The Conversation

The perils of associating 'white' with 'privilege' in the classroom

Written by: Ritika Goel, Ph.D. Candidate in Political Science, University of California, Berkeley

When minority groups are exposed to stereotypes that deem them inferior, they often underachieve academically, research shows.Terry Vine/The Image Bank via Getty Images

White privilege – the social advantage that benefits white people over others simply on account of skin color – has become a racial justice catchphrase.

Peggy McIntosh,...

The Confederate battle flag, which rioters flew inside the US Capitol, has long been a symbol of white insurrection

Written by: Jordan Brasher, Assistant Professor of Geography, Columbus State University

A historic first: the Confederate battle flag inside the U.S. Capitol.Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Confederate soldiers never reached the Capitol during the Civil War. But the Confederate battle flag was flown by rioters in the U.S. Capitol building for the first time ever on Jan. 6.

The flag’s prominence in the Capitol riot comes as no...

Does reopening schools cause COVID-19 to spread? It's complicated

Written by: Scott A Imberman, Professor of Economics and Education Policy, Michigan State University

Jean McCarthy helps a first-grade student at South Boston Catholic Academy on Sept. 10, 2020.David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.

The big idea

We found that schools can reopen for in-person instruction without further spreading COVID-19 in nearby communities if the number...

Mega Millions jackpot is $750 million – where does all the lottery tax revenue really go?

Written by: Liberty Vittert, Professor of the Practice of Data Science, Washington University in St Louis

Tax revenue from lotteries is supposed to fund education and other public services.AP Photo/Alan Diaz

The Mega Millions jackpot drawing for Jan. 15 has soared to US$750 million and counting. This makes it the second largest pot in Mega Millions history – surpassed only by the $1.537 billion winning ticket in October 2018 – and the fifth...

The price of a drug should be based on its therapeutic benefits – not just what the market will bear

Written by: Nicole Hassoun, Professor of Philosophy, Binghamton University, State University of New York

The average price for an orphan drug is more than $150,000 per year.GP Kidd/Cultura/Getty Images

The U.S. pharmaceutical industry has innovated in response to the pandemic, providing not only vaccines but also therapies to treat people with COVID-19. But an outdated law designed to spur development of lifesaving drugs risks making new treatments...

Americans have unrealistic expectations for a COVID-19 vaccine

Written by: Matt Motta, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Oklahoma State University

If too many Americans refuse to take the COVID-19 vaccine, achieving population immunity will be difficult.Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Many Americans appear to be experiencing cautious optimism about the role that vaccines could play in ending the pandemic. But recent public opinion research suggests that 29% to 37% of Americans plan to...

Is impeaching President Trump 'pointless revenge'? Not if it sends a message to future presidents

Written by: Michael Blake, Professor of Philosophy, Public Policy and Governance, University of Washington

A different type of protest comes to the Capitol.Paul Morigi/Getty Images for MoveOn

A House majority, including 10 Republicans, voted on Jan. 13 to impeach President Trump for “incitement of insurrection.” The vote will initiate a trial in the Senate – but that trial will likely not be finished before Trump’s term of office...

Misogyny in the Capitol: Among the insurrectionists, a lot of angry men who don't like women

Written by: Mona Lena Krook, Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Women & Politics Ph.D. Program, Rutgers University

U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, shown during her weekly press conference Jan. 7, was a particular target of some of the Capitol insurrectionists.BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images

Among the various forms of violence on display during the U.S. Capitol insurrection, one has been largely overlooked: misogyny, or hatred toward women. Yet...

Federal financial aid for college will be easier to apply for – and a bit more generous

Written by: Robert Kelchen, Associate Professor of Higher Education, Seton Hall University

The new application for student financial aid will feature fewer questions.zimmytws/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Editor’s note: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid – better known as FAFSA – is being simplified through the omnibus spending bill that became law in December. The FAFSA is what students must fill out to...

The scent of sickness: 5 questions answered about using dogs – and mice and ferrets – to detect disease

Written by: Glen J. Golden, Research Scientist/Scholar I, Colorado State University

Moose, a mixed-breed dog from the Nebraska Humane Society, trains in odor-detection work. Bill Cotton/CSU, CC BY-ND

Editor’s note: As COVID-19 continues to spread worldwide, scientists are analyzing new ways to track it. One promising approach is training dogs to detect people who are infected by smelling samples of human urine or sweat....