Monthly Archives: July 2024

Writers: how travel writing shapes youth

Writers: how travel writing shapes youth

It is a classic in our libraries. Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe tells the adventures of a hero shipwrecked on a desert island who learns to live by exploiting the resources of his environment. Since its publication in 1719, this story has been given to read to millions of children around the world. The fascination for elsewhere that […] … learn more→

Librarians have good reasons to ‘weed’ books from their shelves. Why is book removal so controversial?

Librarians have good reasons to ‘weed’ books from their shelves. Why is book removal so controversial?

Earlier this year, the removal of thousands of books to make room for renovations at Melbourne’s City Library prompted an outcry. Removing the books was “an absolute act of vandalism,” librarian Alice Bluer told The Age. The City of Melbourne argued the space was needed for other in-demand uses, such as “community meetings, study and co-working”. The collection would […] … learn more→

New research shows small lifestyle changes are linked to differences in teen mental health over time

New research shows small lifestyle changes are linked to differences in teen mental health over time

Judging by recent headlines and policy ideas, you might think screen time is the only lifestyle behaviour influencing teen wellbeing. But with young people struggling to deal with mounting mental health issues, it’s crucial we don’t get tunnel vision and instead remember all the lifestyle levers that can play a role. Our research, published today, tracked Australian high school students […] … learn more→

Trauma-sensitive climate change education can develop truthful hope

Trauma-sensitive climate change education can develop truthful hope

Summer is a time for educators and students to recharge. For educators, this opportunity to reflect and regroup often includes planning for how to support students in the next school year. It is becoming increasingly important that this support involves helping students navigate the impacts of the climate crisis. Doom and gloom discourses encountered at […] … learn more→

Schoolchildren at university: spaces of free choice that foster a scientific attitude

Schoolchildren at university: spaces of free choice that foster a scientific attitude

The laughter, noise and hubbub of children often resonate in the Faculty of Social Sciences of Manresa of the University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia. An academic context for training teachers who are not afraid of contact with infant schoolchildren (from 3 to 6 years old), in which we have created a laboratory designed to […] … learn more→

Catching online scammers: our model combines data and behavioural science to map the psychological games cybercriminals play

Catching online scammers: our model combines data and behavioural science to map the psychological games cybercriminals play

When fiction’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, needed to solve a crime, he turned to his sharp observational skills and deep understanding of human nature. He used this combination more than once when facing off against his arch-nemesis, Dr James Moriarty, a villain adept at exploiting human weaknesses for his gain. This classic battle mirrors today’s […] … learn more→

‘Whatchamacallit’, ‘gizmo’ and ‘thingamajig’: what we say when we can’t find the right word – and why

‘Whatchamacallit’, ‘gizmo’ and ‘thingamajig’: what we say when we can’t find the right word – and why

Over 50,000 years ago, humans started speaking and we’ve not shut up since. Sometimes, though, we struggle to remember the name of an object, a place, or a person we want to talk about. The technical term for this phenomenon is “lethologica”. While severe word-finding difficulties can be due to serious neurological issues, such as […] … learn more→

IQ tests: can you improve your score by practising?

IQ tests: can you improve your score by practising?

Most adults never have to take an IQ test. But tests for assessing students’ cognitive abilities, such as the cognitive ability test (Cat), are used in schools around the world. These tests are very similar to IQ tests. Taking them may be a pain for kids. Possibly, it’s an even bigger pain for parents. Just for a […] … learn more→

Deepfakes, doctored videos, don't believe your eyes or your ears!

Deepfakes, doctored videos, don’t believe your eyes or your ears!

Fact-checking and media literacy specialists thought they had found a way to combat “ deepfakes ” , these video manipulations based on artificial intelligence, with verification tools such as Invid-Werify and the work of image analysis skills (visual literacy), with programs such as Youverify.eu . But a few recent cases show that a new form of cyberattack has just been […] … learn more→

Getting over bad/limited advice – journal article introductions

Getting over bad/limited advice – journal article introductions

How do you start off a journal article – well, let’s say a conventional journal article*? I’ve  recently seen the important opening move of a paper described as “ introduce the larger subject, then narrow that larger subject into your topic”, “Write the context for your paper” and “Provide the background to your paper (What have […] … learn more→