Tag: current affairs

25 years of Hubble images from space: strange, alien, phenomenal—and yet somehow, familiar.

April 25, 2015

This image created by the Hubble Space Telescopeis often referred to as the “Pillars of Creation.” It hasbeen a common subject for painters such as Thomas Moran. BY ELIZABETH A. KESSLERStanford University On April 24, 1990, NASA launched the Hubble Space Telescope into its orbit above Earth. During its 25 years in space, astronomers have … More 25 years of Hubble images from space: strange, alien, phenomenal—and yet somehow, familiar.

Introducing "Verge: Studies in Global Asias"

April 10, 2015

The history of scholarship on Asian America, when juxtaposed with the fieldsof Asian Studies, reminds us how much nations, national movements, andother forms of national development continue to exert influence on the worldin which we live.Image from Shutterstock. BY TINA CHEN AND ERIC HAYOT Now, more than ever, the singularities of world history—whether imagined as … More Introducing "Verge: Studies in Global Asias"

On California’s Water-Free Future

April 7, 2015

California’s Mono Lake, pictured in August 2014. BY KAREN PIPERProfessor of postcolonial studies in English and adjunct professor in geography at the University of Missouri The solution to California’s drought is simple: stop shipping water to China. Farmers, who use 80% of the state’s water, ship crops containing “virtual water” (the water used to grow … More On California’s Water-Free Future

A sustainable planet is a nuclear-free planet.

October 29, 2014

What if the movement for climate change joined forceswith the movement for a nuclear-free planet?Image via Flickr/public domain license. BY SHAMPA BISWASPaul Garrett Professor of Political Science at Whitman College A recent opinion piece in the New York Times made an interesting observation by juxtaposing two prominent social movements of our times. The piece pointed … More A sustainable planet is a nuclear-free planet.

LGBT History Month: A look at behind-the-scenes groundwork that leads to the headline-grabbing victories.

October 15, 2014

BY RYAN R. THORESON In October 1994, a group of U.S. activists led by Rodney Wilson, a teacher in Missouri, created LGBT History Month. Adopting a strategy pioneered with Black History Month in the 1970s and Women’s History Month in the 1980s, the activists launched the project as a way to ensure the varied and … More LGBT History Month: A look at behind-the-scenes groundwork that leads to the headline-grabbing victories.

Explore the frightening landscape where water and thirst are political, and drought is a business opportunity.

September 3, 2014

Click here to download the graphic version of this article. This week is World Water Week in Stockholm, where more than 200 organizations are convening to discuss global water and development issues. In light of this event, we wanted to take the opportunity to feature a new book that responds to these same issues and … More Explore the frightening landscape where water and thirst are political, and drought is a business opportunity.

Sexuality in school: LGBT issues are not the exclusive concern of LGBT students.

July 23, 2014

BY JEN GILBERTAssociate professor in the Faculty of Education at York University, Toronto When lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues emerge in schools, it is often as controversy. Battles over sex education, worries about young children reading picture books about same-sex families, outrage at boys taking boys to the prom, lawsuits over gay-straight alliances, and … More Sexuality in school: LGBT issues are not the exclusive concern of LGBT students.

"No money, no water" for Detroit—and possible punitive actions from the UN.

June 27, 2014

In addition to the water news out of Detroit, the UN has declared the U.S.to be in violation of international human rights laws by not supplying cleanwater to the poor. BY KAREN PIPERAuthor and professor of postcolonial studies in English and adjunct professor in geography at the University of Missouri Flushing a toilet in Detroit … More "No money, no water" for Detroit—and possible punitive actions from the UN.

Let’s have a conversation about U.S. schools that is, ideally, not nice.

June 25, 2014

What can educators learn from comedians? BY ANGELINA E. CASTAGNOAssociate professor of educational leadership in the College of Education at Northern Arizona University Comedian Louis C.K. has recently made critical comments of Common Core and standardized testing that have lit up the Internet. He did not parse words, nor did he attempt to avoid offending. … More Let’s have a conversation about U.S. schools that is, ideally, not nice.