Monthly Archives: August 2016

Is it OK to teach grown-ups?

Is it OK to teach grown-ups?

Question (from “Daisy”): After a tough swim through sharks, I finally got tenure at “Jekyll Community College.” I’ve now been offered another opportunity — or at least I think it’s one. The college’s Golden Adult Enrichment Program has invited me to teach a course in my specialty, modern American history, for students over 50. The […] … learn more→

Investing in science can help put food on Africa’s plates

Investing in science can help put food on Africa’s plates

Food shortages, hunger, starvation and long-term food security are not new issues in Africa, nor elsewhere in the developing world. Food security means that all people, at all times, have both physical and economic access to enough food for an active, healthy life. The most recent figures suggest that food security is far from a […] … learn more→

Ten tips on applying for a postdoc fellowship

Ten tips on applying for a postdoc fellowship

Start early and gather critical information Crafting a competitive fellowship can take six to nine months, so it is imperative that you start early. You may even want to start looking for postdoctoral fellowships before you finish your doctoral degree. Compile a comprehensive list of fellowships that you can apply to. This list should include […] … learn more→

What role should universities play in today’s society?

What role should universities play in today’s society?

Universities historically exist as institutions for the creation and dispersion of knowledge. But today, many young people enter university solely to prepare for careers. In an era of demand-driven funding – where universities have the option to recruit as many students as they wish – is it beneficial for most young people to hold a […] … learn more→

Admin pepper spraying students resigns…Took 5 years.

Admin pepper spraying students resigns…Took 5 years.

Earlier I covered a public university spending a huge sum of money, over $400,000 (they’re still trying to figure out exactly how much), more than enough for full scholarships for a hundred students at a fairly priced university, instead the money was spent just to bury some minor bad press on Google. Obviously, the mainstream […] … learn more→

What do aliens look like? The clue is in evolution

What do aliens look like? The clue is in evolution

Speculating about what aliens look like has kept children, film producers and scientists amused for decades. If they exist, will extra terrestrials turn out to look similar to us, or might they take a form beyond our wildest imaginings? The answer to this question really depends on how we think evolution works at the deepest […] … learn more→

Should writing for the public count toward tenure?

Should writing for the public count toward tenure?

Many pressing issues have been calling for attention these days – the unprecedented increase in mortality rates among white Americans, the Black Lives Matter movement and the upending of the Republican Party. At the root of many of these issues are complex sociological reasons. For example, there is good reason to believe that the the […] … learn more→

Mandela effect rising?

Mandela effect rising?

I’m in the mood to talk about something besides higher education (it does happen), and something recently just blew my mind. The Mandela Effect is a relatively recent (or at least recently defined) phenomenon, where a certain proportion of the population doesn’t remember what is considered “accepted” reality, instead recalling things slightly differently. It comes […] … learn more→

Why academics should make time for social media

Why academics should make time for social media

Keeping up with social media has become a full-time job. Nearly every week, something new pops up promising to revolutionise how we connect with our students, develop our research profiles or achieve a bigger impact in the public domain. So where should we focus our attention as higher educators, to ensure that we don’t stretch ourselves […] … learn more→