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International brain awareness week 2023 in Uruguaiana, Brazil: Promoting neuroscience through community activities
Full text linkNeuroscience, the study of the nervous system, is essential for understanding the human condition and informing societal decisions in healthcare, education and policymaking. The public’s interest in neuroscience highlights the need for effective scientific communication to bridge the gap between scientists and the public. This study describes the organisation, activities and evaluation of International Brain Awareness Week (IBAW) 2023 in Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It is a municipality that borders Argentina, led by the Physiology Research Group (GPFis) and POPNeuro Program at the Federal University of Pampa, located in the same state. Activities included neuroanatomy exhibitions, a night race for brain health, lectures on ageing and public neuroscience demonstrations. Over 700 people participated, and feedback indicated high satisfaction and increased understanding of neuroscience. The study emphasises the importance of public engagement in science to promote critical thinking and informed decision-making. It also highlights how the main activity proposed by our group for IBAW – a neuroanatomy exhibition – received a positive response from the target audience (school students from the municipality of Uruguaiana), and how these activities contributed to strengthening university-community integration. Additionally, the closing event, a race, was among the most recommended activities for future editions
First Nations Litigants Challenge the Hubris of Australian Gas Companies
Full text linkAustralian First Nations people are playing an increasingly important role in climate litigation relating to the approval of greenhouse gas emission (GHG) projects, with several important cases handed down in the last few years. Here we discuss three recent court wins for First Nations litigants against the Australian gas industry. The cases of Tipakalippa, Cooper and Gomeroi highlight three things: (1) the mostly-weak procedural rights First Nations people are forced to use to defend their Country, (2) the hubris of Australian gas companies Santos and Woodside in failing to meet even low procedural law requirements, and (3) the grit of First Nations litigants in fighting for their Country, a fight that all Australians benefit from
Planning for Climate Change in the NSW Local Aboriginal Land Council Estate
Full text linkThe Aboriginal land estate in NSW is uniquely vulnerable to the physical risks of climate change and this jeopardises the rights and interests of First Nations peoples. This paper presents the findings of research and knowledge exchange between a cross-disciplinary research team and Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs). The research team, with expertise on Aboriginal land rights, energy policy and actuarial modelling, assessed physical risk to LALC lands in regional NSW. At workshops held in the NSW Far Western Zone and in northern and southern NSW, LALCs truth-tested these findings. By sharing their knowledge and priorities for living on their land during climate change, these LALCs highlighted the limitations and cultural bias of Western models of assessing risk. This paper explains the context of the Aboriginal land estate and climate change risks and shares our preliminary findings, along with some considerations for supporting LALCs to develop strategies for climate adaptation and mitigation
The Global Classroom: ‘We are the Dreamers of Dreams’
Full text linkThis reflection explores my experiences with the University of Technology Sydney’s (UTS) International Studies program, emphasising the transformative power of The Global Classroom initiative. By integrating language learning, cultural immersion, and overseas study, the program provided students with life-changing opportunities that fostered adaptability, cultural understanding, and global citizenship. My own journey—from shaping the program’s early years to working abroad—reinforced the importance of international education, both for students and educators
Communicating Science for Migration Policy: Refugee Protection in Germany 2015 and 2022
Full text linkThe relationship between researchers and policymakers has never been straightforward when it comes to using the best evidence to solve societal problems. This paper examines this relationship by analysing two major refugee events in Germany: the arrival of Middle Eastern refugees in 2015 and Ukrainian refugees in 2022. Using communication theories, we analyze how policymakers engaged with scientific research and the institutional mechanisms that facilitated or hindered knowledge transfer. Based on policy document analysis and expert interviews, we identify key differences in policy responses across both events. In 2015, scientific evidence was sparse, and policymakers primarily relied on legal perspectives. By contrast, in 2022, a well-developed research infrastructure allowed for a more immediate integration of empirical scientific insights into policy. However, political and institutional selectivity in processing evidence persisted. Our findings highlight the need for closer collaboration between researchers and policymakers and improved mechanisms for translating scientific knowledge into policy
Trading Efficiency for Control: the AI Conundrum in Migration Management
