DRC’s plan for the world’s largest tropical forest reserve would be good for the planet: can it succeed?

| Insights & Views

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo passed a law in January 2025 to lead efforts to establish the largest tropical forest reserve in the world. It will be set up as a 2,600km long green corridor the size of...

Most South African farmers are black: why Trump got it so wrong

| Insights & Views

When world leaders engage, the assumption is always that they engage on issues based on verified facts, which their administrative staff are supposed to prepare. Under this assumption, we thought the meeting at the White...

Record rainfall in the south, drought in the north: what’s causing Europe’s unusual spring weather?

| Insights & Views

2025s rainy spring has brought a swift end to the droughts plaguing several Spanish regions, restoring ecosystems to parched fields, reviving withered trees and shrubs, and bringing back a lush, green landscape not seen...

Do biases affect assessment in kindergarten? Educators discuss strategies for mitigation

| Insights & Views

Teachers perceptions and judgments of student skills are key to measuring childrens academic progress. But educators own biases can distort these perceptions and judgments. For example, research in Canada has shown that...

The Phoenician Scheme: a fun watch even though it’s the same journey in a different vehicle

| Insights & Views

As someone attuned to the distinct styles of auteur filmmakers, I came to Wes Andersons latest offering The Phoenician Scheme intrigued, feeling a mix of distance and familiarity. My appreciation for other auteur directors...

Have sanctions against Russia backfired? What apartheid-era South Africa tells us about who may be profiting

| Insights & Views

Even as the war in Ukraine grinds on, some multinational companies are quietly positioning themselves for a thaw in relations with Russia. Many of those who rushed to divest from the country, selling off assets after the...

From soil to slugs to songbirds – how plastic is moving through ecosystems

| Insights & Views

For many people, plastic pollution calls to mind pictures of turtles and other marine life drowning in single-use plastic bottles and discarded fishing nets. My own research looks at how the same story is playing out on...