The Conversation

A scholar's journey to understand the needs of Pol Pot's survivors

Written by John Ciorciari, Associate Professor of Public Policy, University of Michigan

Cambodian villagers walk to a courtroom before appeal hearings for two Khmer Rouge senior leaders facing charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. AP Photo/Heng Sinith

Forty-three years ago today, the Khmer Rouge took power in Cambodia. Their radical regime, led by the dictator Pol Pot, inflicted countless atrocities and left...

How China's winemakers succeeded (without stealing)

Written by Cynthia Howson, Lecturer, University of Washington

More Chinese wines are finding their way into the liquor aisle. AP Photo/Elizabeth Dalziel

Joint ventures between Western and Chinese companies are in the news over accusations – including those of President Donald Trump – that China uses them to steal intellectual property from foreign competitors in industries like cars and...

US rivers are becoming saltier – and it's not just from treating roads in winter

Written by Sujay Kaushal, Associate Professor of Geology, University of Maryland

Little Missouri River, North Dakota.Justin Meissen, CC BY-SA

The United States has made enormous progress in reducing water pollution since the Clean Water Act was passed nearly 50 years ago. Rivers no longer catch fire when oil slicks on their surfaces ignite. And many harbors that once were fouled with sewage now draw swimmers and boaters.

But as...

Would America vote for Oprah for president?

Written by Chryl N. Laird, Assistant Professor of Government and Legal Studies, Bowdoin College

Oprah's 'Time's up!' speech at the Golden Globes got people talking about her candidacy in 2020.NBC

America has had a black president.

Is the country ready for a black president who is also a woman?

Speculation about the candidacy of Oprah Winfrey makes clear that some voters think so. Granted, Winfrey says she won’t run, but friends, commenta...

Light at night can disrupt circadian rhythms in children – are there long-term risks?

Written by Richard G. "Bugs" Stevens, Professor, School of Medicine, University of Connecticut

Could too much light in the evening affect children's sleep? Recent research suggests that it could.Giideon/Shutterstock.com

A new scientific study shows that bright electric light exposure of preschool children in the evening suppresses melatonin production almost completely, an important addition to the growing body of research in this area....

Children are natural optimists – which comes with psychological pros and cons

Written by Janet J. Boseovski, Associate Professor of Psychology, University of North Carolina – Greensboro

Little kids have a tendency to look on the bright side.Brian A Jackson/Shutterstock.com

You might hesitate to make a character judgment about someone based on a first encounter. Most adults would probably want to see how a stranger acts in several different circumstances, to decide whether someone new is nice, mean or trustworthy.

Young children are...

Pope Francis' apology for abuse in Chile would once have been unthinkable

Written by Mathew Schmalz, Associate Professor of Religion, College of the Holy Cross

What does it mean for a pope to apologize?AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

In a letter on April 11 to the bishops of Chile, Pope Francis asked forgiveness for his “serious errors of assessment and perception.” His apologies were directed to the victims of Fr. Fernando Karadima, whose abuse of at least three men when they were children was...

Will US-Japan friendship survive uncertainty in Asia?

Written by Emily Metzgar, Associate Professor of Journalism, Indiana University

President Donald Trump, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will meet with President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Largo on April 17 and 18.

The relationship between these two leaders’ countries may help shape the U.S. approach to upcoming talks with North Korea. Those talks will...

Choosing the wrong college can be bad for your mental health

Written by Noli Brazil, Assistant Professor of Community & Regional Development, University of California, Davis

How peers perform in college can affect student mental health. mimagephotography/www.shutterstock.com

Going off to college might be a source of anxiety for some students, but once a student is on campus it shouldn’t be a total drag.

But that tends to happen more frequently when a student ends up at a college where the student body is weaker...

Before Trump was anti-Cuba, he wanted to open a hotel in Havana

Written by William M. LeoGrande, Professor of Government, American University School of Public Affairs

Presidents Raul Castro and Donald Trump both canceled trips to April’s Summit of the Americas in Peru, avoiding a potential confrontation – though U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez lobbed insults at each other in their stead.

Relations between the United States and Cuba have grown tense...