Arts and Humanities
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Exploring the Hershey Company’s Child Labour Case | Dr Bertrand Guillotin
The Hershey Company, one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the world, produces and distributes millions of sweet treats every year. In 2019, an article on the Washington Post accused the company of failing to uproot child labour from its cocoa supply chain. Dr Bertrand Guillotin, an Associate Professor at Temple University’s Fox School of Business, recently published a case study that closely explores these child labour allegations against the Hershey Company.

Arendt’s Ethics of Otherness: Rethinking How We See Other People | Professor Andreea Deciu
The 20th Century philosopher Hannah Arendt grounded ethics in aesthetics because she viewed art as a way of understanding how the world appears to different people. In her recent work, Professor Andreea Deciu [day-chew] Ritivoi [ree-tee-voy] of Carnegie Mellon University highlights Arendt’s rich repertoire of literary writings, as she believes that they deserve to be considered alongside other popular ethical works. Professor Ritivoi shows how Arendt’s unique contribution identifies the obstacles facing ‘human togetherness’, so that we can find ways to overcome them.

How Soundtracks Shape What We See | Dr. Alessandro Ansani
Music has the power to influence how we interpret the world around us. Dr. Alessandro Ansani from the Department of Psychology at Sapienza University of Rome believes this interpretation is multidimensional and involves several interconnected cognitive factors and mechanisms. He has recently demonstrated the significant impact that background music can have on our interpretation of a simple movie scene, by manipulating the soundtrack.

Exploring Cyberpunk as a Post-Utopian Genre | Professor Elana Gomel
Cyberpunk brings to mind neon lights, artificial intelligence and mega corporations. It is a subgenre of science fiction set in a dystopian, futuristic, and oppressive setting, with advanced technology often featured alongside societal decay. Professor Elana Gomel [ee-lah-nah go-mell] in the Department of English and American Studies at Tel-Aviv University in Israel specialises in narrative theory with a particular focus on the intersection between literature and science. In her recent work focusing on the cyberpunk genre, Professor Elana Gomel argues that cyberpunk is not a dystopian modality of representation; rather, it is better classified as ‘post-utopian’.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative: An Epochal Initiative Connecting the World – Professor Xiangming Chen, Trinity College
SciPod · China’s Belt And Road Initiative: An Epochal Initiative Connecting The WorldOriginal Article Reference This SciPod is a summary of:...

Exploring How Technology Enhances Inclusion and Participation in Humanities Research – Dr Anna Khlusova, Kings College London
SciPod · Exploring How Technology Enhances Inclusion and Participation in Humanities ResearchIn Collaboration with Original Article Reference This SciPod is a summary...

Social and Political Determinants of Health in the Occupied Palestinian Territory During the COVID-19 Pandemic
SciPod · Social And Political Determinants Of Health In The Occupied Palestinian Territory During COVID - 19In Collaboration with Original Article Reference This SciPod...

Socioeconomic Determinants of Covid-19 Infections and Mortality: Evidence from England and Wales
SciPod · Socioeconomic Determinants Of Covid-19 Infections And Mortality: Evidence From England And WalesIn Collaboration with Original Article Reference This SciPod is...

Andy Ridgway | The Evolution Of Science Journalism
Like other animals, humans have unique ways of approaching a potential mate and securing their affections. The goal of these ‘wooing’ processes is generally to establish a long-term romantic relationship with the person of interest. Victor de Munck, a Professor of Anthropology at Vilnius University, recently carried out a fascinating study exploring the most common patterns of courtship observed in the United States today, and the cultural influences underpinning these patterns.

An Arts-based Approach to Science Communication Training – Dr Daniel J. McGarvey and Sarah E. Faris
Original Article Reference https://doi.org/10.26320/SCIENTIA311 Share Episode About this episodeRapid growth in the number and diversity of digital media...

The Shape of Rational Choices in Game Theory – Dr Tarun Sabarwal, University of Kansas
Original Article Reference https://doi.org/10.26320/SCIENTIA212 Share Episode About this episodeThe choices we make in various situations have collective...

Dr Laura Perucchetti | How Researchers at the British Museum Detected and Tested Greek Coin Forgeries
Laura Perucchetti and colleagues at the British Museum have uncovered a group of skilfully crafted counterfeit ancient coins that may be one of the earliest examples of forgers using scientific analysis to dupe collectors. By examining the composition of the coins and comparing them with genuine artefacts, experts believe the forgers deliberately used ancient metal to avoid detection. The findings highlight the long history of a cat and mouse game between forgers and analysts, and the need for vigilance in verifying the authenticity of even the most convincing pieces.

Dr Jerome Premmereur | What Spinoza Can Help us Understand About Extreme Radicalism
In a novel exploration of human radicalism, defined by governments as violent attacks, Dr Jerome Premmereur, a cardiologist and a clinical research expert based in the United States, draws on the philosophy of Baruch Spinoza to propose innovative solutions to the pressing societal issue of terrorism. His new book, “A Biological, Psychological and Philosophical Approach to Human Nature and Radicalism”, examines radicalism through the lens of human biology and Spinoza’s concepts, offering a comprehensive approach to understanding and mitigating extremism. Premmereur argues that radicalism is an inherent part of human nature, but can be addressed through a holistic strategy encompassing education, politics, balanced laws, healthcare, and economic stability. By revisiting ancient Greek democracy and applying Spinoza’s ideas to modern challenges, Premmereur presents an optimistic vision, although challenging in practice, to reduce extremism and create a better world.

Professor Penelope Corfield | Key Changes in Daily Greetings in 18th Century Britain
In 18th century Britain, the old tradition of deep bowing and curtseying as a form of greeting slowly evolved into a brief touch of the cap or head (for men), or quick bob of the body (for women). Simultaneously, a new form of urban greeting was emerging: the handshake. How and why did the handshake gain such popularity, becoming our most standard greeting today? This phenomenon is explored in a new essay published in the journal Urban History and authored by Professor Penelope Corfield of London University.

Dr Ceccherini-Nelli | What Makes Great Orators’ Speeches Effective and Persuasive?
Since ancient Greek civilization, we have sought to identify what makes some people more effective and persuasive orators than others. Studies have suggested that this might be related to rhythmic patterns in certain speech, but evidence is limited. Dr. Ceccherini-Nelli of the University of Alberta conducted a study with his colleagues to explore this. They looked at the patterns present in political speeches and conducted experiments to determine their effects.

Professor Pei Wang | Defining AI to Ensure Effective Research and Policymaking
Artificial intelligence – or AI – is receiving increasing attention for its rapid development and potential to change society. Researchers are working hard to develop its capabilities, while regulators are racing to ensure it is managed and governed properly. But what do we mean by AI, and how can we define such a complex term? In a recent paper, Professor Pei Wang at Temple University argues that the lack of an agreed definition makes it difficult for policymakers to assess what AI will be capable of in the near future, or even which kinds of AI are desirable. To combat this, he discusses what makes a robust definition, and suggests his own.
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