insert_link Opinion Pieces Bullies in South African schools were often bullied themselves – insights from an expert Bullying is far more complex than current interventions acknowledge. Georgia Court/Getty Images Andrea Juan, Human Sciences Research Council “Pupil stabbed to death at Gauteng school had suffered history of bullying”. “Grade 6 learner commits suicide after bullying”. “Grade 11 learner takes her own life after taunts over her appearance.” These are just some headlines about the occasionally tragic effects of violent school bullying in South African schools – and, unfortunately, […] today10 January, 2024
insert_link Africa Black Panther, Wakanda Forever and the problem with Hollywood – an African perspective Jeanne-Marie Viljoen, University of South Australia Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever were global hits that played out in an imaginary African kingdom and feature a universe of black creative talent. What’s not to love about the franchise? Quite a lot, reckons cultural and literary studies scholar Jeanne-Marie Viljoen. We asked her to explain. What are Black Panther’s limitations when it comes to diversity? Even though the Black Panther […] today10 January, 2024
insert_link Opinion Pieces School uniforms may trigger sensory overload in kids who are sensitive to fabrics – our research can help macniak Lizette Diedericks, University of Pretoria and Karin van Niekerk, University of Pretoria Many people live with what’s known as sensory over-reactivity or over-responsiveness. Those with this condition experience an over-reaction to sensory stimuli, such as touch. When overstimulated, the brain triggers a fight-or-flight response, which can lead to irritability, withdrawing from people, and temper tantrums. Over time individuals can learn to manage this condition, but children often struggle. This […] today10 January, 2024
insert_link Health / Medical Stressed out? Why mindfulness and meditation help us cope with the world By Lucy Draper-Clarke, University of the Witwatersrand In a world fraught with anxiety, stress, and environmental and humanitarian disasters, people are looking for ways to cope. Many have turned to practices originating in ancient eastern philosophies for guidance. Among these is mindfulness, which is linked to meditation. Lucy Draper-Clarke, researcher and author of The Compassionate Activist, spoke to health & medicine editor Nadine Dreyer about looking inwards and cultivating compassion, […] today10 January, 2024
insert_link Lifestyle Being humble is a good new year’s resolution – but it requires knowing what you value most Clay Knight|Unsplash By Darren Bradley, University of Leeds As the new year gets going, many of us make resolutions to better our lives and our selves. Counsellors and psychologists alike will tell you that the key to self-improvement is being humble. Author and coach Anna Katharina Schaffner has described humility as an “ancient virtue” that does not equate with low self-esteem but rather, “is a form of spiritual modesty”. It […] today10 January, 2024
insert_link Health / Medical How living like a hunter-gatherer could improve your health Prostock-studio/Shutterstock By Nicholas Bourne, University of East London; David Clayton, Nottingham Trent University, and Marcello Bertotti, University of East London Many of us want to live long, happy and healthy lives. Yet it’s often confusing to know the best way to achieve this, and many aspects of modern, westernised living conspire to keep us from achieving this goal. The solution may be to step back in time. For the bulk […] today10 January, 2024
insert_link Africa Ghana’s electricity crisis is holding the country back – how it got here The Akosombo Dam is an important source of power in Ghana. jbdodane/Flickr, CC BY Naaborle Sackeyfio, Miami University For well over a decade Ghana was exalted as one of the most promising and fastest growing economies on the continent. But recent reports of the country’s steep economic dip, high inflation and rolling blackouts, popularly referred to as “dumsor”, suggest the era of inconsistent electricity between 2012 and 2016 is back. […] today10 January, 2024
insert_link Business / Economics Plants and bookcases in, living rooms and blank walls out: how your Zoom background can make you seem more competent By Paddy Ross, Durham University Working from home has made job interviews and starting a new role easier in many ways. You don’t have to worry about a missed train or spilt coffee derailing a job interview if it’s on Zoom – but you still need to impress your interviewer. Your home surroundings help show off your personality to the person on the other end of the Zoom call. Anyone […] today10 January, 2024
insert_link Opinion Pieces Studying engineering is tough: 6 insights to help university students succeed Support and a sense of community are among the ways that students build academic resilience. ASphotowed/iStock/Getty Plus Curwyn Mapaling, University of Johannesburg Engineering courses are a popular choice among South African university students. But these courses are also gruelling and the attrition rates are high. The Council on Higher Education reports that half of the engineering students enrolled at South African universities do not complete their studies. That figure is […] today10 January, 2024
