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Dr Monica Pauls | Understanding Collective Identity Among Youth Activists Online
Can collective identity among social movement actors develop online? Do social media platforms foster genuine relationships, or do meaningful connections require face-to-face interaction? New research by Dr Monica Pauls at Mount Royal University aimed to find out. Her latest study dives into the digital lives of youth activists to explore whether social media can foster a genuine sense of belonging and shared purpose.
Professor Kimani Nehusi | How Ancient Rituals Created Sacred Homelands
Land ownership disputes and displacement affect millions across Africa and its diaspora today, but understanding the profound spiritual relationship between African communities and their ancestral territories requires looking far back into history. Professor Kimani Nehusi at Temple University examines how African communities developed what he calls the ‘Afrikan Ancestral Land Complex’ – a distinctive collection of values, deep memory, knowledge, attitudes and rituals centered on land. His research focuses on ancient Kemet, known today as Egypt, where some of the earliest written records provide evidence of these practices dating back over 5,000 years.
Professor Penelope Corfield | Time-Space: Exploring How Humans Navigate Cosmic Existence
Yes, the clock is ticking away relentlessly! And yet today we live in an era when some philosophers claim that Time is merely an illusion. And certainly, many people casually dismiss all historical understanding as irrelevant. However, it’s time to rethink! We need to understand humanity’s place in time and space. And that’s particularly vital for addressing contemporary crises, especially climate change, which demands collective action based on both historical and scientific insights. Professor Penelope Corfield at Royal Holloway, University of London, has written a new book called Time-Space: We Are All in It Together. It offers a ground-breaking interdisciplinary exploration of how humans exist within the cosmic dimensions of Time and Space.
Professor Ben Baker | How Computational Methods Can Distinguish Between Hip-Hop Dance Styles
Dance plays a vital role across human cultures, with communities developing different styles for artistic expression. While experts can describe differences between dance genres in words, these descriptions are only meaningful to those with relevant background knowledge. In a recent study, Professor Ben Baker and colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania developed a computational system for analyzing and classifying bodily movement using 17 features, such as how expanded a dancer’s body is, or how frequently they make sharp movements.
How Humour Shaped Western Support for Ukraine
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 triggered an unprecedented wave of Western support. This was particularly apparent in the UK, where citizens held vigils and fundraisers, public buildings were lit in Ukrainian colours, while the government pledged over a hundred million pounds in humanitarian aid. According to Dr James Brassett and Dr Christopher Browning at the University of Warwick, this phenomenon went beyond mere sympathy, developing into ‘vicarious identification’ – where people gain a sense of identity and purpose by living through others’ experiences.
How COVID-19 Shaped Conservation Activism in Southern Africa
The COVID-19 pandemic influenced social structures and behaviours globally, reshaping how communities interact and mobilize. It also significantly transformed social movements across the world, creating new patterns of digital activism as essential tools during times of physical distancing and restricted movement. During this global shift, social media amplified indigenous voices in conservation, but turning this digital momentum into real policy impact remains a challenge. Despite safeguarding 80% of global biodiversity, these communities are often excluded from environmental decision-making, underscoring the need for digital advocacy to support their rights and heritage.
Professor Jorge Domínguez | How Cuba’s Leadership Responded to Crisis: Combining Repression with Reform
Protests in Cuba in 2021 represented the most significant challenge to the country’s political order in 40 years, with thousands of nationwide demonstrators demanding changes. In recent research, Professor Jorge Domínguez examines how Cuban authorities responded to these mass protests through a complex strategy combining repression with selective reforms. Contrary to common perceptions that the Cuban government relied solely on repression to quell the July 2021 protests, Domínguez reveals they took a more nuanced approach.
Professor Robert Slesinski | How Freedom Shapes Revolutionary Philosophy: Berdyaev’s Existential Thought
Nicolai Berdyaev (1874-1948) was one of the most influential Russian philosophers in the West during the 20th century. In a recent paper, Professor Robert Slesinski analyzes Berdyaev’s philosophy, arguing that it centers on a radical understanding of freedom that challenges traditional Christian metaphysics.
