Law & society

26 March 2020

Why suspending housing evictions will defend against COVID-19

University of Sydney researchers believe the COVID-19 pandemic is a double crisis affecting public health and the economy with both aspects playing out in our housing system.

23 March 2020

Are Victorians afraid of crime?

While intense and frequent concern about crime is rare, a survey of nearly 3000 people from across the state reveals online harassment is the chief source of this kind of angst.

17 March 2020

The dos and don'ts of coronavirus self-isolation

People should avoid contact with any person in their household who has tested positive for COVID-19 or is awaiting test results, writes Associate Professor Adam Kamradt-Scott.

16 March 2020

Private schools don't save taxpayers' dollars

Education researchers from three Australian universities have crunched government numbers, and countered an oft-held belief in the process.

06 March 2020

Why we need to undo gender stereotypes for the future of work

When Professor Judy Wajcman was visiting the U.S. in 2018 to research Silicon Valley culture, this was one of the first questions she was asked.

04 March 2020

Evolution and spine shape may predispose you to back problems

The reason many humans experience pain in their lower back can be found in our evolutionary past, according to new research from a team of bioarchaeologists at the University of Sydney, Simon Fraser University and the University of Liverpool.

04 March 2020

A possible legal solution to sexual harassment at work

By classifying sexual harassment as a workplace harm, workplace health and safety (WHS) laws could help prevent it, according to researchers.

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.

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.