The Conversation

Will wildfires leave lasting economic scars on California's vital wine country?

Written by Liz Thach, Professor of Management and Wine Business, Sonoma State University

A wildfire burns behind a winery in Santa Rosa, California.AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

Now that the wildfires that have swept through the vineyards, forests and towns of Northern California’s wine country since Oct. 8 have been virtually contained, it’s time to assess the damage.

So far they have destroyed more than 8,400 structures in Napa,...

How the dead danced with the living in medieval society

Written by Ashby Kinch, Professor of English, The University of Montana

Detail of figures from the Dance Macabre, Meslay-le-Grenet, from late 15th-century France. Ashby Kinch, CC BY

In the Halloween season, American culture briefly participates in an ancient tradition of making the world of the dead visible to the living: Children dress as skeletons, teens go to horror movies and adults play the part of ghosts in...

Measuring the implicit biases we may not even be aware we have

Written by Kate Ratliff, Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Florida

Introspection won't necessarily reveal what's going on in there.Photo by Septian simon on Unsplash, CC BY

When most people think of bias, they imagine an intentional thought or action – for example, a conscious belief that women are worse than men at math or a deliberate decision to pull someone over because of his or her race. Gender and...

The misguided campaign to remove a Thomas Hart Benton mural

Written by Henry Adams, Ruth Coulter Heede Professor of Art History, Case Western Reserve University

Thomas Hart Benton's murals at the Indiana University Auditorium depict the social history of the state.Joseph, CC BY-NC-SA

In recent years, people have protested the racism of Confederate statues, Hollywood and sports mascots.

But a curious campaign has taken place on Indiana University’s Bloomington campus. Students have circulated petitions...

Why it's time to lay the stereotype of the 'teen brain' to rest

Written by Dan Romer, Research Director, Annenberg Public Policy Center, University of Pennsylvania

A group of teenagers hanging out. George Rudy/Shutterstock.com

A deficit in the development of the teenage brain has been blamed for teens’ behavior in recent years, but it may be time to lay the stereotype of the wild teenage brain to rest. Brain deficits don’t make teens do risky things; lack of experience and a drive to explore the...

Don't rely on China: North Korea won't kowtow to Beijing

Written by Katharine H.S. Moon, Edith Stix Wasserman Professor of Asian Studies; Professor of Political Science, Wellesley College

Those who want to end North Korea’s nuclear threats often point to China as the sole actor who could save the day by making Kim Jong-Un and his regime stand down.

Beijing provides about 90 percent of imports that North Koreans rely on, mainly food and oil. So, the argument goes: China could significantly diminish those threats by shutting...

Will the iPhone X be a hit beyond Apple diehards? 3 questions answered

Written by John Jordan, Clinical Professor of Supply Chain & Information Systems , Pennsylvania State University

The iPhone X's big new features come with a high price tag.AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

Editor’s note: As consumers eager to get their hands on Apple’s 10th anniversary phone line up online to be among the first to buy one, a few questions remain. Known as the iPhone X, the device starts at about US$1,000 and only gets more expensive...

What works in workplace giving

Written by Genevieve Shaker, Associate Professor of Philanthropic Studies, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

Federal workers based in and near Washington, D.C. raised a total of US$46,639,949.36 in 2015 through the Combined Federal Campaign of National Capital Area.USDA Photo by Shakeitha Stone

Has your boss ever asked you to donate to the United Way? Has a co-worker approached you about giving to the Red Cross? Does your employer encourage giving to...

Life after death: Americans are embracing new ways to leave their remains

Written by Tanya D. Marsh, Professor of Law, Wake Forest University

'Green burials' that use biodegradable coffins or lessen the environmental impact in other ways are on the rise. AP Photo/Michael Hill

What do you want to happen to your remains after you die?

For the past century, most Americans have accepted a limited set of options without question. And discussions of death and funeral plans have been taboo.

That...

Understanding Chinese President Xi’s anti-corruption campaign

Written by David Skidmore, Professor of Political Science, Drake University

Chinese President Xi Jinping has made fighting official corruption a cornerstone of his reign.

Judging by the numbers alone, the campaign has achieved impressive results. Astonishingly, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has disciplined well over one million officials since Xi took power in 2012. The anti-corruption campaign has snared hundreds of...