Professor Mark Doel | How Objects Can Tell the Story of Social Work
Social work can sometimes be difficult to define or explain to the public. While many people have direct experience with teachers, nurses, or police officers, far fewer understand what social workers actually do. A research project by Professor Mark Doel at Sheffield Hallam University explores an innovative way to make social work more visible – through the display of meaningful objects.
Professor Christina Strunck | A New Approach to Analysing Art in its Spatial Setting
How did Early Modern mural paintings seek to shape attitudes to Britishness? This is one of the central questions addressed by Professor Christina Strunck in her book Britain and the Continent, 1660 to 1727. Professor Strunck examines the most significant political murals created in Britain in the decades around 1700, including those at Windsor Castle, Chatsworth and Hampton Court Palace. She focuses on how these paintings portray the relationship between Britain and the continent. By doing so, she shows how murals in public and private buildings contributed to the formation of a national identity.
Dr Hana Jee | Do people who speak different languages share preferences for letter shapes?
Writing systems are one of humanity’s most important inventions, allowing us to communicate across time and space. For centuries, researchers thought the relationship between written symbols and their sounds was completely arbitrary – that there was no real connection between how a letter looks and how it sounds. However, recent research has challenged this, suggesting that writing systems often contain hidden patterns linking symbols to sounds. A new study by Dr Hana Jee of York St John University investigates whether people from different language backgrounds share similar preferences for how symbols should connect to sounds.
Professor Özlem Atikcan | How the Migration Debate in Europe Changed During the ‘Crisis’ Years
The way we talk about complex issues shapes how we understand and respond to them. In social science, different ways of presenting an issue are called ‘frames’, which are like lenses that highlight certain aspects of a topic while downplaying others. For instance, ‘framing’ migration as a security issue creates a very different picture compared to discussing it as a human rights matter. Professor Özlem Atikcan and her colleagues at the University of Warwick, Sofie Roehrig and Tim Henrichsen, have studied how conversations about migration evolved between 2000 and 2020.
Dr Monica Pauls | Understanding Collective Identity Among Youth Activists Online
Can collective identity among social movement actors develop online? Do social media platforms foster genuine relationships, or do meaningful connections require face-to-face interaction? New research by Dr Monica Pauls at Mount Royal University aimed to find out. Her latest study dives into the digital lives of youth activists to explore whether social media can foster a genuine sense of belonging and shared purpose.
Professor Kimani Nehusi | How Ancient Rituals Created Sacred Homelands
Land ownership disputes and displacement affect millions across Africa and its diaspora today, but understanding the profound spiritual relationship between African communities and their ancestral territories requires looking far back into history. Professor Kimani Nehusi at Temple University examines how African communities developed what he calls the ‘Afrikan Ancestral Land Complex’ – a distinctive collection of values, deep memory, knowledge, attitudes and rituals centered on land. His research focuses on ancient Kemet, known today as Egypt, where some of the earliest written records provide evidence of these practices dating back over 5,000 years.
Professor Penelope Corfield | Time-Space: Exploring How Humans Navigate Cosmic Existence
Yes, the clock is ticking away relentlessly! And yet today we live in an era when some philosophers claim that Time is merely an illusion. And certainly, many people casually dismiss all historical understanding as irrelevant. However, it’s time to rethink! We need to understand humanity’s place in time and space. And that’s particularly vital for addressing contemporary crises, especially climate change, which demands collective action based on both historical and scientific insights. Professor Penelope Corfield at Royal Holloway, University of London, has written a new book called Time-Space: We Are All in It Together. It offers a ground-breaking interdisciplinary exploration of how humans exist within the cosmic dimensions of Time and Space.
Professor Ben Baker | How Computational Methods Can Distinguish Between Hip-Hop Dance Styles
Dance plays a vital role across human cultures, with communities developing different styles for artistic expression. While experts can describe differences between dance genres in words, these descriptions are only meaningful to those with relevant background knowledge. In a recent study, Professor Ben Baker and colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania developed a computational system for analyzing and classifying bodily movement using 17 features, such as how expanded a dancer’s body is, or how frequently they make sharp movements.
