Pursuit
Cutting-edge research and insightful commentary by world-leading experts
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Broken parachutes
The 2022 election is yet another sign that the days of ‘parachuted in’ star power are over – voters want candidates with grassroots
Health & Wellbeing
Taking on blood cancer - actively
Having blood cancer can be overwhelming, but professionally-guided exercise even when unwell is safe and can boost recovery
Health & Wellbeing
Tracking avian influenza to safeguard Australia
Outbreaks of avian influenza are accelerating in the Northern Hemisphere, and while the risk to Australia is small, it’s important we monitor the situation closely
The maths and ethics of minimising COVID-19 deaths
A University of Melbourne experts says the government must factor in the maths and ethics of either flattening the curve or an eradication endgame for COVID-19.
Modelling the spread of COVID-19
Forecasting the spread of COVID-19 including undetected cases is difficult but important; a University of Melbourne scientist has an app to track the outlook.
Why do some people believe the Earth is flat?
Although science says the Earth is round, there are some people around who still think it's flat; two University of Melbourne experts look at why.
Broken parachutes
The 2022 election shows that the days of ‘parachuted in’ star power are over – voters want candidates with grassroots, says University of Melbourne expert
Hearing the white noise
We need to go beyond the institutional hypocrisy of Reconciliation Week and start addressing the racism in our law system, says University of Melbourne expert
Taking on blood cancer - actively
Having blood cancer can be overwhelming, but professionally-guided exercise even when unwell is safe and can boost recovery, says University of Melbourne expert
Health & Wellbeing
Living with a rare genetic disorder
This month is Ehlers Danlos Awareness Month – a group of rare hereditary syndromes that, if diagnosed early, can be managed to slow their progression
Legal Affairs
The AI pretenders
As artificial intelligence advances, should we be concerned about robots and virtual bots pretending to be human or human like?
Health & Wellbeing
Why are we so vulnerable to bad information?
Identifying misinformation is difficult for all of us, but we can make it easier by being aware of our biases and wary of strong emotions
Humanities
Fifty shades of teal
The independent “teal” candidates have shaken up the 2022 Australian election campaign, but there are plenty of idiosyncrasies among them
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COVID-19
Health & Medicine
Uncovering the triggers of severe COVID-19 in kids
New research finds that proteins in the blood may tell us the triggers of severe COVID-19 in children
Learning & Teaching
How COVID lockdowns affected our relationships
COVID-19 forced many of us to stay at home. For some this was a positive, bringing families closer together. But for others, it was lonely and overwhelming
Inside Business
COVID-19’s ongoing supply chain chaos
As we head into the holidays, COVID-19’s disruption to our supply chains has created shortages, backlogs and global delays – but are we over the worst of it?
Science Matters
Which air cleaners work best to remove aerosols that contain viruses?
Many air cleaners claim to remove SARS-CoV-2 virus particles from our homes, offices and classrooms – so what should you be looking for?
Health & Wellbeing
Giving students time for recovery and learning
Over the next years, our focus shouldn’t be to rapidly return schools to the old ‘normal’, but to provide students with adequate time and support to enjoy learning and retain knowledge and skills
Politics & Society
Legal Affairs
Using design to put voters at the heart of elections
Digital technologies give us the opportunity to transform voting to better engage people in the electoral system
Politics & Society
Why wait? Treaty and the Federal election
First Nations Peoples shouldn’t have to wait for non-Indigenous Australians and the Government to catch up when it comes to committing to Treaty
Humanities
Our government must trust the experts
The pandemic saw a rise in anti-expert sentiment, including from government, but does the public really distrust the advice of experts?
Health & Wellbeing
Challenging five years of transphobia
The real-world impact of the ‘transgender debate’ is unrelenting on Australia’s trans community, however, small but visible acts of allyship can go a long way
Legal Affairs
First Nations peoples as political designers
Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders must step back into their ancient role as political designers to reimagine relationships and reshape institutions
Health & Wellbeing
Embracing queer Indigenous Australia
Health services need to cater to the whole person as a human right, and that includes Indigenous LGBTIQ+ Australians
Arts & Culture
Humanities
The hidden stories in Australia’s cultural data
Digitised cultural databases are a treasure house of information that are telling us the missing stories in Australia’s cultural history
Humanities
A nomadic sense of home
Home is often understood as a fixed point in space that’s tied to territory, but nomadic communities remind us that home can be cultivated on the move
Humanities
Miniature Qur’ans and travelling manuscripts
Didar: Stories of Middle Eastern Manuscripts is a new exhibition from the Grimwade Centre bringing together themes of making and cultural knowledge
Music, Arts & Screen
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune
There’s no easy answer to writing great plays but part of the magic comes from empathy, experience and all that is wondrous and strange
Humanities
The Oscars shift from big screen to TV stream
Apple TV+’s best picture win for CODA crowned a night of important firsts at the Oscars, but what a streaming win means for the future of cinema is still to be seen
Health & Medicine
Health & Wellbeing
Following cancer’s status updates
Developing cancer tumours shed microscopic amounts of information into our bloodstream and deciphering these messages provides new ways to diagnose and treat it
Health & Wellbeing
Our genetic strength in numbers
By combining global datasets, researchers can give more people access to genomic medicine, personalised treatment and knowledge of human DNA and disease
Health & Wellbeing
Will Australia be left behind in the cancer genomics revolution?
