As part of the recent announcement that A Levels and GCSEs in arts subjects in England are to be made more “rigorous and demanding”, the secretary of state for education, Michael Gove, said he was “passionate about great art, drama, dance, music and design, and determined to ensure every child enjoys access to the best […] … learn more→

I am no sports enthusiast. As a child and young man, I balked at my father’s well-meaning attempts to involve me in team sports. For most of my adult life, I haven’t worried much about this gap in my skill set. As a scholar and educator, I have found the boundary between collegiate learning and […] … learn more→

This was no surprise: Deluged by more applications than ever, the most selective colleges are, inevitably, rejecting a vast majority, including legions of students they once would have accepted. Admissions directors at these institutions say that most of the students they turn down are such strong candidates that many are indistinguishable from those who get […] … learn more→

Admin: “Plans for the new building are now available in the Administration Building. Please feel free to review them and make suggestions!” –it doesn’t matter if most of the rooms in the existing buildings are empty most of the time, there are always plans for new buildings. Every university I’ve set foot on has had […] … learn more→

In this post Judy explains why on earth she wanted to write a recipe book, and shares one of her favourite recipes aimed at PhD students. One of my favourite projects this year has been editing an academic recipe book with my co-conspirators Alison Williams and Derek Jones. It’s all about practical ways in which […] … learn more→

It was an odd but invigorating media cycle for me last week. The week began with publication of my essay on why the “impossible” experiences of precognition, clairvoyance, and mystical experience may well be keys to unlocking the nature of consciousness and the mind-brain relationship and why the sciences and the humanities need one another […] … learn more→

The phrase “Natural History” is linked in most people’s minds today with places that use the phrase: the various Natural History Museums, or television programmes narrated so evocatively by renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough. As times have changed, used in its traditional sense the phrase now has an almost archaic ring to it, perhaps recalling […] … learn more→

The fierce debate about the future of higher education in America has clarified some issues even as it has polarized national thinking on the question. While most people agree that current models need rethinking, few have answered where we would be without a vibrant, multifaceted higher-education sector. Two points are critical to this discussion: stimulating […] … learn more→

Before the economic crash of 2008, predatory lending ran wild, targeting millions of Americans with high-interest loans, credit cards and mortgages they could easily obtain but couldn\’t afford to repay. The Daily Kos describes how banks preyed on victims unable to keep afloat with aggressive payments or adjust to the fine print, and while most […] … learn more→