Category: Academic Reportage

Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ari Koeppel, Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Scientist and Adjunct Associate, Dartmouth College Scientists absorb data on monitors in mission control for NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover. NASA/Bill Ingalls, CC BY-NC-ND NASA’s search for evidence of past life on Mars just produced an exciting update. On Sept. 10, 2025,…

Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – USA – By James B. Blasingame, Professor of English, Arizona State University Some school librarians in Florida have found themselves in the midst of controversy over complaints of “obscene” titles in their libraries. Trish233/iStock via Getty Images When a junior at an Orange County public high school in Florida…

Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – USA – By Stephanie A. (Sam) Martin, Frank and Bethine Church Endowed Chair of Public Affairs, Boise State University The Trump administration’s actions against Harvard threaten a foundational American value – free speech. zpagistock/Getty Images When the federal government threatened to cancel billions in research funds from Harvard University…

Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Elizabeth A. Marshall, Professor of Education, Simon Fraser University The Pitt, HBO Max’s Emmy-winning television medical drama, is a breakout hit. Medical professionals and critics alike laud the show for its realistic portrayal of an emergency room. That the show is also a master class in…

Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Aidan Moir, Sessional Instructor, University of Windsor Valued at more than US$250 billion, the influencer industry is the centre of the digital economy. Popular haul videos, where influencers display and discuss a recent collection of purchases, and unboxings — videos where content makers open, showcase and…

Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Addisu Lashitew, Assistant Professor, DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University In October 2024, Canada imposed a 100 per cent tariff on all electric vehicle (EV) imports from China, effectively barring consumers from accessing some of the world’s most innovative, affordable models. These tariffs are deepening the…

Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jenna Sapiano, Research Fellow, Peace Studies, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa Global security indicators suggest a significant deterioration in peace and stability. By most accounts, the world is now more violent and more dangerous than at any point in recent history. In 2024, the number of state-based…

Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Adam Skoyles, PhD Candidate, School of Planning, University of Waterloo A tree-lined street in downtown Vancouver providing shade to pedestrians. (Adam Skoyles), CC BY The housing affordability crisis is top of mind for many around the world, including Canadians. Between 2019 and 2024, house prices in…

Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – Africa (2) – By Nikos Smit, Postdoc in evolutionary/behavioural ecology, University of Turku Our understanding of female-male power relationships in animals has changed over time. Evolutionary biologists once thought that male mammals held clear-cut power over females. Later, species with pronounced female power over males were presented as exceptions…

Source: ForeignAffairs4 Source: The Conversation – Africa (2) – By Dina Wahba, Senior Researcher, Arnold Bergstraesser Institute, University of Freiburg A special train left the Egyptian capital of Cairo for Aswan, a town close to the border with southern neighbour Sudan, in July 2025. The train, publicised by the Egyptian government as shiny, air-conditioned and…