eagleton Institute of Politics in New Brunswick, is designed to help students recognize disinformation, engage effectively with people who hold different views, and tackle the challenges facing American democracy.

“We want to encourage democratic participation at every level and provide generations to come with the tools they need to be informed and involved citizens throughout their lives,” Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway said.

snip

The nonpartisan Democracy Lab will launch in January. It has been in the works for a year, but Holloway said the recent election underscored the need for more engaged and informed voters. That is especially important after social media and podcasts, some of which spread misinformation, had an outsized influence in November’s election, he said.

https://www.nj.com/education/2024/11/rutgers-launching-democracy-lab-to-battle-disinformation-inspire-future-voters.html