There are solid lists and words of advice out there on what makes a collaboration successful or how to be a co-author. I’m not seeking to recreate or evaluate that sort of guidance here. Rather, I’d like to take a moment during this Academic Writing Month (AcWriMo) to acknowledge the joys of writing together. Partly because, when I reflect on […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
The unexpected joys of collaborative writing
Is your teen a night owl? Their sleep pattern could shape their brain and behaviour years later
It’s 11 pm on a weeknight and your teenager still has their bedroom light on. You want them to get enough sleep for school the next day, but it’s a struggle. Our new research shows what happens to the brains and behaviour of young teenagers, years after they’ve become “night owls”. We found this shift in sleep […] … learn more→
So, you’re new to research impact?
The impact that research generates in society is a hot topic internationally. It can be a complex topic and poses different challenges depending on whether you are a researcher, research professional, funder, or research user. Over the last year, the four authors of this article have settled into an informal community of practice, meeting roughly […] … learn more→
Do sports or video games make children happier?
Research in developmental psychology has shown the importance of lifestyles in the health and well-being of children and adolescents, as well as their influence on later stages of the life cycle. In childhood and adolescence, the developmental benefits of sports and physical activity as a protective factor follow a dose-response relationship. At least one hour a […] … learn more→
Disasters like Hurricane Ian can affect academic performance for years to come
When leaders at a middle school in New Orleans asked me to help students who were struggling after the city had been struck by Hurricane Katrina, we didn’t see eye to eye. They wanted me to focus on helping the children overcome test anxiety. Their concern was enabling the children to pass a high-stakes standardized test. […] … learn more→
Neuroscience vs. Psychology: Understanding the differences and smilarities
Like the liver or the lungs, the brain is an organ. It is made of organic tissues, and its structure contributes to its function — probably. While we understand some of the most intricate behaviors of some of the least consequential organs in the human body, we hardly know anything for certain about the brain, […] … learn more→
Our moon has been slowly drifting away from Earth over the past 2.5 billion years
Looking up at the moon in the night sky, you would never imagine that it is slowly moving away from Earth. But we know otherwise. In 1969, NASA’s Apollo missions installed reflective panels on the moon. These have shown that the moon is currently moving 3.8 cm away from the Earth every year. If we take […] … learn more→
Nobel prizes most often go to researchers who defy specialization – winners are creative thinkers who synthesize innovations from varied fields and even hobbies
Experts often recommend that people specialize in one field of work or research to maximize their chances of success. Yet our recently published research indicates that successful innovators take a broader path. We looked at the careers of Nobel Prize winners, who are arguably among the most innovative people in the world. We found that they are unusually likely to be […] … learn more→
African ubuntu can deepen how research is done
Many academic studies have been centred on Western theories and methodologies for a long time. This approach to research is broadly defined as “universalist”. It assumes that “one-size-fits-all” and set norms can be applied across cultures. For example, Western ideas about identity revolve around the individual. That shapes how research is conducted: it focuses mainly […] … learn more→
A review into how university research works in Australia has just begun – it must confront these 3 issues
Education Minister Jason Clare has just announced an independent review of the Australian Research Council (ARC). This is the body that oversees funding for non-medical research in Australian universities and plays a critical role in the careers of academics. After years of concerns about the ARC – about political interference and low success rates – the review is a welcome step. […] … learn more→
