Category Archives: Insights

The pollutants in our diet that could accelerate ageing

Amelia Marti del Moral, Universidad de Navarra and Lucía Alonso-Pedrero, Universidad de Navarra Pollutants are, by definition, harmful. But not all of them are equally harmful. Of the multitude of synthetic chemical compounds that pollute our environment, those that set off the loudest alarm bells are persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These are toxic compounds presentContinue reading “The pollutants in our diet that could accelerate ageing”

Kyrgyzstan: migrant women workers and a ‘lost generation’ of children

Asel Murzakulova, University of Central Asia Dilya-eje, a secondary school teacher in the border village of Samarkandek, Kyrgyzstan, often visits the houses of her neighbourhood to record the children who should attend school the next year. She always indicates the status of their parents in her notebook. More than half of the parents are labelledContinue reading “Kyrgyzstan: migrant women workers and a ‘lost generation’ of children”

Avoiding climate breakdown depends on protecting Earth’s biodiversity – can the COP15 summit deliver?

Nathan Cooper, University of Waikato Thousands of delegates have gathered in Montreal, Canada, for a once-in-a-decade chance to address the accelerating pace of species loss and the dangers of ecosystem breakdown. COP15 brings together parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) with a goal of negotiating this decade’s biodiversity targets and a newContinue reading “Avoiding climate breakdown depends on protecting Earth’s biodiversity – can the COP15 summit deliver?”

‘What am I supposed to do about all this really bad stuff?’ Young people identify 7 ‘superpowers’ to fight climate change

Phoebe Quinn, The University of Melbourne and Katitza Marinkovic Chavez, The University of Melbourne Many young people feel anxious, powerless, sad and angry about climate change. Although there are some great resources on children’s eco-anxiety and climate distress, the vast majority are designed for and by adults. So, what resources do children and young peopleContinue reading “‘What am I supposed to do about all this really bad stuff?’ Young people identify 7 ‘superpowers’ to fight climate change”

How parents should talk to their children about sex

Áine Aventin, Queen’s University Belfast Parents and children need to be able to discuss sex – but often they avoid these conversations. As part of our sex education research, we spoke to UK teenagers about why they don’t talk to their parents about sex. Visions of excruciating embarrassment topped the list. We also spoke toContinue reading “How parents should talk to their children about sex”

Climate finance for Africa: the key challenges and what needs to be done about them

Ademola Adenle, Technical University of Denmark Climate change is a significant threat to development across Africa. Important sectors, such as agriculture, health and water will feel a considerable adverse impact from 1.5⁰C-2⁰C of global warming, according to a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). In the agricultural sector, negative climate change impactsContinue reading “Climate finance for Africa: the key challenges and what needs to be done about them”

Education in Kenya’s informal settlements can work better if parents get involved – here’s how

Benta A. Abuya, African Population and Health Research Center Education is a public good. All children should have access to education as a human right, irrespective of their gender, socioeconomic or disability status. This is reinforced and validated by countries’ commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 4. Its promise is inclusive and equitable education, and lifelongContinue reading “Education in Kenya’s informal settlements can work better if parents get involved – here’s how”

The study of evolution is fracturing – and that may be a good thing

Erik Svensson, Lund University How will life on Earth and the ecosystems that support it adapt to climate change? Which species will go extinct – or evolve into something new? How will microbes develop further resistance to antibiotics? These kinds of questions, which are of fundamental importance to our way of life, are all aContinue reading “The study of evolution is fracturing – and that may be a good thing”