Higher education has always been valued in the United States, even in today\’s world, where some argue increased tuition costs and shrinking financial returns are tarnishing the worth of a degree. Even so, enrollment in recognized institutions grew by 37 percent between 2000 and 2010, from 15.3 million students to 21 million. While student enrollment […] … learn more→

bioterrorism. Biological storage facilities are seen to be the ultimate safeguard for sensitive biological materials. These facilities usually experience very few accidents or errors over the course of large periods of time. However, many people are unaware of just how many every day threats there are to biological storage facilities. This article will introduce you […] … learn more→

Toronto politics has never been the stuff of international headlines. A prosperous and cosmopolitan metropolis that has attracted a million new residents every decade since the end of the World War Two, Toronto’s quiet virtue has been honest, uncontroversial, and competent government. But, as any connoisseurs of Twitter or late-night comedy television will tell you, […] … learn more→

Mike Alewitz’s post “Bert the Turtle Meets Fear and Loathing on Campus” has made the following item seem especially apropos. The item has appeared in somewhat different form on the site Futility Closet (www.futilitycloset.com). ——————————————————————————————————– When minister Francis Bellamy published the American Pledge of Allegiance in Youth’s Companion in 1892, his colleague James Upham devised […] … learn more→

Since August of 2011, on what started out as a book tour, I\’ve visited more than 80 campuses, research centers, association meetings, corporate events, foundations, academic leadership gatherings, and policy centers. The conversations have been as diverse as the institutions themselves, but there\’s been one notable area of concurrence: the shortage of talented faculty leaders […] … learn more→

Graduate study for the Ph.D. in the United States presents a curious paradox. Our universities have developed thousands of distinguished scientists and scholars. More than half the winners of Nobel Prizes in the sciences and economics from 1997 to 2007 did their graduate work in this country, continuing a pattern that has persisted since the […] … learn more→

There was a turtle by the name of Bert And Bert the Turtle was very alert When danger threatened him he never got hurt He knew just what to do – He’d duck and cover, duck and cover He’d hide his head and tail and four little feet He’d duck and cover! You may not […] … learn more→

Nowadays, most academic disciplines are pretty closed shops. Sure, they might have the odd study that involves another discipline and there might be the odd paper calling for greater collaboration but the limits of collaboration are firmly set. We all know the rules. If you need help with research, you are expected to go talk […] … learn more→

In recent years, I’ve had to deal with parents much more frequently than I ever imagined I would have to as a college professor. One father even tried to blackmail me into giving his son easier work and higher grades so that he wouldn’t lose his football scholarship. I’m not alone: Many of my colleagues […] … learn more→

Sri Lanka’s hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting has gotten off to a troubled start, with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh withdrawing his participation over the host country’s human rights record. This follows a decision by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to also boycott the event due to human rights concerns. British Prime […] … learn more→