The Copenhagen summit is in full force, and so too is the idea that man-made global warming is incontrovertible. But Martin Cohen argues that the consensus is less a triumph of science and rationality than of PR and fear-mongering
Sorcha Gunne and Zoë Brigley Thompson explain that they study rape and its narratives to understand and demythologise a difficult and unpleasant subject. But such is the taboo, it's tough to discuss their work openly
Goodbye, sweet Calliope, farewell Erato? In a consumerist world where speed and image rule, poetry's emotional meanings are being lost. Neil McBride muses, partly through verse, on the future of this embattled art
Bruno Cousin and Michèle Lamont say academics at France's public universities need to rethink their strategy after this year's protests alienated the public and had little impact on the Government
Some say mission groups help air vital issues collegially, but others think they selfishly expose the sector to divide-and-rule tactics. Melanie Newman looks at the group dynamics
Proof of the existence of extraterrestrial life may be closer than we think, thanks to a surge of research in astrobiology. Lewis Dartnell is determined to ascertain that we are not alone
Free, immediate and permanently available research results for all - that's what the open-access campaigners want. Unsurprisingly, the subscription publishers disagree. Zoë Corbyn weighs up the ramifications for journals, while Matthew Reisz asks how books will fare
The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology pushes many boundaries. Zoë Corbyn visits Saudi Arabia to see how its vision of top-class research in a liberal environment is taking root
In preparing a biography of Braque, Alex Danchev explored the meaning of art and its makers. But upon finishing, he faced a much more personal question
China is hungry for Western-style universities, not least to fuel its economy. Phil Baty reports on the efforts to uproot corruption and bureaucracy and build a dynamic and vibrant world-class system
Silicon Valley, a unique educational, research and industrial ecosystem, is feeling the recession. John Gilbey asks if its success can continue without sacrificing social commitments
James T. Crouse finds himself in emotional conflict at Gettysburg, experiencing sadness at the loss suffered by the South, but relief that the outcome was the beginning of an end to slavery
Amanda Goodall's research - a mixture of detailed statistics and the fruits of her experience as an academic administrator - shows that just as star basketball players make the best coaches, scholars make the best v-cs. Matthew Reisz gets a lesson in leadership
Whatever the genuine lessons of history, policymakers constantly make opportunistic use of the past to justify their decisions. Matthew Reisz introduces a team of historians who are fighting back against the 'Bad History' all around us
Knowledge transfer is often perceived as a concept that is limited to science, but Hannah Fearn discovers it is equally relevant for the arts and humanities
When an expensive international experiment faced collapse, Don Braben and his collaborators, unfettered by micromanagement, pooled their intelligence and ingenuity to ensure success
From downloads of lectures to entire courses for free, Rebecca Attwood reports on how universities are fitting open educational resources into their missions and marketing
Tourists can now visit even the most far-flung destinations, but Judith Weingarten believes that one must settle in for a long stay to get a real sense of foreign lands
For months, Nicholas Tesla has endured interviews, psychometric testing and inedible food. Yet despite being eminently qualified, the management role he seeks remains elusive. So is his approach to blame or does the fault lie with the selection process itself?
Jon F. Baldwin finds the slow-moving Saturday night queue at his local Chinese takeaway sometimes provides the only opportunity for self-reflection in an otherwise frantic week
In the 25 years since the iconic film adaptation of George Orwell's dystopia, US society has crept ever closer to its bleak vision of paranoia, surveillance, perpetual war and unthinkingness, fears Tom Palaima
The contrast between British and American higher education is nowhere more apparent than in the levels of scholarly freedom enjoyed by academics on opposite sides of the pond. Here, Paul A. Taylor bemoans the UK system, while David J. Gunkel makes the case for the US
Almost by accident, 25 years ago Alec Jeffreys discovered DNA fingerprinting and revolutionised criminal profiling. He tells Zoë Corbyn that 'the unexpected is what science should deliver'
The recession has intensified competition for university places, with degrees more vital than ever for gaining an advantage in a tough job market. As clearing begins, will the 'lost generation' be able to reclaim their future? Rebecca Attwood reports
