COSMOS Research Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock is proud to highlight U.S. Senator John Boozman’s continued support for its research in online behavior, social media analytics, and national security. The support recognizes COSMOS’s role in advancing research that helps address emerging challenges in the digital information environment, including disinformation, foreign influence operations, and cognitive threats.

The online behavioral research conducted by COSMOS is so important now because of all the disinformation in the world,” U.S. Senator John Boozman said. “I am pleased to support UA Little Rock and its Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies. This award recognizes the significance of this program to our national security,” Senator Boozman said. “The important research conducted here will enhance our ability to counter the use of novel social media tactics by foreign extremists and terrorist groups threatening the United States and our allies.”

Through its interdisciplinary research, COSMOS studies how information spreads across online networks and develops analytical tools to detect, model, and understand coordinated digital behavior. This work contributes to national defense and security efforts by strengthening capabilities to identify and respond to adversarial narratives, influence campaigns, and emerging threats across social media platforms.

“We are extremely grateful for the support from UA Little Rock leadership and U.S. Senator John Boozman for championing this vital research,” Prof. Nitin Agarwal said. “This funding will help COSMOS Research Center to continue to develop analytical tools and capabilities to strengthen our national defense and security apparatus against cognitive threats.”

Prof. Agarwal continued, “The support allows us to deepen our research impact while preparing students to lead in high-demand intelligence and analytics fields.”