Social Sciences Archives

Decolonizing Ecology for Socially Just Science

August 22, 2019June 6, 2021 Science Connectedecology, globalization

Opinion By Suzanne Xianran Ou (@suzanneou) and Adriana L. Romero-Olivares (@fungi_lover) Science attempts to describe nature at all scales, including globally. But scientists and the institutional structures and gatekeepers, such as governments, universities, and science journal editors, who determine what is considered “good science” in our modern world, represent countries with great economic power, collectively known as the Global North. To move forward with a broad perspective and as a globally connected scientific community, we must be inclusive of all scientists around the world, including those from countries with less…

Environment Science Debate Series Science Policy

The Unfortunate Withdrawal of the US from the Paris Agreement

August 15, 2019November 22, 2021 Science Connectedclimate change, global warming, science policy

US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement weakens environmental leadership, damages alliances, and hinders global progress in mitigating climate change.

Citizen Science Environment Health Science Policy

Environmental Health Is a Social Justice Issue

June 27, 2019July 1, 2019 Science Connectedclean water, community health, water management

By Shayna Keyles (@shaynakeyles) When we talk about recycling, mitigating climate change, protecting habitats, and more, it’s not only for some abstract mission of “saving the earth,” though that would be good, too. These are environmental justice issues; they are part of the struggle for basic human rights. Environmental justice in the US In the United States, the environmental justice movement grew out of the civil rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Communities of Black, Latinx, Native American, low-income, and immigrant groups found that they were disproportionately affected by…

Environment Oceanography Science Policy

The US Needs a Federal Ban on Marine Plastic Pollution

May 30, 2019March 11, 2021 Science Connectedocean, plastic, plastic pollution, pollution

Marine plastic pollution must be addressed by the United States through policies on single-use plastics and abandoned fishing nets.

Biology Environment Science Policy

Does Habitat Fragmentation Affect Biodiversity?

May 9, 2019November 22, 2021 Science Connectedbiodiversity, habitat

Habitat fragmentation has long been considered a threat to biodiversity, but recent research presents researchers and policy makers with some new ideas.

Ecology Environment Science Policy

Forest Restoration, Not Plantations, Will Curb Warming

May 2, 2019February 19, 2024 Science Connectedclimate change, global warming, restoration

Forest restoration efforts are a far more effective strategy for sequestering atmospheric carbon than monoculture plantations.

Craft beer aisles in a grocery store. Each aisle is labeled with the name of a different country.

Environment Science Policy

Globalization and Its Environmental Impact

April 4, 2019December 2, 2021 Science Connectedclimate, ecology, environment, globalization, weather

Globalization has many negative impacts on the environment. Corporations that benefit from globalization most must work toward sustainability.

Environment Health Science Policy

Imagining Future Wastewater Solutions

March 21, 2019August 2, 2021 Science Connecteddrinking water, rivers, sewage treatment, water treatment

Wastewater is a health threat in communities worldwide and researchers constantly seek treatment solutions to improve the health of individuals and communities.

Archaeology Biology

Do Mummies Decompose?

October 23, 2018April 7, 2021 Science Connecteddeath

Do mummies decompose? Why or why not? Find out how mummification works, and what happens to a human body when it doesn’t work so well. By Shayna Keyles As long as life has existed, so has death—and decomposition. Many cultures throughout history sought to prevent that ugly part of passing with mummification. But is it possible to actually prevent decomposition, or does mummification just slow things down? To find out, we’ll explore different methods of mummification by examining mummies from around the world. But first, we’ll learn a bit more…

Linguistics New Technologies Science Videos

How Some Words Get Forgetted

August 28, 2018May 2, 2021 Science Connectedit's okay to be smart, language, linguistics

Get ready for a dive into linguistic history! Our friend Dr. Joe Hanson from It’s Okay to Be Smart (PBS Digital Studios) goes full science nerd on the English language–and irregular verbs. Why are irregular verbs so common in English? Where do they come from? English is a confusing language for many reasons. But the irregular verbs might be the most confusing part. Why is “told” the past tense of “tell” but “smold” isn’t the past tense of “smell”? It turns out that the study of irregular verbs can teach…