Gay Men’s Health Crisis showed how everyday people stepped up when institutions failed during the height of the AIDS epidemic – providing a model for today

Despite funding cuts, political scapegoating and internal tensions, thousands of volunteers came together in the 1980s to provide care to a stigmatized community.

Eden Lowinger, Research Assistant in Social Work, Binghamton University, State University of New York • conversation
June 18, 2025 • ~12 min

Toad patrol volunteers are ensuring frisky amphibians can cross the road to reach their mating grounds

Despite dutiful toad patrols, evidence suggests that the amphibians are declining in the UK.

Becky Thomas, Senior Lecturer in Ecology, Royal Holloway University of London • conversation
March 11, 2025 • ~5 min

Amid LA fires, neighbors helped each other survive – 60 years of research shows how local heroes are crucial to disaster response

In emergencies, when every minute counts, research shows family, friends and neighbors are often saving lives. These local efforts go uncounted, yet they’re crucial.

James Kendra, Director, Disaster Research Center and Professor, Public Policy & Administration, University of Delaware • conversation
Jan. 20, 2025 • ~8 min

Amid LA fires, neighbors helped each other survive – 60 years of research shows local heroes are crucial to disaster response

In emergencies, when every minute counts, research shows family, friends and neighbors are often saving lives. These local efforts go uncounted, yet they’re crucial.

James Kendra, Director, Disaster Research Center and Professor, Public Policy & Administration, University of Delaware • conversation
Jan. 20, 2025 • ~8 min

Neighbors and strangers pulled together to help LA fire survivors – 60 years of research shows these unsung heroes are crucial to disaster response

In emergencies, when every minute counts, research shows family, friends and neighbors are often saving lives. These local efforts go uncounted, yet they’re crucial.

James Kendra, Director, Disaster Research Center and Professor, Public Policy & Administration, University of Delaware • conversation
Jan. 20, 2025 • ~8 min

Travelling in 2025? Here’s how to become a ‘regenerative’ tourist

Tourism can be a troubling issue for local people who feel ignored by the industry.

Veselina Stoyanova, Associate Professor in Strategy & International Management, University of Birmingham • conversation
Jan. 7, 2025 • ~5 min

Citizen science projects tend to attract white, affluent, well-educated volunteers − here's how we recruited a more diverse group to identify lead pipes in homes

For a project on identifying lead water pipes in homes, outreach through partner groups produced a more representative set of volunteers.

Valerie Ann Johnson, Dean of Arts, Sciences, and Humanities and Professor of Sociology, Shaw University • conversation
Dec. 6, 2023 • ~7 min

Let the community work it out: Throwback to early internet days could fix social media's crisis of legitimacy

In the days of online bulletin board systems, community members decided what was acceptable. Reviving that approach to content moderation offers Big Tech a path to legitimacy as public spaces.

Chand Rajendra-Nicolucci, Research Fellow, Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure, UMass Amherst • conversation
Oct. 24, 2023 • ~10 min

American Climate Corps: Biden's new green jobs initiative delivers more promises than details

A scholar of national service programs points out that the government hasn’t spelled out what this one will cost, what its participants will earn or how it will operate.

Christopher Staysniak, Lecturer of History, College of the Holy Cross • conversation
Sept. 28, 2023 • ~10 min

The heroic effort to save Florida’s coral reef from extreme ocean heat as corals bleach across the Caribbean

Ocean temperatures have hit record highs off the Florida Keys. Scientists and volunteer divers are racing to save these valuable creatures.

Michael Childress, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences & Environmental Conservation, Clemson University • conversation
Aug. 9, 2023 • ~11 min

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