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Isabel Epistelomogi, a computer science sophomore at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and research assistant at the Information Sciences Institute (ISI), is set to present at SXSW EDU 2025—the education-centered component of the well-known SXSW Festival—taking place March 3–6 in Austin, Texas.
As VP of Education Research & Analytics at the Institute for Youth in Policy (YIP)—a nonprofit dedicated to fostering civic engagement among young people—Epistelomogi will share her research on reducing political polarization through discourse-based civics education.
Her session, Civics by Students, for Students: Depolarizing via Discourse, was selected from over 1,400 proposals through a highly competitive process involving 43,000+ community votes and advisory board selection by industry leaders. The session will highlight how student-led, discourse-based learning can bridge political divides and foster civic engagement. It is based on her research, which shows that when students engage in structured political discourse, they not only develop a deeper understanding of complex issues but also become less polarized in their thinking.
A Research-Driven Approach to Polarization
At ISI, Epistelomogi studies political discourse and polarization under Emilio Ferrara, Professor of Computer Science at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, and Principal Scientist at ISI. In Ferrara’s HUMANS lab, she analyzes how ideological divides form and spread on social media platforms like TikTok, exploring how political narratives evolve in online spaces and providing insights into the mechanisms that drive polarization.
“At ISI, I’ve learned how to approach polarization using both computational methods and social science perspectives, which has shaped how I think about these issues,” said Epistelomogi, a CURVE Fellow in the Center for Undergraduate Research in Viterbi Engineering (CURVE) Program. CURVE provides Viterbi undergraduates with early research experience, mentorship, and professional development to prepare them for careers in engineering and computer science.
While her YIP research was conducted separately, her experiences at ISI have given her new insights into polarization—insights that shape her approach to the issues she’s presenting at SXSW EDU.
Bringing Data to Civics Education
“We were motivated by our personal experiences of seeing polarization in our communities,” said Epistelomogi, reflecting on what led her to study this topic.
In October 2024, Epistelomogi co-authored a study published in The Journal of Advanced Research in Social Sciences, analyzing how structured debates influence students’ ability to engage civically and understand opposing viewpoints. As part of YIP’s Education Department, a 50+ student team dedicated to fostering civic engagement through education and discourse, she has helped develop a 500+ page nonpartisan civics curriculum, organize student workshops, and contribute to peer-reviewed research on the impact of structured debates.
The YIP curriculum, which has reached over 500 students nationwide, encourages debate on contentious political issues—a departure from traditional civics education, which often avoids controversial topics. Her findings will be shared with educators, policymakers, and thought leaders at SXSW EDU, offering a new approach to teaching civics in a divided political climate. “This is an opportunity to show how students can be leaders in changing the way we talk about politics,” said Epistelomogi.
What’s Next?
Epistelomogi hopes that her presentation at SXSW EDU will not only share key findings but also spark new conversations about the role of discourse in civic education. “As first author of the study, I am especially excited to share our findings and practical applications at SXSW EDU,” she said.
Now in its 15th year, SXSW EDU showcases pressing social issues through the lens of education. The conference brings together educators, students, and industry leaders to exchange ideas, explore new solutions, and reimagine the future of learning.
Moving forward, YIP’s Education Department aims to expand the reach of its curriculum, gathering more data on its effectiveness and refining its approach based on feedback from students and educators. Meanwhile, Epistelomogi’s work at ISI continues to explore how online political discourse shapes public opinion, and she is considering how the computational methods she’s learning at ISI could be integrated into future research on discourse-based civics education.
By combining insights from both fields, she hopes to develop new strategies for reducing polarization both online and in the classroom.
Published on March 3rd, 2025
Last updated on March 5th, 2025
