Arts and Humanities
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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.
Professor Robert F. Slesinski | Exploring the Intersection Between Philosopher Semyon Frank and Novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky
Russian religious philosophy, with its profound exploration of existential themes, continues to captivate scholars worldwide. A recent review by Professor Robert Slesinski sheds light on the intersection between two titans of Russian thought: Semyon Frank and Fyodor Dostoevsky. Slesinski is expert in Russian religious philosophy who has authored a previous monograph on Frank, entitled The Philosophy of Semyon Frank: Human Meaning in the Godhead, in addition to monographs on Pavel Florensky, Sergius Bulgakov, and Lev Karsavin.
Dr Alexandra Juster | A New Method for Bridging the Gap Between Law and Literature
In recent years, the interdisciplinary research field of ‘law and literature’ has begun to establish itself in Europe. This emerging field explores how legal concepts are portrayed in literary works and how literature can inform our understanding of the law. Recent research by Dr Alexandra Juster of the University of Münster proposes a novel method to analyse this relationship more systematically. Dr Juster’s research builds on the established American ‘law and literature’ movement, which has been gaining traction in Europe. Her work introduces a new approach called ‘juridical counterfactual’, which aims to provide a methodological foundation for future research in this interdisciplinary field.
Professor Damian Nance | The Role of Beam Engines in Forming the America We Know Today
Steam power was first brought to America in 1755, in the form of the beam engine. For much of the 1800s, it powered the nation’s progress. It enabled navigation of the country’s inland waterways, bolstered industry, facilitated mining, and supplied cities with water. In a recent paper, Professor Damian Nance of Ohio University tracks the importation and rapid development of the beam engine in America. He describes how the technology first brought the country together, leaving an indelible mark on the USA’s history.
Learning English through Manga: A Fun and Effective Approach
Manga, the colorful and vibrant Japanese comic books, have been gaining global popularity. These comics have captured the hearts of readers young and old, transcending cultural boundaries. But could manga also serve as a powerful tool for learning English? This intriguing question is explored by Professor Song Cho at Liberty University, who recently delved into the potential of manga as an educational resource for teaching English.
Professor Catherine Mittermayer | Delving into the Mysteries of Ancient Omens with the Assyrian Scholar Nabû-zuqup-kēnu
The study of ancient manuscripts has opened portals to past civilizations, from the bustling streets of Mesopotamia to the realms of the Maya, Romans, Persians, and Ancient Greeks. Among these fascinating texts lies a treasure trove known as Šumma ālu ina mēlê šakin – a collection of divinatory tablets etched with omens, offering glimpses into the beliefs and practices of ancient Mesopotamia. Around 2700 years ago, an Assyrian scribe named Nabû-zuqup-kēnu embarked on a quest to predict the future through signs observed on Earth. Living in Kalhu, a city pulsating with Assyrian culture, he meticulously compiled a series of such omens – and named it Šumma ālu.
Professor Marica Bakovic | Advanced Scientific Techniques Provide Proof that Red Guitar is an Original Picasso Painting
Red Guitar is a painting believed to have been created by the renowned artist Pablo Picasso. Its owner affirmed that Red Guitar was a gift from Picasso to Stevan Hazdic, a former Yugoslav army chief who employed Picasso’s brother-in-law. Professor Marica Bakovic at the University of Guelph, in collaboration with scientists and historians at different Canadian institutes, set out to verify this theory and further explore the painting’s origin.
Dr. Precious Skinner-Osei – Peter Claudius Osei | Beyond Bars: Guiding Re-entry Programs to Implement C.A.R.E.
The U.S. detains approximately 2 million individuals in prisons and jails, with 10.6 million annual bookings, mostly for short-term or pre-trial detentions. As a result, over 90% of these individuals will eventually be released, underscoring the importance of re-entry programs. Upon release, many encounter the same challenges that contributed to their incarceration, making reintegration a complex process. These challenges include navigating the labor market, preventing re-offending through counseling and education, and rebuilding family and community ties. Re-entry programs aim to address these challenges by providing services, including family reunification, employment aid, mental health support, housing, and education.
Dr Laurie Durel – Laure Gosselin | How Conversations Shape the Effectiveness of New Climate Policies
Climate change has become a topic of public discussion, no longer confined to scientists and politicians. Various stakeholders, including environmental NGOs and industry representatives, hold different perspectives on how to address climate change. This web of actors and ideas in a given political debate, combined with their interactions, is called a discursive field. Discursive fields influence our thinking and determine whether certain ideas gain political traction. They can enable or constrain the ability of political institutions to adopt new policies. As agreeing on efficient climate change policies becomes increasingly urgent, it is vital that we consider how discursive fields impact climate change policy.
Professor Louise Steel | Viewing Egyptian Influences in Late Bronze Age Cyprus Through a Postcolonial Lens
The role of Egyptian or Egyptian-inspired artefacts found in the East Mediterranean has long been considered by archaeologists. Some have highlighted how these objects may have conferred elite authority on their owners. More recently, analysis has been grounded in postcolonial thought, which emphasises the agency of the native population involved in the exchange of artefacts. In a recent paper, Professor Louise Steel explores the Egyptian influence in the Late Bronze Age town of Enkomi in Cyprus.
A Decision-Making Toolbox for Prioritising Ecological Restoration
The fate of humanity is intricately intertwined with the state of the environment. Vital ecosystem services, such as freshwater provision, underpin food security, health, wellbeing, and economic prosperity. However, ecosystems everywhere face mounting challenges, including pollution and the impacts of climate change. Approximately one-quarter of the Earth’s land-based ecosystems suffer degradation, impacting over 41% of the global population. Without intervention, 95% could be degraded by 2050. Additionally, climate change presents a significant threat to water availability and the sustainability of ecosystems.