How Humour Shaped Western Support for Ukraine
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 triggered an unprecedented wave of Western support. This was particularly apparent in the UK, where citizens held vigils and fundraisers, public buildings were lit in Ukrainian colours, while the government pledged over a hundred million pounds in humanitarian aid. According to Dr James Brassett and Dr Christopher Browning at the University of Warwick, this phenomenon went beyond mere sympathy, developing into ‘vicarious identification’ – where people gain a sense of identity and purpose by living through others’ experiences.
How COVID-19 Shaped Conservation Activism in Southern Africa
The COVID-19 pandemic influenced social structures and behaviours globally, reshaping how communities interact and mobilize. It also significantly transformed social movements across the world, creating new patterns of digital activism as essential tools during times of physical distancing and restricted movement. During this global shift, social media amplified indigenous voices in conservation, but turning this digital momentum into real policy impact remains a challenge. Despite safeguarding 80% of global biodiversity, these communities are often excluded from environmental decision-making, underscoring the need for digital advocacy to support their rights and heritage.
Professor Jorge Domínguez | How Cuba’s Leadership Responded to Crisis: Combining Repression with Reform
Protests in Cuba in 2021 represented the most significant challenge to the country’s political order in 40 years, with thousands of nationwide demonstrators demanding changes. In recent research, Professor Jorge Domínguez examines how Cuban authorities responded to these mass protests through a complex strategy combining repression with selective reforms. Contrary to common perceptions that the Cuban government relied solely on repression to quell the July 2021 protests, Domínguez reveals they took a more nuanced approach.
Professor Robert Slesinski | How Freedom Shapes Revolutionary Philosophy: Berdyaev’s Existential Thought
Nicolai Berdyaev (1874-1948) was one of the most influential Russian philosophers in the West during the 20th century. In a recent paper, Professor Robert Slesinski analyzes Berdyaev’s philosophy, arguing that it centers on a radical understanding of freedom that challenges traditional Christian metaphysics.
Professor Mark Doel | How Objects Can Tell the Story of Social Work
Social work can sometimes be difficult to define or explain to the public. While many people have direct experience with teachers, nurses, or police officers, far fewer understand what social workers actually do. A research project by Professor Mark Doel at Sheffield Hallam University explores an innovative way to make social work more visible – through the display of meaningful objects.
Professor Christina Strunck | A New Approach to Analysing Art in its Spatial Setting
How did Early Modern mural paintings seek to shape attitudes to Britishness? This is one of the central questions addressed by Professor Christina Strunck in her book Britain and the Continent, 1660 to 1727. Professor Strunck examines the most significant political murals created in Britain in the decades around 1700, including those at Windsor Castle, Chatsworth and Hampton Court Palace. She focuses on how these paintings portray the relationship between Britain and the continent. By doing so, she shows how murals in public and private buildings contributed to the formation of a national identity.
Dr Hana Jee | Do people who speak different languages share preferences for letter shapes?
Writing systems are one of humanity’s most important inventions, allowing us to communicate across time and space. For centuries, researchers thought the relationship between written symbols and their sounds was completely arbitrary – that there was no real connection between how a letter looks and how it sounds. However, recent research has challenged this, suggesting that writing systems often contain hidden patterns linking symbols to sounds. A new study by Dr Hana Jee of York St John University investigates whether people from different language backgrounds share similar preferences for how symbols should connect to sounds.
Professor Özlem Atikcan | How the Migration Debate in Europe Changed During the ‘Crisis’ Years
The way we talk about complex issues shapes how we understand and respond to them. In social science, different ways of presenting an issue are called ‘frames’, which are like lenses that highlight certain aspects of a topic while downplaying others. For instance, ‘framing’ migration as a security issue creates a very different picture compared to discussing it as a human rights matter. Professor Özlem Atikcan and her colleagues at the University of Warwick, Sofie Roehrig and Tim Henrichsen, have studied how conversations about migration evolved between 2000 and 2020.
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