The Conversation

Can mass atrocities be prevented? This course attempts to answer the question

Written by Mike Brand, Adjunct Professor of Genocide Studies and Human Rights, University of Connecticut

People gather around a hole being dug in search of water in Darfur, Sudan, in 2004.AP Photo/Ben Curtis

Uncommon Courses is an occasional series from The Conversation U.S. highlighting unconventional approaches to teaching.

Title of course:

“Introduction to Genocide Studies”

What prompted the idea for the course?

Many genocide classes take a...

Is the Loch Ness monster real?

Written by Michael A. Little, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, Binghamton University, State University of New York

This is the famous – and fake – photograph of the Loch Ness monster, taken near Inverness, Scotland, on April 19, 1934. The photograph was later revealed to be a hoax. Keystone/Hulton Archive via Getty Images

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiou...

Disaster survivors need help remaining connected with friends and families – and access to mental health care

Written by Daniel P. Aldrich, Professor of Political Science, Public Policy and Urban Affairs and Director, Security and Resilience Program, Northeastern University

Earthquakes, hurricanes and other disasters can cause a lot of personal upheaval.Omer Alven/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The earthquakes that struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria in early February 2023 have killed at least 47,000 people and disrupted everyday life for some 26 million more.

Survivors of big disasters like these...

What is spillover? Bird flu outbreak underscores need for early detection to prevent the next big pandemic

Written by Treana Mayer, Postdoctoral Fellow in Microbiology, Colorado State University

Wild birds like pelicans and ducks are getting infected with – and dying from – a new strain of avian influenza and have spread it to farm animals around the world.Klebher Vasquez/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The current epidemic of avian influenza has killed over 58 million birds in the U.S. as of February 2023. Following on the...

The looming stalemate in Ukraine one year after the Russian invasion

Written by Liam Collins, Founding Director, Modern War Institute, United States Military Academy West Point

A Ukrainian soldier trains near a front line in the Russia-Ukraine war on Feb. 18, 2022.Mustafa Ciftci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Most military analysts expected Ukraine to fall within days when Russia launched its invasion on Feb. 24, 2022.

Yet one year into the war, Ukrainians have put up a fight and demonstrated remarkable resolve against a...

All wars eventually end – here are 3 situations that will lead Russia and Ukraine to make peace

Written by Andrew Blum, Executive Director and Professor of Practice at Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace, University of San Diego

A Ukrainian woman touches the grave of her husband, a soldier killed by Russian troops in August 2022. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

It’s been a year since Russia first launched a full invasion of Ukraine, and, right now, peace seems impossible.

Peace talks between the two countries have launched, and then faltered, multiple times.

In February 2023,...

Why are so many Gen Z-ers drawn to old digital cameras?

Written by Tim Gorichanaz, Assistant Teaching Professor of Information Studies, Drexel University

A student on a school bus holding a digital point-and-shoot camera.Jason Zhang/Wikimedia Commons

The latest digital cameras boast ever-higher resolutions, better performance in low light, smart focusing and shake reduction – and they’re built right into your smartphone.

Even so, some Gen Z-ers are now opting for point-and-shoot digital...

Project Veritas fired James O'Keefe over fear of losing its nonprofit status – 5 questions answered

Written by Samuel Brunson, Professor of Law, Loyola University Chicago

James O'Keefe stands accused of financial misdeeds.Samuel Corum/Getty Images

James O'Keefe, the founder of Project Veritas, says he has been fired. He is no longer leading the conservative nonprofit organization, which is known for its use of hidden cameras and false identities to try to catch members of the media and progressive leaders saying...

Runoff vote count starts in historic UAW election – it's already bringing profound union leadership changes and chances of more strikes and higher car prices

Written by Stephen J. Silvia, Professor of International Relations, American University School of International Service

Ballot counting is underway this week in a runoff election to decide who will lead the powerful United Auto Workers union as its president. But the historic election is already transforming the union’s leadership in ways that could bring an end to decades of declining blue-collar compensation in this key sector of the economy.

This was the...

I assisted Carter’s work encouraging democracy – and saw how his experience, persistence and engineer’s mindset helped build a freer Latin America over decades

Written by Jennifer Lynn McCoy, Professor of Political Science, Georgia State University

Jimmy Carter answered reporters' election-monitoring questions in Caracas, Venezuela, May 29, 2004. Juan Barreto/AFP via Getty Images

When former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter founded the nonprofit Carter Center in 1982, one of their goals was to help Latin American countries – many of which were emerging from decades...