Pursuit
Cutting-edge research and insightful commentary by world-leading experts
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Keeping rural Australians out of hospital
Accessing health care in rural Australia is challenging, but without it, patients can end up in hospital for preventable reasons
Humanities
Changing the narrative on refugees
Governments and the media must stop spreading harmful narratives and negative stereotypes about those seeking refugee protection
Science Matters
Understanding how a cell becomes a person - with maths
There are trillions of cells in the human body, and researchers are developing new mathematics to understand how they work
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.
Fixing the blind spot in nuclear inspections
A organisational blind spot led to a ‘that’s the way we do things around here’ approach at the IAEA, but that's changing, says University of Melbourne expert.
How remote work is invading our spaces
While work needs to happen somewhere, in a post-pandemic world, that somewhere can be anywhere. But is that a good thing, asks University of Melbourne expert.
Understanding how a cell becomes a person - with maths
There are trillions of cells in the human body, and University of Melbourne researchers are developing new mathematics to understand how they work.
Humanities
Fixing the blind spot in nuclear inspections
A blind spot in safeguards culture led to a ‘that’s the way we do things around here’ approach at the IAEA – but lessons have been learned since Iraq
Humanities
How remote work is invading our spaces
While work needs to take place somewhere, in a post-pandemic world, that somewhere can be anywhere. But is that a good thing?
Humanities
South Korea: Green growth or greenwashing?
Calling South Korea’s green economic agenda ‘greenwashing’ misrepresents one of the world’s best examples of uniting economic growth and environmental sustainability
Health & Wellbeing
Women are doing too much and it’s hurting their mental health
Women still do the bulk of unpaid work at home while also holding down a job. A first-of-its-kind review finds it’s taking a toll on their mental health
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COVID-19
Health & Medicine
The COVID-19 vaccine difference between men and women
New research finds there is a sex difference when it comes to the effectiveness and side effects of COVID-19 vaccines
Health & Wellbeing
It’s time to drop COVID-19 vaccine mandates
Vaccine mandates helped to save lives but COVID-19 variants mean they can no longer justified and are hampering the health system
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
Engineering & Technology
Reducing COVID-19 transmission without costing the Earth
While opening windows reduces COVID-19 spread, it also increases buildings’ energy use – new research has tested more efficient alternatives
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?
Sciences & Technology
Science Matters
Digging deep for dark matter
A dark matter laboratory at the bottom of a gold mine in rural Victoria could make one of the biggest scientific discoveries ever – proving the existence of dark matter
Science Matters
Be alert, not alarmed about foot and mouth disease
The spread of foot-and-mouth disease to Bali was not unexpected, but what we each do next will determine the consequences for Australia
Science Matters
Using mathematics to treat malaria
Parasite resistance to anti-malaria drugs is a growing challenge, but by using mathematical models researchers can track different types of resistance to help agencies target effective treatments
Under the Microscope
The palaeontology field keeps you on your toes
Palaeontologist Dr Vera Korasidis was torn between becoming a ballerina or unearthing fossils. Fresh from a dig in Wyoming’s Badlands, she knows she made the right choice
Science Matters
Drugging plants to learn their secrets
Discovering chemicals that affect plant circadian rhythms could improve crop yields – bringing us a step closer to ‘chronoculture’
Animals, Food & You
Protecting Australia from foot-and-mouth disease
Australia has been free of foot-and-mouth disease since 1872, but outbreaks in neighbouring countries are a cause for concern
Politics & Society
Health & Medicine
Humble learning
The Garma Festival is an invitation to walk and work with the oldest living culture in the world — to listen deeply with purpose
Humanities
I guess she won’t be writing the memoir
Defamation laws are having a chilling effect on non-fiction so those keen to get behind a story like Depp v Heard are likely to be left wanting
Science Matters
Young people are mapping viable futures
Around the world young people are facing multiple challenges and we can learn from their increasingly interconnected and ethical approach to living
Health & Wellbeing
Indigenous data governance for the 21st century
There is power in Indigenous data sovereignty and a new project aims to create an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Data Commons to empower communities
Design
Seeing the invisible vulnerable in our cities
The Global South’s urban poor are often violently displaced and excluded from the processes and places which determine their lives
Arts & Culture
Music, Arts & Screen
The music app supporting dementia care at home
A new app aims to train family carers of people with dementia to use music to support care and reduce symptoms at home
Science Matters
We are Country
Ensuring research is culturally safe isn’t as simple as acknowledging Country and the species within, we must recognise and empower Indigenous Knowledge systems
Health & Medicine
Bringing a living archive to life
The Living Archive challenges the idea of what an Indigenous museum collection can be and could become
Humanities
How data expertise is fostering endangered languages
The PARADISEC digital archive model revitalising endangered languages around the Pacific has now been taken up in North America by the Cherokee Nation
Music, Arts & Screen
How the VCA’s history can help shape Melbourne’s future
As the VCA celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, what lessons can Melbourne’s post-lockdown artists draw from the institution’s rich history?
Music, Arts & Screen
Sustaining song and spirit
The decade-long Junba Project in the Kimberley has helped revitalise the public song-and-dance tradition, strengthening community spirit and the confidence of young people
Health & Medicine
Health & Medicine
Restoring the lives of Australians with PTSD
Australia’s largest ever treatment trial of PTSD in military personnel and veterans is delivering game-changing results
Health & Wellbeing
Do you feel lucky?
Two new studies find that beliefs in luck and predicting the future vary around the world, for unexpected reasons
Health & Wellbeing
Who is at fault when medical software gets it wrong?
Clinical decision support software is beneficial but if it malfunctions, a doctor’s duty of care likely makes them liable
Health & Wellbeing
New stem cell models for ageing and eye diseases
Using stem cell modelling, researchers have developed genetic roadmaps for two of the world’s leading causes of irreversible blindness
Health & Wellbeing
Can telehealth be used for effective palliative care?
Research with palliative care patients and their clinicians on remote delivery suggests that, while it offers new opportunities, it can’t replace in-person connection
Environment
Design
Designing homes for extreme weather
The devastating effects of extreme weather mean we must design homes to protect human life and buildings. Failure to do so risks some areas becoming ‘uninsurable’
Design
Planning a sense of place
An informal settlement in Iran provides an insight into the politics of place in our cities for the most marginalised people
Design
Better bus networks for fairer suburbs can cut emissions
Zero-emission buses are important but we also need to redesign suburban networks to get people out of their cars
Design
Clear skies and longer lives
Global COVID-19 pandemic restrictions provided a natural experiment in understanding the relationship between transport and air pollution
Design
Building resilience in remote communities
Noronha is a remote archipelago off Brazil’s coast, but it could provide insights into the challenges to building community and urban resilience
Design
Lifting standards in Victoria’s building industry
Victoria’s regulatory system leaves home-buyers vulnerable, but the Government has an opportunity to raise the bar for builders
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
Game on for collaborative learning
Video games, collaborative tasks and explicit instruction are helping neurodiverse children learn crucial social skills
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
Business & Economics
Inside Business
Can ethical leaders make teams more creative?
Research suggests that ethical leaders provide their teams with emotional confidence that helps to foster creativity
Inside Business
The cascading crisis of global food supply chains
The world is experiencing a food crisis linked to war and climate change – but there are some possible solutions to soften the blow
Inside Business
Persistent poverty is a major policy issue
While having a job is often crucial to lifting people out of poverty, adequate income support and child care are also critical
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
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?