In June 2024, the Australian government ended the Women in STEM Ambassador program. The decision followed a report that urged a broader, intersectional approach to diversity in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). For six years, under the leadership of astrophysicist Lisa Harvey-Smith, the program contributed to research, tools and resources aimed at breaking […] … learn more→
Author Archives: Kevin
One year ago, Australia scrapped a key equity in STEM program. Where are we now?
100 years ago, the Supreme Court made a landmark ruling on parents’ rights in education – today, another case raises new questions
A century ago, the Supreme Court handed down one of its most important cases about education. On June 1, 1925, the court struck down an Oregon statute requiring all students to attend public school – a law critics argued was meant to limit faith-based schools, at a time when anti-Catholic bias was still common in parts of […] … learn more→
How do social media influence what we see on television?
In a society where 86% of Internet users aged 12 to 74 use social media , it’s inevitable that traditional media outlets will focus on what’s happening there to find current affairs. Furthermore, we must consider that internet penetration (90%) has already surpassed television use (82.4%) in Spain, according to the General Media Study . Television previously held a […] … learn more→
Are influencers villains, victims or champions of change? The reality is more complex
Social media influencers have become cultural powerhouses, setting trends, shaping lifestyles and even swaying political views. As their influence grows, so do ethical debates about them: are they villains exploiting their audiences, victims of an unregulated industry or champions driving positive change? In our chapter in the recently released book, Influencer Marketing, we synthesized existing literature to […] … learn more→
Dealing with perfectionism
Some academic writers are crippled by the desire to write perfect prose from the very start. Even though they know that the first draft is always rough, they find writing rough difficult. They have what writing advice calls an over-active inner critic. Rather than saving that little critical voice for reading and refining the first […] … learn more→
Your WhatsApp messages could get you sacked
It’s late evening and your phone vibrates with some banter from colleagues. You join the conversation and go to bed feeling part of the work community. You then wake up and have a feeling of apprehension as to how the messages will be perceived. WhatsApp might have started as a casual messaging app for friends, […] … learn more→
Seven methods to achieve optimal academic performance
Let’s imagine two students with similar abilities in different academic, social, and family environments. Logic tells us that the better the environmental conditions (quality teaching, a stimulating environment, personalized attention, or a family atmosphere conducive to study), the better their academic results will be. And yet, we often encounter students who, against all odds, achieve […] … learn more→
Rewarding is not the same as motivating: how dopamine works in learning
Dopamine is a key neurotransmitter in the brain. It’s involved in essential functions such as movement, motivation, and learning . It’s often referred to as the “pleasure neurotransmitter” because it’s so prevalent in reward systems: those that drive us to repeat things that make us feel good. But its function goes much further: it also influences how we make […] … learn more→
Should readers know if a news story was written by AI? The ethical challenge of modern journalism
Should a newspaper reader know that what they are reading was written with the help of artificial intelligence (AI)? Can journalists guarantee that a text generated with this technology does not contain sexist biases? These and other ethical dilemmas will become increasingly common in media newsrooms, which need to innovate while maintaining journalistic principles. In […] … learn more→
Is AI sparking a cognitive revolution that will lead to mediocrity and conformity?
Artificial Intelligence began as a quest to simulate the human brain. Is it now in the process of transforming the human brain’s role in daily life? The Industrial Revolution diminished the need for manual labor. As someone who researches the application of AI in international business, I can’t help but wonder whether it is spurring a cognitive revolution, obviating […] … learn more→
