In all the studies that have analyzed the relationship between health, life expectancy and socioeconomic factors, there is a clear trend: the higher the socioeconomic level, the better health and greater longevity. This relationship is known as the “social gradient in health.” Understanding the extent to which education, occupation, and income affect our physical well-being and longevity […] … learn more→

Engineering courses are a popular choice among South African university students. But these courses are also gruelling and the attrition rates are high. The Council on Higher Education reports that half of the engineering students enrolled at South African universities do not complete their studies. That figure is similar in other parts of the world. Yet, some students weather the storms of […] … learn more→

After 13-year-old Willis Gibson became the first human to beat the original Nintendo version of Tetris, he dedicated his special win to his father, who passed away in December 2023. The Oklahoma teen beat the game by defeating level after level until he reached the “kill screen” – that is, the moment when the Tetris artificial intelligence […] … learn more→

Have you ever found yourself thinking about loved ones during a boring meeting? Or going over the plot of a movie you recently watched during a drive to the supermarket? This is the cognitive phenomenon known as “mind wandering”. Research suggests it can account for up to 50% of our waking cognition (our mental processes when awake) […] … learn more→

A chatbot is an artificial intelligence-based assistant that communicates in real time with users via text or voice messages. Although they perform well in conversations and are able to respond immediately, in addition to possessing a greater amount of information, they are quantifiably worse than real teachers on several pedagogical dimensions. In an area as practical as physical-sports […] … learn more→

A pre-pandemic study on PhD students’ mental health showed that they often struggle with such issues. Financial insecurity and feelings of isolation can be among the factors affecting students’ wellbeing. The pandemic made the situation worse. We carried out research that looked into the impact of the pandemic on PhD students, surveying 1,780 students in summer 2020. We asked them […] … learn more→

Quite a few high-profile careers in higher education have been upended as of late amid questions of academic integrity. Marc Tessier-Lavigne, who had served as president of Stanford University for seven years, stepped down in 2023 after it was determined that he had falsified information for a dozen academic papers. The latest casualty is Claudine Gay, […] … learn more→

Do men and women learn differently? Beyond possible sociological or physiological differences, what our research among university students of Political Science is demonstrating is that gender has an impact on the learning process . Socialization involves the assumption of norms during childhood and adolescence that are internalized unconsciously. In a patriarchal system, socialization is carried out through gender norms that […] … learn more→

ChatGPT has repeatedly made headlines since its release late last year, with various scholars and professionals exploring its potential applications in both work and education settings. However, one area receiving less attention is the tool’s usefulness as a conversationalist and – dare we say – as a potential friend. Some chatbots have left an unsettling impression. Microsoft’s Bing chatbot […] … learn more→

Each year in Victoria, thousands of students disengage from school between the start of Year 9 and the end of Year 12. Many are expelled or suspended. Others simply switch off in class, skip lessons, or quit school to seek out different educational and training pathways. Whatever the reason, many high school teachers say something significant happens to school engagement levels around […] … learn more→