Arts and Humanities
Explore Arts and Humanities
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.
Professor Penelope Corfield | Key Changes in Daily Greetings in 18th Century Britain
In 18th century Britain, deep bowing as a greeting slowly evolved into a touch of the cap for men, or quick bob for women. Simultaneously, a new form of greeting emerged: the handshake. How and why did the handshake gain popularity, becoming a standard greeting? This phenomenon is explored in a new essay published in the journal Urban History and authored by Professor Penelope Corfield of London University.
Dr. Aviad Moreno | Communities and Mobilities: Multilayered Jewish Migration from Arab Countries
‘Communities and Mobilities’ is a research group led by Dr. Aviad Moreno at the Azrieli Center for Israel Studies, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. This interdisciplinary team delves into the intricate tapestry of migrations, with a focal point on Jewish migration from Arab countries.
Professor Ronald De Sousa | Exploring the Contribution of Philosophy to Empirical Sciences
The term ‘scientist’ was invented just under 200 years ago. What we now call ‘science’ was then known as ‘natural philosophy’. Since then, we’ve made a clear distinction between philosophy and the empirical sciences, to the extent that they are often perceived to be unrelated. However, it may be a mistake to divide human quest for knowledge in this way. Professor Ronald De Sousa at the University of Toronto argues that philosophy and science are inextricably linked. For him, you cannot escape philosophy when you are thinking about anything systematically and scientifically.
Dr Gabriel Popescu | Reconstructing the History of a Prehistoric Society in the Eastern Balkans
When studying the earliest human societies, researchers use a combination of archaeological records and radiocarbon dating to create comprehensive models of population patterns. By applying advanced mathematical techniques, they can now estimate the changing sizes and distributions of ancient human populations and make more informed inferences about how societies were structured. In many regions, these models have allowed researchers to better understand the social and environmental changes that shaped the prehistoric world.
Dr Olga Golubeva | How to Use Accounting to Facilitate Sustainable Development
Since the 1980s, the three sustainability directions, including social, environmental, and economic pillars, have guided theoretical developments and policy-making efforts worldwide. Dr Olga Golubeva at Stockholm Business School, Stockholm University, explored the potential of accounting to contribute to the three pillars framework. Olga capitalises on the ability of the accounting discipline to reflect and record organisational and social surroundings.
Professor David Pion-Berlin | Was the January 6th Storming of the US Capitol a Self-coup?
The storming of the US Capitol on January 6th 2021 was a shocking event for many. Citizens pushed past Capitol police, causing property damage and threatening congresspeople and the Vice President. Five people died in the attack. Participants included armed members of right-wing militias, terrorist groups, neo-Nazi organizations, and conspiratorial groups such as Q-Anon. Nothing similar had been seen since the British burned the Capitol building to the ground during the War of 1812. Immediately afterwards, scholars and the media attempted to understand what had happened. Commentators had a range of viewpoints, describing the event as an insurrection, a mob invasion, sedition, a legitimate protest, a rebellion, and a coup.
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.
Professor Penelope Corfield | Key Changes in Daily Greetings in 18th Century Britain
In 18th century Britain, deep bowing as a greeting slowly evolved into a touch of the cap for men, or quick bob for women. Simultaneously, a new form of greeting emerged: the handshake. How and why did the handshake gain popularity, becoming a standard greeting? This phenomenon is explored in a new essay published in the journal Urban History and authored by Professor Penelope Corfield of London University.
Dr. Aviad Moreno | Communities and Mobilities: Multilayered Jewish Migration from Arab Countries
‘Communities and Mobilities’ is a research group led by Dr. Aviad Moreno at the Azrieli Center for Israel Studies, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. This interdisciplinary team delves into the intricate tapestry of migrations, with a focal point on Jewish migration from Arab countries.
Professor Ronald De Sousa | Exploring the Contribution of Philosophy to Empirical Sciences
The term ‘scientist’ was invented just under 200 years ago. What we now call ‘science’ was then known as ‘natural philosophy’. Since then, we’ve made a clear distinction between philosophy and the empirical sciences, to the extent that they are often perceived to be unrelated. However, it may be a mistake to divide human quest for knowledge in this way. Professor Ronald De Sousa at the University of Toronto argues that philosophy and science are inextricably linked. For him, you cannot escape philosophy when you are thinking about anything systematically and scientifically.
Dr Gabriel Popescu | Reconstructing the History of a Prehistoric Society in the Eastern Balkans
When studying the earliest human societies, researchers use a combination of archaeological records and radiocarbon dating to create comprehensive models of population patterns. By applying advanced mathematical techniques, they can now estimate the changing sizes and distributions of ancient human populations and make more informed inferences about how societies were structured. In many regions, these models have allowed researchers to better understand the social and environmental changes that shaped the prehistoric world.
Dr Olga Golubeva | How to Use Accounting to Facilitate Sustainable Development
Since the 1980s, the three sustainability directions, including social, environmental, and economic pillars, have guided theoretical developments and policy-making efforts worldwide. Dr Olga Golubeva at Stockholm Business School, Stockholm University, explored the potential of accounting to contribute to the three pillars framework. Olga capitalises on the ability of the accounting discipline to reflect and record organisational and social surroundings.
Professor David Pion-Berlin | Was the January 6th Storming of the US Capitol a Self-coup?
The storming of the US Capitol on January 6th 2021 was a shocking event for many. Citizens pushed past Capitol police, causing property damage and threatening congresspeople and the Vice President. Five people died in the attack. Participants included armed members of right-wing militias, terrorist groups, neo-Nazi organizations, and conspiratorial groups such as Q-Anon. Nothing similar had been seen since the British burned the Capitol building to the ground during the War of 1812. Immediately afterwards, scholars and the media attempted to understand what had happened. Commentators had a range of viewpoints, describing the event as an insurrection, a mob invasion, sedition, a legitimate protest, a rebellion, and a coup.
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