The Big Q
Questions - Ideas - Scholarship - DebatesProject for Public Interest Media
Politics & Society
Ā« Le Parti de Le Pen Ā» : What does the rise of the French Far-Right mean for Franceās 2022 election ?
Marine Le Pen has already announced her bid for the presidency in 2022.
How are young tertiary students that work faring in the wake of COVID-19?
“Working students should not be in a position to choose finding work over their education.”
What is the historical context behind the George Floyd protests? š
Following the death of George Floyd in police custody, calls are growing for people to do the work to truly understand the history of how the United States got to this point.
A death in the family
“I saw my father alive, dead, and buried, the threefold process thatās at once so ordinary and so extraordinary, and tragically has become more ordinary in the UK in these extraordinary times.”
What impact will the COVID pandemic have on the future of climate governance? š
In 2015, the nations of the world agreed to the Paris Climate Accord. This is intended to slow the rate of climate change. Since then, the US has announced its intention to withdraw and the COVID pandemic has had a profound impact on the agreement.
How can we adapt anticorruption enforcement to an age of populism and polarization?
The resurgence of populism, coupled with increasing polarization, are making it easier for corrupt politicians to evade accountability, even in countries with functional legal and judicial systems.
Science & Technology
The Artemis Accords and the law: Is the Moon āback in businessā?
NASA has announced its Artemis programme which should land the first woman and the next man (at least as far as the United States is concerned) on the Moon by 2024.
How did the Hubble Space Telescope open our eyes to the first galaxies of the universe?
The famous telescope is celebrating thirty years of operation.
Why are COVID-19 infection rates so different across countries?
One of the interesting features of the COVID-19 pandemic is the different incidence rates of the disease and the different mortality percentages, across countries.
From COVID-19 to a sustainable climate: What is the way forward?
People and governments have the chance to learn from Covid-19, and build a new sustainable climate future with a watchful eye on our Sustainable Development Goals, writes Professor Ralph Cooney.
Climate change: Is it worse than we thought?
Just how hot will it get this century? Latest climate models suggest it could be worse than we thought
Coronavirus lockdown: Is a low-carbon future possible?
Lockdownās effect on air pollution provides a rare glimpse of low-carbon future.
Business & Economics
How can we rebuild our economies fairly post-COVID?
Rich and poor donāt recover equally from epidemics. Rebuilding fairly will be a global challenge.
Are Google and Facebook taking New Zealand for a ride? A trans-Tasman divide on social media
“There is an emerging dichotomy in the attitude of governments on either side of the Tasman toward social media companies. New Zealand treats these transnationals with kid gloves while Australia is pulling on the boxing gloves.”
What is the future of the New Zealand media sphere post-COVID? š
Change is happening quickly in the New Zealand media sphere as companies try to adapt to a new world post-COVID.
Is the Italian economy ready to re-start after the lockdown?
The lockdown, introduced at the beginning of March to contain the spread of Covid-19, has been an economic nightmare for the country.
What is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Turkey and its ācorona diplomacyā?
Looming economic problems have not prevented Ankara from showcasing its soft power and engaging in ācorona diplomacy.ā
From COVID-19 to a sustainable climate: What is the way forward?
People and governments have the chance to learn from Covid-19, and build a new sustainable climate future with a watchful eye on our Sustainable Development Goals, writes Professor Ralph Cooney.
Arts & Culture
What is the historical context behind the George Floyd protests? š
Following the death of George Floyd in police custody, calls are growing for people to do the work to truly understand the history of how the United States got to this point.
Why is it so hard to stop COVID-19 misinformation spreading on social media?
Even before the coronavirus arrived to turn life upside down andĀ trigger a global infodemic, social media platforms were under growing pressure to curb the spread of misinformation.
Will COVID quieten Beethoven’s big birthday?
The 250th anniversary of Beethovenās birth would surely be loud, public, monumental, teleological, triumphant, heroicālike the music of the man himself. Right? Wrong, on both counts.
What is decolonisation?
Many writers only loosely define what they mean by it, and others use it as a general black box for addressing the negative impacts of colonisation upon Indigenous peoples.Ā Ā
How much do we trust our news media?
A survey released last week tells us 53 percent of New Zealanders trust overall news sources most of the time.
First in Family: Our University Voyages
Awarding-winning filmmaker Professor Annie Goldson didn’t have to travel too far from her University of Auckland desk for her latest documentary production, with Dr ‘Ema Wolfgramm-Foliaki.