The Conversation

Published: April 22, 2018

Race and gender still an issue at academic conferences

Sara Cannon, University of British Columbia; David A. Reid, PhD, PAg, University of British Columbia; Kiely McFarlane, University of British Columbia; Leonora King, University of British Columbia; Lucy MacKenzie, University of British Columbia; Marc Tadaki, University of British Columbia, and Michele Koppes, University of British Columbia

The geosciences are the least diverse of all STEM fields. Inhospitable climates at academic science conferences may be one of the reasons.

Published: July 26, 2016

Redetermining paradigmatic norms: is there any hope for academic writing?

Siobhan Lyons, Macquarie University

Twenty years ago a journal published an article that argued that physics is a social construct. The author revealed it was a hoax wrapped up in obscure language, but has anything improved since then?

Published: December 28, 2015

What young adult fiction looked like in 2015

Rebecca Ciezarek, Victoria University

Young adult fiction has been having a much needed conversation around diversity. In 2015 we saw this discussion bear fruit, as a new crop of diverse, absorbing and powerful stories sprang up.

Published: June 26, 2012

Science, it’s a girl thing! But I’ll keep my adjustable spanner

Helen Maynard-Casely, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation

You’ve really got to wonder when even Hollywoodgossip.com is questioning whether the latest European Union campaign to attract girls towards a science career is a spoof. The video being referred to was…

Published: June 30, 2025

African women are key to fighting climate change – these are the green skills they will need

Ogechi Adeola, University of Kigali; Innocent Ngare, Kenyatta University, and Olaniyi Evans, Pan Atlantic University

There’s a long list of green skills that women across Africa need so that they can get jobs and start businesses that help the world adapt to climate change.

Published: November 26, 2015

Here’s how to get more women promoted to top jobs in universities

Virginia Kilborn, Swinburne University of Technology; Birgit Loch, Swinburne University of Technology, and Helana Scheepers, Swinburne University of Technology

Men outnumber women almost two-to one in senior academic positions in Australia’s universities. But there is a way that female academics can play a vital role in bridging that gap.

Published: March 9, 2022