News archive
Articles published in 2016
New institute will pursue research to guide policy on open adoptions
NSW Premier Mike Baird has committed $2.85 million to the Institute of Open Adoption Studies at the University of Sydney in partnership with Barnardos Australia.
Australian universities make health and wellbeing a priority
Representatives from 25 Australian universities have joined together to form the Australian Health Promoting Universities Network, which will see them work collaboratively to create healthier university campuses and communities.
Geologists discover how Australia's highest mountain was created
A team spearheaded by Professor Dietmar Müller from the University's School of Geosciences used high performance computing code to investigate the cause of the uplift which created Mount Kosciuszko and the Australian Alps.
Islam needs to invest in people and universities, not mosques
The discourse on Islam as we know it today has been hijacked by Islamist militants, writes Hussain Nadim.
Retirement is good for your health
University of Sydney research reveals that retirement can boost positive lifestyle changes
A congestion charge will help unclog Sydney's roads and save drivers money
It's time to rethink the way we price the use of our roads if we want true reform to ease congestion, writes Professor David Hensher.
Putting a dollar figure on our beaches
Can we place a dollar figure on the effects of sea level rise? Associate Professor Abbas El-Zein, from the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies, will share his research into local climate change adaptation and planning at the Sydney Environment Institute panel, 'Coastal vulnerability to sea level rise', on Wednesday 23 March.
Housing policy is captive to property politics, so don’t expect politicians to tackle affordability
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's recent warnings that house prices would fall steeply under a Labor government confirm the underlying politics of housing policy in Australia. The default position for politicians is to sound concerned about housing affordability, but do nothing.
The role of universities in promoting prosperity in our region
Five University staff recently addresed the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade's 'Inquiry into the role of development partnerships in agriculture and agribusiness in promoting prosperity, reducing poverty and enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region'.
Dymocks innovation challenge to launch student leadership program
A Student Leadership Program aimed at honing professional skill will be launched next week at the University of Sydney with a challenge to create a future concept for Australia's oldest family owned business and bookseller, Dymocks.
Virtual time machine of Earth's geology now in the cloud
How did Madagascar once slot next to India? Where was Australia a billion years ago? Cloud-based virtual globes developed by a team led by University of Sydney geologists mean anyone with a smartphone, laptop or computer can now visualise, with unprecedented speed and ease of use, how the Earth evolved geologically.
We should broaden our view of science if it's to help make good public policy
Actor and science advocate Alan Alda will address the National Press Club today, talking about the importance of communicating science to the public, writes Professor Penny Hawe.
Campaign finance failed to meet international standards in two-thirds of all elections in 2015
Flawed and failed elections around the world are manipulated through vote rigging and corruption, intimidation and violence, according to an annual report released by the Electoral Integrity Project.
Nanoscience and technology institute launching
The Australian Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, launching next month, provides a world-leading environment for scientists at the forefront of nanotechnology to address some of the biggest challenges facing society. Today's Sydney Morning Herald front page feature gives an insight into our "quantum leap" into the next frontier.
Maria Sharapova’s positive drug test: what is it and what does it mean for her?
Overnight, Maria Sharapova called a press conference to announce she had tested positive for a banned substance (mildronate) during this year's Australian Open.
A hot house of women composers sets up at The Con
Historically classical music composers have been mostly men and still today women only make up 26 per cent of composers registered with the Australian Music Centre. The Sydney Conservatorium of Music will launch the first national women composers development program this month to address the gender imbalance in music composition in Australia.
Male circumcision: latest population figures revealed
Globally, one-third of males aged 15 and above are circumcised but male circumcision is almost universal in countries where the Muslim and Jewish faith are commonplace, according to the most accurate estimate among the world's 237 countries.
Activity monitoring devices could become instrumental in cardiac rehabilitation
Fitbit device helps monitor physical activity levels of cardiac patients.
Free Macleay Museum exhibition visualises climate data
Rapid Prototyping: Models of Climate Change is an exhibition of the work of Kate Dunn, who takes climate scientists' data and reworks them into 3D visualisations using 3D printers and sustainable materials such as clay, coffee and wood pulp.
Why sexual harassment by customers goes unreported
New research from the University of Sydney Business School has investigated customer perpetrated sexual harassment and examined the coping mechanisms used by young waitresses, shop assistants and bartenders.