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.
Professor Robert F. Slesinski | Exploring the Intersection Between Philosopher Semyon Frank and Novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky
Russian religious philosophy, with its profound exploration of existential themes, continues to captivate scholars worldwide. A recent review by Professor Robert Slesinski sheds light on the intersection between two titans of Russian thought: Semyon Frank and Fyodor Dostoevsky. Slesinski is expert in Russian religious philosophy who has authored a previous monograph on Frank, entitled The Philosophy of Semyon Frank: Human Meaning in the Godhead, in addition to monographs on Pavel Florensky, Sergius Bulgakov, and Lev Karsavin.
Dr Alexandra Juster | A New Method for Bridging the Gap Between Law and Literature
In recent years, the interdisciplinary research field of ‘law and literature’ has begun to establish itself in Europe. This emerging field explores how legal concepts are portrayed in literary works and how literature can inform our understanding of the law. Recent research by Dr Alexandra Juster of the University of Münster proposes a novel method to analyse this relationship more systematically. Dr Juster’s research builds on the established American ‘law and literature’ movement, which has been gaining traction in Europe. Her work introduces a new approach called ‘juridical counterfactual’, which aims to provide a methodological foundation for future research in this interdisciplinary field.
Professor Damian Nance | The Role of Beam Engines in Forming the America We Know Today
Steam power was first brought to America in 1755, in the form of the beam engine. For much of the 1800s, it powered the nation’s progress. It enabled navigation of the country’s inland waterways, bolstered industry, facilitated mining, and supplied cities with water. In a recent paper, Professor Damian Nance of Ohio University tracks the importation and rapid development of the beam engine in America. He describes how the technology first brought the country together, leaving an indelible mark on the USA’s history.
Learning English through Manga: A Fun and Effective Approach
Manga, the colorful and vibrant Japanese comic books, have been gaining global popularity. These comics have captured the hearts of readers young and old, transcending cultural boundaries. But could manga also serve as a powerful tool for learning English? This intriguing question is explored by Professor Song Cho at Liberty University, who recently delved into the potential of manga as an educational resource for teaching English.
Professor Catherine Mittermayer | Delving into the Mysteries of Ancient Omens with the Assyrian Scholar Nabû-zuqup-kēnu
The study of ancient manuscripts has opened portals to past civilizations, from the bustling streets of Mesopotamia to the realms of the Maya, Romans, Persians, and Ancient Greeks. Among these fascinating texts lies a treasure trove known as Šumma ālu ina mēlê šakin – a collection of divinatory tablets etched with omens, offering glimpses into the beliefs and practices of ancient Mesopotamia. Around 2700 years ago, an Assyrian scribe named Nabû-zuqup-kēnu embarked on a quest to predict the future through signs observed on Earth. Living in Kalhu, a city pulsating with Assyrian culture, he meticulously compiled a series of such omens – and named it Šumma ālu.
Professor Marica Bakovic | Advanced Scientific Techniques Provide Proof that Red Guitar is an Original Picasso Painting
Red Guitar is a painting believed to have been created by the renowned artist Pablo Picasso. Its owner affirmed that Red Guitar was a gift from Picasso to Stevan Hazdic, a former Yugoslav army chief who employed Picasso’s brother-in-law. Professor Marica Bakovic at the University of Guelph, in collaboration with scientists and historians at different Canadian institutes, set out to verify this theory and further explore the painting’s origin.
Dr. Precious Skinner-Osei – Peter Claudius Osei | Beyond Bars: Guiding Re-entry Programs to Implement C.A.R.E.
The U.S. detains approximately 2 million individuals in prisons and jails, with 10.6 million annual bookings, mostly for short-term or pre-trial detentions. As a result, over 90% of these individuals will eventually be released, underscoring the importance of re-entry programs. Upon release, many encounter the same challenges that contributed to their incarceration, making reintegration a complex process. These challenges include navigating the labor market, preventing re-offending through counseling and education, and rebuilding family and community ties. Re-entry programs aim to address these challenges by providing services, including family reunification, employment aid, mental health support, housing, and education.
Dr Laurie Durel – Laure Gosselin | How Conversations Shape the Effectiveness of New Climate Policies
Climate change has become a topic of public discussion, no longer confined to scientists and politicians. Various stakeholders, including environmental NGOs and industry representatives, hold different perspectives on how to address climate change. This web of actors and ideas in a given political debate, combined with their interactions, is called a discursive field. Discursive fields influence our thinking and determine whether certain ideas gain political traction. They can enable or constrain the ability of political institutions to adopt new policies. As agreeing on efficient climate change policies becomes increasingly urgent, it is vital that we consider how discursive fields impact climate change policy.
Professor Louise Steel | Viewing Egyptian Influences in Late Bronze Age Cyprus Through a Postcolonial Lens
The role of Egyptian or Egyptian-inspired artefacts found in the East Mediterranean has long been considered by archaeologists. Some have highlighted how these objects may have conferred elite authority on their owners. More recently, analysis has been grounded in postcolonial thought, which emphasises the agency of the native population involved in the exchange of artefacts. In a recent paper, Professor Louise Steel explores the Egyptian influence in the Late Bronze Age town of Enkomi in Cyprus.
A Decision-Making Toolbox for Prioritising Ecological Restoration
The fate of humanity is intricately intertwined with the state of the environment. Vital ecosystem services, such as freshwater provision, underpin food security, health, wellbeing, and economic prosperity. However, ecosystems everywhere face mounting challenges, including pollution and the impacts of climate change. Approximately one-quarter of the Earth’s land-based ecosystems suffer degradation, impacting over 41% of the global population. Without intervention, 95% could be degraded by 2050. Additionally, climate change presents a significant threat to water availability and the sustainability of ecosystems.
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