Can a hug with a dog or a cuddle from a cat cure loneliness? A new research project plans to find out. — Written by: Em Bould, Senior Research Fellow, Occupational Therapy There’s no doubt loneliness and social isolation are a problem for many people. A 2017 Relationships Australia survey found more than one-third (34%) often felt isolated, and a further 43% felt isolated some of the time. There’s also little doubt that…

Proven technologies already exist to rapidly reduce methane emissions, and Australia is leading the world in developing new options — but we must act quickly — This year’s COP27 meeting in Egypt is being heralded as an “implementation COP”, where countries need to stop debating targets, and instead focus on developing real plans and timelines to reach previously agreed-upon targets. The Albanese government will need to take rapid action to meet its pledges to reduce greenhouse…

Written by: Amrik Sohal, Professor, Director of the Australian Supply Chain Management Research Unit. Although relatively small in size compared with other major global grain producers, for the past few decades Ukraine has punched above its weight in regard to its significant production of wheat, corn and sunflower oil. …

Smith and Rock demonstrate hegemonic masculinity — a form that’s culturally-endorsed, and one that upholds and demonstrates men’s dominance over women — and, indeed, of some men over others. Written by: Steven Roberts, Professor of Education & Social Justice. When it comes to the annual Academy Awards, the millions-strong viewing…

Will 2022 be the year we get the pandemic under control? — Written by: Vinod Balasubramaniam, Senior Lecturer, Microbiology. The World Health Organisation Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says “2022 must be the end of the COVID-19 pandemic”. He is hopeful it will be because after two years, “we know the virus very well, and we have all the tools [to fight it]”. …

Living in Kenya, Jomo Kigotho and his family saw first-hand the devastation wrought by malaria. Meet the man now on a mission to fight the disease. — Written by: Chris Johnston, Journalist, writer for Lens. Jomo Kigotho is 24 now and back once again in Melbourne, hidden away in the lab most days, making molecules. …

So what is this “social contract” that both the pro- and anti-vaxxers use in their arguments, and what does social contract language add to the vaccination debate? — Written by: Chris Watkin, Associate Professor in European languages. In recent months, COVID policy has undergone a quiet revolution. From the beginning of the outbreak until June or July, Australia was the land of containment — bring cases down to zero through hygiene, lockdowns and border controls.

Heard the one about the Scottish physiotherapist wearing a vulva suit? It’s spawned an international collaboration examining the effectiveness of humour in serious health messaging. — Featuring: Helen Skouteris, Developmental Psychologist and Leading Public Health and Implementation Science Researcher. A random remark to a group of school mums eventually led to Elaine Miller donning a vulva suit in the Scottish parliament.

Recent incidents involving female athletes underscore a long history of sexualisation and policing of women’s bodies and behaviours, but things are changing, albeit slowly. — Written by: Rebecca Stewart and Lisa Wheildon There have been a few standout images from the 2021 Olympic Games so far, and they tell an important story about the way gendered stereotypes and social norms are being challenged, and are shifting.