Robert Huckfeldt – 2016 Ithiel de Sola Pool Award Recipient

The Ithiel de Sola Pool Award and Lectureship was established in 1995 by the Association to honor the memory and contributions of Ithiel de Sola Pool. The award honors a scholar whose research explores a broad range of fields pursued by Ithiel de Sola Pool including political theory, political behavior, political communication, science and technology policy, and international affairs.

Robert Huckfeldt photographed in his office in the Social Sciences and Humanities building on the UC Davis campus. Huckfeldt is the DIrector of the Institute of Governmental Affairs at the UC Center and Political Science Faculty member at UC Davis.
Robert Huckfeldt photographed in his office in the Social Sciences and Humanities building on the UC Davis campus. Huckfeldt is the DIrector of the Institute of Governmental Affairs at the UC Center and Political Science Faculty member at UC Davis.

Through his broad body of work spanning four decades and seventy publications in outlets ranging from the APSR, AJPS and JOP to Political Analysis, Robert Huckfeldt has left an indelible footprint on Political Science, particularly the fields of political behavior, public opinion, and communication, that reflects the spirit and legacy of Ithiel de Sola Pool.  From broad questions, such as how people make political decisions when they have little information, to more focused ones including the circumstances under which we accurately assess others’ political views, Huckfeldt has reminded us of the need to consider context, as well as the importance of people’s networks and the social structures in which they live and work, to understand their political behavior.

Special thanks to our committee Danielle Vinson (Chair), Furman University; Matt Baum, Harvard Kennedy School; Andy Gelman, Columbia University