Monthly Archives: July 2021

Australia badly needs earth science skills, but universities are cutting the supply

Australia badly needs earth science skills, but universities are cutting the supply

Earth science is vital to Australia’s economic and environmental future but we are dramatically decreasing our earth science capability. Earth scientists work not only in mining and mineral exploration (which contribute 11% of Australia’s GDP) but also in fields such as environmental science, groundwater monitoring for the agricultural and environmental sectors, geotechnical work for the construction […] … learn more→

Feeling like an imposter? ask “what’s going on here?”

Feeling like an imposter? ask “what’s going on here?”

The term imposter syndrome is everywhere. People “have it”, “suffer from it” or “ have a bad case of it.” Imposter syndrome is a term that worries me. I’ve been concerned at how it’s used for quite some time. I’m hardly the only one. The original inventors of the term, Pauline Clance and Suzanne Innes, rejected […] … learn more→

Advantages and disadvantages of online learning

Advantages and disadvantages of online learning

Learning is an activity that has to go on throughout our lives if we wish to improve our lives. People who keep learning despite facing obstacles, swear by the positive changes that learning promotes. In the current era of the internet, learning has become accessible to so many people in ways like never before. Even […] … learn more→

Thinking of choosing a health or PE subject in years 11 and 12? Here’s what you need to know

Thinking of choosing a health or PE subject in years 11 and 12? Here’s what you need to know

From kindergarten to year 10, all Australian students follow the national health and physical education (HPE) curriculum. This expands in years 11 and 12 with a range of health and physical education selection options. Depending on which state you live in, you may be able to do year 11 and 12 health and physical education subjects […] … learn more→

Unis are killing the critical study of religion, and it will only make campuses more religious

Unis are killing the critical study of religion, and it will only make campuses more religious

Global developments in tertiary education suggest the critical scientific study of religion is endangered. One of the departments slated for extinguishment amid the pandemic-related upheavals was my own at the University of Sydney. This reflects a trend that has captured the academy in Australia and worldwide. If we take South Australia as an example, over the past decade programs […] … learn more→

Pandemic has teens feeling worried, unmotivated and disconnected from school

Pandemic has teens feeling worried, unmotivated and disconnected from school

When the COVID-19 pandemic started, many U.S. teens were more worried about the disruption to their education than the possibility of getting sick. A May 2020 survey of high school students found that they reported academics and work habits to be among their biggest challenges, ahead of mental and physical health. Nearly three-quarters (72%) indicated they were “very […] … learn more→

Canceling student loan debt will barely boost the economy, but a targeted approach could help certain groups

Canceling student loan debt will barely boost the economy, but a targeted approach could help certain groups

At the end of June 2021, 43 million borrowers – or about 14% of all adults in the U.S. – owed approximately US$1.59 trillion in outstanding federal student loans. Although in many cases the media has focused on borrowers with extremely large balances – such as the orthodontist who owes over $1 million in student loans – the average balance is […] … learn more→

How do social networks influence adolescents?

How do social networks influence adolescents?

Adolescence is a stage marked by the construction and consolidation of one’s identity and personality. During this period, the peer group and social relationships play a leading role. Hence, the incursion and massive expansion of social networks is of great importance in the development of adolescents. Classical authors like Erikson have already postulated that, throughout adolescence, we need […] … learn more→