Robert Hickson • Sep 19, 2019 •
There is much to be despondent about looking ahead to the consequences of a changing climate. But adopting Jonathan Franzen’s defeatism isn’t the best response. Reducing adverse impacts of climate change isn’t as simple as regulating automotive emissions, banning a pesticide of refrigerant, or changing to LED lights. But nor is it as … Read More
Robert Hickson • Mar 22, 2019 •
Two centuries ago there was an allegory doing the rounds of England. A “New Zealander” – meaning a Māori – at some latter date sat drawing the ruins of London. A sign that all great cities and civilisations eventually diminish and others take their place. Detail from Gustave Doré. “The New Zealander” in London: … Read More
Robert Hickson • Apr 25, 2018 •
As we always do this time of year in NZ we look back and honour past wartime sacrifices, and reflect on how they have shaped the national mindset and identity. That’s important to do, but it seems that as a country we spend a lot of time in reflection and too little looking forward. Well, you may say, the world … Read More
Guest Author • Apr 17, 2018 •
Laura Y. Cabrera, Michigan State University and Jennifer Carter-Johnson, Michigan State University This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Mr. B loves Johnny Cash, except when he doesn’t. Mr. X has watched his doctors morph into Italian chefs right before his eyes. The link between the two? … Read More
Jean Balchin • Apr 13, 2018 •
A recent study in Scientific Reports suggests that being in the presence of peers (such as friends, coworkers or acquaintances) who engage in risky behaviours may have an influence on individual choices. In a laboratory task led by Livia Tomova and Luiz Pessoa, participants who knew of riskier behaviour taken by their peers, tended to make riskier choices themselves. However, observing safe … Read More
Jean Balchin • Jan 26, 2018 •
From the frosty swathes of Iceland to the deep forests of Aotearoa, music may be heard reverberating through every culture and peoples. Songs serve many different purposes, as we all know; accompanying a dance, soothing an infant, or expressing love. A recent study in Current Biology wherein recordings were analysed from all over the world reveals that vocal songs sharing one of … Read More
Guest Author • Dec 22, 2017 •
Brittany Cardwell and Jamin Halberstadt Sick of tinsel, carols and talk of virgin birth? In New Zealand, Australia and many other countries, it’s hard to escape Christmas in December. But even if you don’t believe in Christ or a God, religion can still be a powerful force. Research shows that even nonreligious people may hold unconscious beliefs linked … Read More
Robert Hickson • Oct 06, 2017 •
Are we approaching “peak State”, where the power of diverse nation states starts to decline back toward greater power being held by large cities or culturally or religiously more homogeneous regions? Catalonians and Iraqi Kurds voted in independence referenda this last week. In contrast to Scotland’s and the UK’s Brexit referenda a few years … Read More
Robert Hickson • Jul 15, 2017 •
A few weeks ago I gave a conference talk about using stories to look at the future. I focused on the need to pay more attention to creating stronger story lines and characters. That’s because it is more important to stimulate the audience to explore a range of possible futures than to try and predict what you think may happen. Read More
Robert Hickson • Apr 17, 2017 •
The oldest person in the world has died, aged 117. Life expectancy in Italy in 1899 when she was born was 44 years. She wasn’t the oldest; the current record is 122. NZ’s oldest living person is 109, although the oldest so far reached 113 years. Life expectancy in New Zealand has, as elsewhere, risen … Read More