Imagine that you are an examiner. You are reading a doctoral thesis. And you’ve nearly got to the end. You’ve read a lot of carefully crafted words which have explained what the research is and why it is as it is. You’ve read the results and what these mean and how they fit with the current […] … learn more→
Author Archives: Kevin
Category is – limitations, part 2 – the thesis conclusion
This anthropology course looks at building design from the standpoint of different species
Title of course: Space/Power/Species What prompted the idea for the course? A few years ago, I came across the architect Joyce Hwang’s artificial habitat for bats at the Griffis Sculpture Park in upstate New York. Titled “Bat Tower,” this outdoor installation was designed to house the little brown bat, an endangered species threatened by a fungal infection […] … learn more→
AI could be the breakthrough that allows humanoid robots to jump from science fiction to reality
Humanoid robots have long been a staple of science fiction, but there is now real progress being made. A range of new models made by or backed by the likes of Boston Dynamics, Tesla and OpenAI are able to walk and move like humans, as well as perform feats of agility and dexterity. But it’s the ability to incorporate artificial […] … learn more→
Playing to prosper: How sports participation leads to long-term success for girls
The 2024 Paris Olympics mark the first gender-equitable Olympic Games in history, with equal numbers of men and women athletes. Audiences today are being exposed to the phenomenal accomplishments of women athletes more than ever before. This year also saw the launch of the Professional Women’s Hockey League. Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league, the Northern Super League, is set to […] … learn more→
Love for cats lures students into this course, which uses feline research to teach science
Title of course: “The Science of Cats” What prompted the idea for the course? I’m an evolutionary biologist who has spent my career studying the evolution of small lizards in the Caribbean. I’m also a lifelong cat lover, but it never occurred to me to do anything scientific with house cats. They’re hard to study – […] … learn more→
We’re told to limit kids’ screen time. But how does it actually affect their health?
If you’re a parent, you’ll be well-acquainted with one of the more hotly debated parenting topics: screen time and kids. On the one hand, screen time helps kids learn, develop creativity and supports social interaction and connection. But too much screen time can negatively impact your child – not just their development but their physical […] … learn more→
Multiple goals, multiple solutions, plenty of second-guessing and revising − here’s how science really works
A man in a lab coat bends under a dim light, his strained eyes riveted onto a microscope. He’s powered only by caffeine and anticipation. This solitary scientist will stay on task until he unveils the truth about the cause of the dangerous disease quickly spreading through his vulnerable city. Time is short, the stakes […] … learn more→
Astronomy ‘Olympics’ is being hosted in Africa for the first time: 4 big talking points
Cutting-edge telescopes, gravitational waves, black holes and our solar system’s central star, the Sun, are just a few of the topics that will be on the table in Cape Town, South Africa, for an event that’s a scientific version of the Olympic Games – though the world’s leading astronomy researchers in attendance will be showcasing […] … learn more→
A US Court has ruled Google is an illegal monopoly – and the internet might never be the same
On Monday a US federal judge ruled Google has violated antitrust laws, saying the organisation is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly. Google disputes the ruling. Its president of global affairs, Kent Walker, said “this decision recognises that Google offers the best search engine, but concludes that we shouldn’t be allowed […] … learn more→
Students gain confidence in US democracy by participating in elections and campaigns for their homework
Title of course: Campaigns and Elections, in Theory and Practice What prompted the idea for the course? I noticed many of my students, including those interested in political science, had never actually engaged in politics beyond voting. I also saw that many of the clubs and activities that helped me make friends when I was a […] … learn more→
