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Law & society
News about legal, social and ethical issues based on peer-reviewed studies or expert analysis
Latest news
25 February 2020
University of Sydney sociologist bound for the IAS in Princeton
Associate Professor Sonja Van Wichelen has been invited to join the prestigious Institute of Advanced Study in Princeton (IAS), which counts Albert Einstein and J. Robert Oppenheimer among its past members.
17 February 2020
Fatal Woman, The Origin of Evil, and other tantalising tales
They may sell for 30 cents at the local op shop, but classic crime books - especially their cover art - warrant appreciation. Criminologist and artist Dr Carolyn McKay outlines their appeal.
03 February 2020
Student-engineered solutions at the nexus of law and science
An idea to label food to indicate the use of antibiotics to prevent the emergence of superbugs has seen a multidisciplinary team of students named the inaugural winners of the Summer Innovation Program (SIP) challenge.
30 January 2020
Not just for laughs: 3 new ideas about humour
Funniness is culturally, contextually, and personally dependent, as highlighted in three pieces of quirky University of Sydney research.
28 January 2020
China in 2020 - what can we expect?
Last Saturday 25 January was Chinese New Year. As we move into the year of the rat, experts at the University of Sydney share their thoughts on what we can expect from China in 2020.
23 January 2020
Dissecting Prime Ministers' Australia Day speeches
Australia Day and Anzac Day are meant to be opportunities for Prime Ministers to unite and inspire Australians, yet research suggests that their speeches often don't reflect diversity and can even marginalise certain groups.
21 January 2020
Cousin took a DNA test? Courts could use it to profile you
Police already use DNA databases to identify suspects, but what if judges used them to inform sentencing decisions? Dr Allan McCay and Christopher Lean investigate.
14 January 2020
What will shape our world in 2020?
In 2020, unrest in Hong Kong, political turbulence in Australia, and spats over social media will continue to dominate the news. Meanwhile, the gaming industry, significantly larger than the film and music industries, might experience travails and triumphs.
08 January 2020
More than one billion animals killed in Australian bushfires
Professor Chris Dickman has revised his estimate of the number of animals killed in bushfires in NSW to more than 800 million animals, with a national impact of more than one billion animals.
08 January 2020
Black Saturday firefighters want you to listen, not call them 'heroes'
In commemorating firefighters as heroes, we can fall into the danger of overstating their ability to control fires, absolving ourselves of responsibility, write Professor Leanne Cutcher and Dr Graham Dwyer.
17 December 2019
Four things you might not know about Christmas
Think you know everything about Santa Claus and the myriad traditions that surround him? Professor Carole Cusack, from the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Sydney, shares some festive season facts that may surprise you.
16 December 2019
Indian Minister praises University's role in consumer protection
The Indian Minister responsible for consumer protection has praised the University of Sydney Business School's role in a major overhaul of his country's consumer protection laws, which he says will empower the people of India with enforceable rights.
12 December 2019
Law School scholar named nation's top criminologist
The University of Sydney Law School's Professor of Criminology Gail Mason has been recognised for her lifetime achievements and contributions to criminology with the top national honour in the field.
11 December 2019
The Honourable Dr Robert Austin receives Doctor of Laws
Arts/Law graduate, Sydney Law School academic and former Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, the Hon. Dr Robert Austin has received a Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) for his contributions to the legal profession.
11 December 2019
University of Sydney Law School declares climate emergency
Accepting the warnings delivered by climate scientists about the dangerous state of the earth's climate, the Board of The University of Sydney Law School has voted unanimously to declare a climate emergency.
09 December 2019
#TrophySkulls and genuine fakes
From paintings looted by Nazis to human remains traded on Instagram, the Palgrave Handbook on Art Crime provides a peek into a mysterious world.
02 December 2019
Rushed revenge porn laws risk over-criminalisation
University of Sydney criminal law experts have warned of the risks of rushing to enact new criminal offences on 'revenge porn'.
28 November 2019
Changing the face of Australia's leadership
The University of Sydney has created a fellowship program to nurture cultural diversity within the next generation of Australian leaders.
20 November 2019
How a Sydney student champions the LGBTIQ community globally
Amy McCarthy has been instrumental in improving support for transgender students at the University of Sydney. Now, the undergraduate student is pushing for change on a global scale.
15 November 2019
Working with India to address human impact of climate change
Today the University of Sydney, Australia signed an MOU research agreement with Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai to work on collaborative research around the flagship theme of 'Human Security in the Anthropocene'.
