The Conversation

Expansion of Asian American studies fueled by racial attacks and activism

Written by Pawan Dhingra, Associate Provost and Professor of American Studies, Amherst College

Asian American studies courses are beginning to draw from more disciplines. gahsoon/E+ via Getty Images

For more than 50 years, Asian American studies has been a recognized field at American colleges and universities. But outside of California, students who want to study it as a major or minor are usually out of luck.

However, the tide is beginning...

What is wind shear? An atmospheric scientist explains how it can tear apart hurricanes

Written by Zachary Handlos, Atmospheric Science Educator, Georgia Institute of Technology

Weather forecasters talk about wind shear a lot during hurricane season, but what exactly is it?

I teach meteorology at Georgia Tech, in a part of the country that pays close attention to the Atlantic hurricane season. Here’s a quick look at one of the key forces that can determine whether a storm will become a destructive hurricane.

What is...

Was Beethoven truly the greatest?

Written by Philip Ewell, Professor of music theory, Hunter College

A portrait of the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven in 1818. 12/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

On May 7, 1824, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony premiered in Vienna, Austria. On its 200th anniversary, much was made about this seminal achievement of a composer routinely touted as the greatest master who ever lived.

In an essay...

California is about to tax guns more like alcohol and tobacco − and that could put a dent in gun violence

Written by Topher L. McDougal, Professor of Economic Development & Peacebuilding, University of San Diego

Starting in July 2024, California will be the first state to charge an excise tax on guns and ammunition. The new tax – an 11% levy on each sale – will come on top of federal excise taxes of 10% or 11% for firearms and California’s 6% sales tax.

The National Rifle Association has characterized California’s Gun Violence...

How the Gaza humanitarian aid pier traces its origins to discarded cigar boxes before World War II

Written by Frank A. Blazich Jr., Curator of Military History, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution

An aerial view of the floating pier off Gaza shows its basic structure.U.S. Central Command via AP

Palestinians in Gaza have begun receiving humanitarian aid delivered through a newly completed floating pier off the coast of the besieged territory. Built by the U.S. military and operated in coordination with the United Nations, aid groups and other...

‘Mary gardens’ bring Catholic piety to the garden

Written by Kayla Harris, Director of the Marian Library and Associate Professor, University of Dayton

An indoor Mary garden at the University of DaytonThe Marian Library, University of Dayton, CC BY-SA

Each spring, some Catholics plant flowers around a statue of the Virgin Mary, reviving a tradition that goes back to medieval England when holy figures were remembered and shared through plant and flower names.

In Mary gardens, plants and flowers have...

Americans leave a huge chunk of change at airport security checkpoints − here’s what it means for the debate over getting rid of pennies

Written by Jay L. Zagorsky, Associate Professor of Markets, Public Policy and Law, Boston University

In 2022, passengers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport left behind $29,320.40 at security checkpoints.Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images

Should the U.S. get rid of pennies, nickels and dimes? The debate has gone on for years. Many people argue for keeping coins on economic-fairness grounds. Others call for eliminating them because...

Student anger over the Vietnam War erupted into violence in the ’60s − a terrorism expert explores if the same could happen today

Written by Javed Ali, Associate Professor of Practice of Public Policy, University of Michigan

Leaders of the radical American student group the Weathermen march in Chicago in October 1969. David Fenton/Getty Images

Following a wave of pro-Palestinian protests led by students at universities across the country, a few schools, like Brown University, say they are considering divesting from companies that support or work in Israel.

In most...

Young Hondurans’ desire to migrate is influenced by factors beyond poverty and violence

Written by Maria Estela Rivero Fuentes, Senior Researcher, University of Notre Dame

A man with a child shows his identification to police officers at a checkpoint in Honduras as migrants attempt to reach the U.S.Photo by WendelPhoto by WENDELL ESCOTO/AFP via Getty Images

Why are so many young Hondurans heading north?

Research by me and two colleagues, published in the peer-reviewed journal International Migration, delved into the...

How community colleges kept students engaged during and after the pandemic

Written by Xueli Wang, Professor of Higher Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Community colleges struggled with enrollment drops during the pandemic.FG Trade via Getty Images

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it prompted enrollment drops at community and technical colleges. But it also spurred the schools to innovate in an effort to better serve students who might otherwise fall through the cracks. Xueli Wang, a professor of...