Governments need to look beyond education rankings and focus on inequities in the system
Dec 05, 2016 04:46 am UTC| Insights & Views Life
The latest Programme of International Student Assessment (PISA) results will be released around the world on December 6. And as usual, there will be a flurry in the news media. Australia will likely have dropped further...
How e-cigarettes could 'health wash' the tobacco industry
Dec 04, 2016 23:22 pm UTC| Insights & Views Health Business
The evidence that e-cigarettes help people quit smoking was described in the World Health Organisations (WHO) recent report as scant and of low certainty. Predictably, this triggered the latest round of claims and...
Should we do away with exams altogether? No, but we need to rethink their design and purpose
Dec 04, 2016 23:19 pm UTC| Insights & Views Life
Over the past two decades there have been frequent calls to abandon exams. The major criticisms of exams in schools and universities tend to relate to either the misuse or overuse of exams, and not to the sensible use...
Is the Cuban healthcare system really as great as people claim?
Dec 04, 2016 23:18 pm UTC| Insights & Views Health
Pundits have been discussing the merits (or not) of Fidel Castros legacy as his body lies in state. The Cuban healthcare system is often stated as one of El Commandantes greatest achievements. But how great is the system...
Why privatisation of social care may not be the answer to a coming crisis
Dec 04, 2016 23:13 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy
Virgin Care recently won a 700m contract to run adult social care for a council in the west of England. The seven-year deal will see the company take over three important areas of council provision: adult social care,...
Reliable renewable electricity is possible if we make smart decisions now
Dec 04, 2016 23:07 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy
The Australian government is reviewing our electricity market to make sure it can provide secure and reliable power in a rapidly changing world. Faced with the rise of renewable energy and limits on carbon pollution, The...
The age of uncertainty is upon us, and we'd better get used to it
Dec 04, 2016 22:58 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy
Peter Varghese, former head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, now chancellor of the University of Queensland had a simple message for policymakers anxious about the arrival in the White House of a man whose...
South Africa’s plan to move away from coal: 8 steps to make it succeed
Germany lowers voting age to 16 for the European elections
IceCube researchers detect a rare type of energetic neutrino sent from powerful astronomical objects