The Conversation

‘Neither Gaza nor Lebanon!’ Iranian unrest is about more than the economy − protesters reject the Islamic Republic’s whole rationale

Written by Kamran Talattof, Professor of Near Eastern Studies, University of Arizona

The aftermath of a protest in Hamedan, Iran, on Jan. 1, 2026. Mobina/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

A familiar slogan has echoed through the streets of various Iranian cities in recent days: “Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, I sacrifice my life for Iran.”

That phrase has been chanted at protests that have sprung up around Iran since...

Colorado faces a funding crisis for child care − local communities hope to fill the gaps

Written by Jenn Finders, Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University

A 2024 Colorado report found that 40,000 parents either quit a job, turned down a job or significantly changed a job due to child care problems.Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Colorado is the sixth-least affordable state for child care in the nation. Costs for center-based care average 14% of a two-parent household’s median income and 45% of...

Virtual National Science Foundation internships aren’t just a pandemic stopgap – they can open up opportunities for more STEM students

Written by Lisa Bosman, Associate Professor of Technology Leadership and Innovation, Purdue University

Shifts to remote learning during the pandemic showed that there are some benefits for science students undertaking internships.SolStock/Getty Images

Many engineering and science undergraduates are approaching January application deadlines for prestigious summer internships and study abroad programs – or, in some cases, a spot in the National...

With less charitable giving flowing directly to charities, a tax policy scholar suggests some policy fixes

Written by Ray Madoff, Professor of Law, Boston College

Sometimes, very rich people approach philanthropy with a degree of whimsy.tiero/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Law professor Ray Madoff is the co-founder and director of the Boston College Forum on Philanthropy and the Public Good. In an interview with Emily Schwartz Greco, The Conversation U.S. philanthropy and nonprofits editor, Madoff sums up some...

Philly’s walkable streets and public parks offer older residents chances to stay active – but public transit and accessibility pose challenges

Written by Laura Baehr, Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Drexel University

Daily movement and regular strength training support healthy aging.kali9.iStock via Getty Images Plus

One in five Philadelphians are age 60 or older, and the city’s senior population has been growing for at least the past decade.

I’m a Philly-based physical therapist and researcher who studies how to boost physical activity for seniors...

Voters shrug off scandals, paying a price in lost trust

Written by Brandon Rottinghaus, Professor of Political Science, University of Houston

Donald Trump waits in court during proceedings over a business records violation. He was convicted, but Trump and his supporters dismissed the case as a partisan attack.Mary Altaffer/AP

Donald Trump joked in 2016 that he could “stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody” and not lose support. In 2024, after two impeachments a...

LA fires: Chemicals from the smoke lingered inside homes long after the wildfires were out – studies tracked the harm

Written by Yifang Zhu, Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles

Smoke rolls up a hillside from the Palisades Fire on Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles.AP Photo/Eric Thayer

When wildfires began racing through the Los Angeles area on Jan. 7, 2025, the scope of the disaster caught residents by surprise. Forecasters had warned about high winds and exceptionally dry conditions, but few people expected to see smoke and...

LA fires 1 year later: Chemicals from smoke lingered inside homes long after the wildfires were out – studies tracked the harm

Written by Yifang Zhu, Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles

Smoke rolls up a hillside from the Palisades Fire on Jan. 11, 2025, in Los Angeles.AP Photo/Eric Thayer

The US used to be really dirty – environmental cleanup laws have made a huge difference

Written by James Salzman, Professor of Environmental Law, Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California, Santa Barbara; University of California, Los Angeles

Growing up in the 1970s, I took for granted the trash piles along the highway, tires washed up on beaches, and smog fouling city air. The famed “Crying Indian” commercial of 1971 became a symbol of widespread environmental damage across the United States.

That’s why the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, energized the nation. In...

How museums can help rebuild trust in a divided America

Written by Devon Akmon, Director of the MSU Museum and CoLab Studio, Michigan State University

A student CoLaborator engages visitors in dialogue about food security and sustainability during a recent exhibition.MSU Museum

Across the United States, political polarization has deepened to historic levels. In a report published in May 2025, the Pew Research Center found that Americans are more divided and less trusting of one another than at...