The Conversation

I spent a decade helping Afghan girls make educational progress − and now the Taliban are using these 3 reasons to keep them out of school

Written by Enayat Nasir, Research Assistant in Educational Policy, University at Albany, State University of New York

Education for girls in Afghanistan is banned after the sixth grade.Omer Abrar via Getty Images

Before the collapse of the Afghan government in August 2021, girls’ access to education was steadily improving.

In 2019, the Ministry of Education introduced the country’s first Girls Education Policy, known as the GEP. This policy sought to...

Elephant tourism often involves cruelty – here are steps toward more humane, animal-friendly excursions

Written by Michelle Szydlowski, Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Project Dragonfly, Miami University

A tourist on National Elephant Day in Thailand.oneclearvision/Getty Images

Suju Kali is a 50-year-old elephant in Nepal who has been carrying tourists for over 30 years. Like many elephants I encounter through my research, Suju Kali exhibits anxiety and can be aggressive toward strangers. She suffers from emotional trauma as a result of prolonged,...

Domestic violence survivors seek homeless services from a system that often leaves them homeless

Written by Nkiru Nnawulezi, Associate Professor of Community Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Sometimes emergency housing programs encourage domestic violence survivors to use unsafe alternatives to public programs − even staying with their abusive partner.Claudia Wolff/Unsplash

About 1 in every 3 women, and 1 in 4 men, will experience domestic violence over their lifetime. Since domestic violence can escalate to the point of serious...

Personalized cancer treatments based on testing drugs quickly leads to faster treatment, better outcomes

Written by Diana Azzam, Assistant Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, Florida International University

Identifying the most effective cancer treatment for a given patient from the get-go can help improve outcomes.Leslie Lauren/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Despite many efforts to find better, more effective ways to treat cancer, it remains a leading cause of death by disease among children in the U.S.

Cancer patients are also getting younger. Cancer...

Newly discovered genetic variant that causes Parkinson’s disease clarifies why the condition develops and how to halt it

Written by Matthew Farrer, Professor of Neurology, University of Florida

Multiple gene variants are linked to Parkinson's disease, but which ones are the most relevant?dra_schwartz/E+ via Getty Images

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative movement disorder that progresses relentlessly. It gradually impairs a person’s ability to function until they ultimately become immobile and often develop dementia....

PFAS ‘forever chemicals’: Why EPA set federal drinking water limits for these health-harming contaminants

Written by Kathryn Crawford, Assistant Professor of Environmental Health, Middlebury

Scientists test drinking water for PFAS at an EPA lab in Cincinnati.AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel

The more scientists learn about the health risks of PFAS, found in everything from nonstick cookware to carpets to ski wax, the more concerning these “forever chemicals” become.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency now believes there is no...

Infections after surgery are more likely due to bacteria already on your skin than from microbes in the hospital − new research

Written by Dustin Long, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of Washington

Genetic analysis of the bacteria causing surgical site infections revealed that many were already present on the patient's skin.Ruben Bonilla Gonzalo/Moment via Getty Images

Health care providers and patients have traditionally thought that infections patients get while in the hospital are caused by superbugs they’re exposed to while...

Bollywood is playing a large supporting role in India’s elections

Written by Preminda Jacob, Associate Professor of Art History and Museum Studies, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

A man walks past posters of the film 'PM Narendra Modi,' a biopic on the Indian prime minister, during its launch in Mumbai, India, in 2019.AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool

As the largest electorate in history goes to the polls in India from April 19 to June 1, 2024, political parties are seeking to influence voters’ decisions – through cinema.

The...

New York City greenlights congestion pricing – here’s how this toll plan is expected to improve traffic, air quality and public transit

Written by John Rennie Short, Professor Emeritus of Public Policy, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Traffic entering and leaving midtown Manhattan via the Queensboro Bridge over the East River. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews

New York City is poised to launch the first congestion pricing plan to reduce traffic in a major U.S. metropolitan area. Like many journeys in the Big Apple, this one has been punctuated by delays. Once the system starts up,...

Using research to solve societal problems starts with building connections and making space for young people

Written by Zoey England, Chief of Staff, Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, University of Connecticut

One or two or 10 studies won't solve our most complex societal challenges. Big problems require collaborations beyond academia. Orbon Alija/E+ via Getty Images

Often, when scientists do research around a specific societal challenge, they hope their work will help solve that larger problem. Yet translating findings into long-lasting,...