Yiran Duan’s research focuses on cross-platform studies, examining how climate change–related information spreads within X (formerly Twitter) and across platforms from YouTube to X, as well as the users who facilitate this cross-platform diffusion. Yiran’s research also analyzes the content and comments of short- and long-format videos on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to compare climate change discourse across these platforms.
keywords
information science, social computing, social justice, science and technology studies, climate change, content analysis
Teaching
courses taught
INFO 1101 - Computation in Society
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2025 / Spring 2026
Introduces students to modern information and communication technology, the basic principles of software and programming, the fundamental role of algorithms in modern society, computational reasoning, the major organizations in the information sector and fundamental interactions between humans and information technology. Appropriate for students with limited prior experience with computing. Fulfills the CMDI computing requirement.
INFO 1701 - Programming for Information Science 1
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2025
Introduces principles of programming for information and data science using the Python programming language. Students will learn to understand, modify and create Python programs and will learn about programmatic techniques for exploring, discovering, and communicating information contained within various data sources. Degree credit not granted for this course and LING 1200 or CSCI 1200.
INFO 4601 - Information Ethics and Policy
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2026
Explores ethical and legal complexities of information and communication technology. By combining real-world inquiry with creative speculation, students will probe everyday ethical dilemmas they face as digital consumers, creators and coders, as well as relevant policy. Explores themes such as privacy, intellectual property, social justice, free speech, artificial intelligence, social media and ethical lessons from science fiction. Same as INFO 5601.
