The Conversation

How to keep conservation policies from backfiring in a globally connected world

Written by Andrew Frederick Johnson, Visiting Scientist, San Diego State University

A worker marks timber logs at a concession area in Sarawak, Malaysia. Rainforest logging in Asia feeds much of the world's thirst for timber. AP Photo/Vincent Thian

For many years environmentalists have urged the public to “think globally, act locally” – meaning, consider the health of the planet, then take action in your own...

Paid family leave is an investment in public health, not a handout

Written by Darby Saxbe, Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Southern California – Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Protected time for new families could pay health dividends later.Jacob Lund/Shutterstock

Most Americans – on both sides of the political aisle – say they support paid parental leave. However, we haven’t yet found the political will to make it happen. In part, that’s because the discussion always seems to start with the...

One-party rule in 49 state legislatures reflects flaws in democratic process

Written by Nancy Martorano Miller, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Dayton

Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Idaho. AP Photo/Kimberlee Kruesi, File

Across the U.S., Republicans control 30 statehouses and the Democrats control 18. That is the largest number of one-party controlled state legislatures since 1914.

Minnesota is currently the only state where there’s not one party in control of the state legislature –...

Iraq's brutal crackdown on suspected Islamic State supporters could trigger civil war

Written by Eric Keels, Research Associate at One Earth Future Foundation & Research Fellow at the Howard H. Baker Center for Public Policy, University of Tennessee

Family members of Sunni men and boys in Iraq accused of supporting ISIS hold up pictures of their arrested relatives. AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo

Large portions of the Islamic State in Iraq have been either killed, captured or forced underground over the past three years.

Eleven years after the U.S. invasion toppled dictator Saddam Hussein, triggering...

Hundreds of genes linked to blindness could lead to new therapies

Written by Ala Moshiri, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, University of California, Davis

The cause of many inherited eye diseases are a mystery.Milos Batinic/Shutterstock.com

Inherited diseases of the eye account for at least 2 million cases of blindness worldwide. A few hundred genes that cause eye disease have been identified, but in many cases the cause is unknown because not all eye disease genes have been identified.

As a result,...

Why US cities are becoming more dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians

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

Cycling advocates set up 'ghost bikes,' like this one in Brooklyn, in memory of bikers killed in traffic.Nick Gray, CC BY-SA

As cities strive to improve the quality of life for their residents, many are working to promote walking and biking. Such policies make sense, since they can, in the long run, lead to less traffic, cleaner air and healthier...

Don't be fooled by fake images and videos online

Written by Hany Farid, Professor of Computer Science, Dartmouth College

Nope, not a real news report from Hurricane Irma.Snopes

One month before the 2016 U.S. presidential election, an “Access Hollywood” recording of Donald Trump was released in which he was heard lewdly talking about women. The then-candidate and his campaign apologized and dismissed the remarks as harmless.

At the time, the authenticity...

African-American women with HIV often overlooked, under-supported

Written by Thurka Sangaramoorthy, Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Maryland

From left to right: Toya Tolson, Shawnte' Spriggs, Sophia Harrison, Marcella Wright and Deborah Dyson. These women are aging with HIV, sometimes with other diseases and always with other challenges.Aamir Khuller, CC BY-NC-SA

The face of HIV in the United States has long been white gay men, even though the epidemic has had a devastating and...

Stories of African-American women aging with HIV: 'My life wasn’t what I hoped it to be'

Written by Thurka Sangaramoorthy, Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Maryland

Marcella Wright is one of about 140,000 African American women aging with HIV. Their needs are often unmet, and have been over the lifespan.Aamir Khuller, CC BY-NC-SA

Sophia Harrison, 51, is a single mother of two, with an extended family to support. She has lived with epilepsy her entire life; she suffers from hypertension; and she is a breast...

US-China trade talks: Will the Chinese keep promises to stop bad behavior?

Written by Amitrajeet A. Batabyal, Arthur J. Gosnell Professor of Economics, Rochester Institute of Technology

Talks between the U.S. and China to end the trade war appear to be in trouble with the March 2 deadline for a deal fast approaching.

In the ongoing trade talks between the U.S. and China, a lack of trust – key to any successful negotiation – appears to be hobbling the ability to reach a deal. Hence it is not clear negotiators will be...