The Conversation

Over half of adults unvaccinated for COVID-19 fear needles – here's what's proven to help

Written by Amy Baxter, Clinical Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Augusta University

Though many adults report a fear of needles, most research on needle fear has focused on children.FG Trade/E+ via Getty Images

If you’re among the 25% of Americans averse to needles, you’re probably not surprised by the COVID-19 immunization stall. Even for those who want immunity, bribes with beer or lottery tickets may not be enough...

From abortion and porn to women and race: How Southern Baptist Convention resolutions have evolved

Written by Ryan Burge, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Eastern Illinois University

Raise your hands if you think this year's Southern Baptist Convention meeting could be feisty.AP Photo/Matt York

The Southern Baptist Convention will convene its annual meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 15, 2021, in what could be the most consequential such get-together in recent memory.

Just 15 years ago, the SBC boasted some 16.3 million...

Why the legacy of Billy Graham continues to endure: 3 essential reads

Written by Kalpana Jain, Senior Religion + Ethics Editor

Evangelist Billy Graham came to have an enormous influence on American politics and culture.Keystone/ Collections Hulton Archive/Getty Images

A new two-hour documentary on PBS examines the life and rise of Billy Graham, the famed preacher, who died on Feb. 21, 2018, at 99. Graham’s enduring legacy is that he helped shape the modern-day...

'In the Heights' celebrates the resilience Washington Heights has used to fight the COVID-19 pandemic

Written by Robert W. Snyder, Professor Emeritus of Journalism and American Studies, Rutgers University - Newark

For decades, Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood has been home to a mosaic of ethnic groups.Andrew Burton/Getty Images

With camera work that swoops from rooftops to street corners, the film “In the Heights” brings to life the dynamism of northern Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood.

Directed by Jon M. Chu,...

Sports writers could ditch the 'clown questions' and do better when it comes to press conferences

Written by Nicole Kraft, Associate Professor of Clinical Communication, The Ohio State University

'I'm here so I don't get fined,' Seattle Seahawks' star running back Marshawn Lynch repeatedly told a Jan. 27, 2015, press conference on media day for NFL Super Bowl XLIX. And then he left.AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

LeBron James had enough.

During the press conference after Game 1 of the 2018 NBA finals, James was questioned repeatedly by ESPN’s M...

Historic change: Arab political parties are now legitimate partners in Israel's politics and government

Written by Morad Elsana, Adjunct Professorial Lecturer Critical Race, Gender, and Culture Studies (CRGC)., American University

Mansour Abbas, Israeli Arab politician and leader of the Ra'am Party, in a meeting at the Israeli president's residence in Jerusalem on April 5, 2021. Abir Sultan/Pool/ AFP/Getty Images

The next government is not going to be a typical one for the citizens of the state of Israel, and especially for members of the Palestinian Arab minority, who are...

Tribal colleges empower Native students with an affordable, culturally relevant education – but need more funding

Written by Susan C. Faircloth, Professor & Director, Colorado State University

Diné College, founded as Navajo Community College in 1968, was the first tribal college in the U.S.Courtesy Diné College, CC BY-NC-ND

As an American Indian and first-generation college graduate, I know how difficult it can be to successfully navigate higher education.

For me, going to college meant leaving my family, my community, my...

What are 'ghost guns,' a target of Biden's anti-crime effort?

Written by Garen Wintemute, Professor of Emergency Medicine; Director, Violence Prevention Research Program, University of California, Davis

A San Franciso police officer displays several 'ghost guns' – untraceable firearms with no serial numbers or manufacturing marks.AP Photo/Haven Daley

It’s not expensive or difficult to produce large numbers of untraceable firearms in the United States. Whether for private use, sale on the criminal market or arming violent extremists,...

Women are as likely as men to accept a gender pay gap if they benefit from it

Written by Marlon Williams, Assistant Professor of Economics, University of Dayton

Perhaps it all depends on perspective.Tommy/DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images

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

The big idea

Women are just as inclined as men to vote against a policy to reduce a gender pay gap if they are personally benefiting from the status quo. This is one of the main findings of my new study...

A new reason Americans are getting leery of billionaire donors

Written by David Campbell, Associate Professor of Public Administration, Binghamton University, State University of New York

Some extremely rich people are paying a much smaller share of their income on taxes than other folks.Nuthawut Somsuk/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Warren Buffett, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and the rest of the 25 richest Americans paid very low federal income taxes from 2014 to 2018 even as they amassed wealth, according to Internal Revenue Service data...