Australia’s world-class medical research has transformed cancer care, but patients may not see the benefits of new genetic testing without new funding models
Health & Wellbeing
Improving the care and wellbeing of cancer survivors
As cancer detection and treatment improves, our healthcare system needs to provide more holistic care for life, long after cancer
Health & Medicine
How our brain’s sensorimotor processing areas could flag psychosis risk
Brain markers of sensory and motor function reflect disturbances in early development that can increase the risk of later psychosis
Health & Medicine
Uncovering the triggers of severe COVID-19 in kids
New research finds that proteins in the blood may tell us the triggers of severe COVID-19 in children
Sciences & Technology
Science Matters
Q&A: Seeing a ‘cosmic monster’
Scientists have captured the first direct images of a giant black hole at the centre of the Milky Way - but what does it tell us?
Science Matters
What ancient pollen tells us about future climate change
Pollen preserved in rocks for more than 56 million years reconstruct Earth’s major climatic transition that caused mass plant migration
Science Matters
Dengue-blocking mosquitoes here to stay
Mosquitoes carrying anti-viral bacteria show remarkable stability a decade since their release in field trials. New strains have now been developed to help future-proof dengue control
Animals, Food & You
Science can help dogs enjoy their best life
A new TV series explores the journey of dogs, but science is giving us new insights into how we can help our canine friends thrive
Science Matters
Piecing thylacine DNA back together
New research is using genomes from living thylacine relatives to build a new, chromosome-scale genome for the de-extinction of the Tasmanian tiger
Business & Economics
Animals, Food & You
Australia’s risky food supply chains
Australia can’t rely on industry and charities to feed people during disasters - government must lead in food security
Inside Business
How we’ve changed in 20 years
The HILDA Survey is into its 20th year and shows a changing and generally well-functioning society but also reveals the pressure points
Inside Business
Every Sherlock needs a Watson (or two)
Creatives often need colleagues to be catalysts, but how can organisations identify and foster these catalysts – and can too much become cataclysmic?
Inside Business
What’s the impact of self-control on our lives?
Greater self-control is associated with improved life outcomes including health and satisfaction
Inside Business
A third of Australians under chronic time stress
The HILDA survey suggests that not having enough time is a significant social problem with ramifications for health and wellbeing
Inside Business
Encouraging responsible sourcing in our supply chains
We may all want our products to be sourced responsibly but mathematical modelling suggests firms need low-cost ways to signal their credentials, and more of us taking notice
Environment
Science Matters
Disconnect: Climate change and the Australian election
Climate change is one of the top issues for the majority of Australian voters, so why are the major parties ignoring it ahead of the election?
Design
Mapping climate policy
Climate policy across Australia is fragmented, but researchers are aiming to use big data to make better sense of it
Learning & Teaching
Australians more concerned about climate change than COVID-19
The top concern for most Australians is the impact of climate change and the environment
Legal Affairs
Women leading the fight against climate change
Women and girls are disproportionately impacted by climate change. But they are also at the forefront of global efforts fighting for change
Animals, Food & You
Australia’s risky food supply chains
Australia can’t rely on industry and charities to feed people during disasters - government must lead in food security
Education
Learning & Teaching
Nurturing nature in schools for enhanced learning
New research shows that engagement with nature can help enhance attention and memory in school children which are critical for learning
Learning & Teaching
Is EQ more important than ever?
As we ask students to become more globally competent, the need to develop social and emotional skills – or emotional intelligence – is more essential than ever
Learning & Teaching
Crafting your work to increase job satisfaction
By enabling staff to take greater control over their work while meeting company goals, job crafting helps drive greater employee engagement, wellbeing and retention
Public Affairs
Australia’s universities must become more welcoming
Refugees and asylum seekers in Australia face a myriad of challenges in accessing higher education. Welcoming Universities is a new initiative that aims to change that
Health & Wellbeing
What makes us mistake 1 number 4 another?
Research is showing that number confusion is shaped not just by the numbers, but also the culture and experience of the viewer
Learning & Teaching
Uncomfortable truths from a town to a nation
The storytelling in Tennant Creek is a microcosm of Australia’s struggle to come to terms with its past