Full text linkThis paper contributes to the discussions on AI initiatives applied to migration management by drawing attention to critical issues in the AI systems field. It suggests a research agenda to investigate how AI-generated insights inform policies and how ideologies are reflected into policies and shape AI deployments. Specifically, this paper leverages the data justice and algorithmic accountability debates to examine two application of AI systems. The first, based on predictive AI, aims at supporting governments and humanitarian organisations in estimating timing, destination and size of refugee inflows. The second application refers to Natural Language Processing (NLP) and to the integration of voice and speech recognition within a broader repertoire of techniques to automate immigration systems. The paper finally suggests that to better harness the analytical power of AI, AI systems must be recognised as inherently political, in the sense that they enshrine a specific view of power and relations of subordination
The devolution of health services at the Pixley Ka Seme District Municipality in Northern Cape Province, South Africa
No full textThis policy and practice note analyses the provision and implementation of municipal health services since decentralisation in South Africa, through a case study of Pixley Ka Seme District Municipality in Northern Cape Province. The purpose of the study was to determine whether municipalities are able to render the services they are tasked with since decentralisation was implemented. The findings are broadly positive, although concerns remain about the adequacy of both funding and enforcement powers to discharge the municipality’s environmental health mandate. The paper concludes that all spheres of government should collaborate – and also engage with other stakeholders such as the private sector, community-based organisations, community members and political leadership – to ensure that the function is implemented in line with national regulations
Fiscal federalism and local governments\u27 struggle for autonomy in Nigeria
No full textThis paper delves into the complex interplay between fiscal federalism and local government autonomy in Nigeria, a nation marked by an intricate federal structure and persistent governance challenges. The study examines how Nigeria\u27s fiscal federalism impacts the autonomy and effectiveness of local governments, focusing on the allocation and management of financial resources, political interference, and administrative constraints. Despite significant reforms aimed at decentralising power and improving local governance, local governments continue to face substantial hurdles, including revenue misappropriation and limited autonomy. The paper highlights the ongoing struggle for genuine self-governance against a backdrop of fiscal centralisation and political manipulation. By analysing the historical context, current practices, and international comparators, this study provides insights into the systemic issues undermining local government autonomy in Nigeria and suggests potential reforms for enhancing local governance and addressing developmental disparities. The findings underscore the need for a balanced approach to fiscal federalism that supports both effective local governance and overall national cohesion
The Ebbs and Flows of te reo Māori Use in New Zealand English
No full textIn this article, we associate the use of te reo Māori in vernacular New Zealand English with political alignments and transformations in Aotearoa New Zealand. The volume and direction of this lexical borrowing – from Māori into vernacular New Zealand English – is as unique as it is counterintuitive: lexical borrowing most typically involves words from dominant, majority languages being loaned into and shared with subdominant, Indigenous languages. Our contribution explores the persistent use of te reo Māori in New Zealand English. We start by offering a chronology of te reo Māori as an endangered and official language, and then review the existing scholarship on how and when te reo Māori loanwords have been incorporated into New Zealand English. We conclude by assessing the changing political space for te reo Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand, with a particular focus on new directions in language policy associated with the coalition government elected in 2023
Supply chain integration in public sector construction projects: adoption and barriers
No full textTraditional procurement practices in public sector construction often lead to inefficiencies, cost overruns, and delays due to fragmented collaboration. This study investigated supply chain integration (SCI) adoption and barriers in public sector construction projects in Nigeria’s Southern region, specifically Akwa Ibom and Rivers States. Employing a survey research design, 354 questionnaires were distributed to construction professionals, yielding 272 valid responses (76% response rate), and analyzed using mean item score (MIS) and the Kruskal–Wallis H-test. Findings indicate moderate SCI adoption (MIS = 2.53), with information sharing (MIS = 3.48), customer relationships (MIS = 3.46), leadership management (MIS = 3.25), long-term networking (MIS = 3.14), and just-in-time delivery (MIS = 2.80) as top practices. Key barriers included low innovation (MIS = 4.02), late material delivery (MIS = 3.99), lack of top management support (MIS = 3.89), poor stakeholder attitudes (MIS = 3.83), and inadequate resources (MIS = 3.75). Grounded in institutional theory, transaction cost economics, and stakeholder theory, this study provides empirical evidence from a developing context, offering actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners to enhance project efficiency and sustainability through training, logistics improvements, and leadership commitment. Limitations include the regional focus, suggesting future research on digital tools and broader geographic contexts
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