Rome’s Augustus and the allure of the strongman
The Roman emperor Augustus is often held up as a model statesman, but a University of Melbourne expert warns admirers should be careful what they wish for. Read More
Author: The University of Melbourne
Making information accessible — for everyone
Essential but often complex services need to be accessible for all, including those with cognitive disabilities. Here’s how you do it. Read More
Recruit smarter: a better way to do business
A two-year pilot implemented for the Victorian state government found simple strategies like de-identifying CVs and changing the language in job advertisements can have a huge practical effect in overcoming unconscious bias. Read More
If all else fails, do the conventional thing
Intervention by different governments in Australia’s National Electricity Market is becoming common, but without a coherent, national approach we risk reduced reliability, higher prices and missed targets. Read More
How do you define healthy in kids?
When you have a blood test, your results are compared to what’s considered ‘normal’ in order to work out suitable treatment, but this vital step is missing in diagnosing children. University of Melbourne's Associate Professor Vera Ignjatovic and Xavier Busuttil-Crellin explain their research aimed at understanding how to prevent, diagnose and treat disease in children. Read More
Why do people really become homeless?
While the majority of the general public thinks drug addiction is the main reason for homelessness, the reality is quite different. Read More
Penny Wong: ‘normative signals matter’
When the young union legal officer Penny Wong, active in Labor politics since her university days, considered a run for federal parliament, she concluded that… Read More
Giving driverless vehicles the human touch
Can driverless vehicle technology replicate the human rules of engagement between pedestrians and drivers? When you’re about to cross a road and see an approaching… Read More
Why does artificial intelligence discriminate?
Combating bias and creating more inclusive AI is unlikely to succeed unless developers include those people who have been historically excluded or ignored. Read More
Searching for Democracy 2.0 without losing Democracy 1.0
Reimagining and safeguarding democracy, while charting a course between alarmism and complacency, requires new ways of thinking. Read More
Is our democracy broken?
While many Australians are still coming to terms with having five Prime Ministers in as many years, what does the future look like for the world’s sixth oldest continuous democracy? Read More
How to make Sydney and Melbourne more efficient and accessible
Making our biggest cities more efficient, affordable and accessible will raise the living standards of nearly all Australians, but it will also require some compromise. Read More
Surviving australian politics: 4 reforms to stop ousting leaders
Australian politics looks increasingly like a reality TV show, so what can be done to bring stability and end the near-constant Canberra coups? Read More
How Australia’s friendly societies grew the tradition of self-help
Before governments stepped in to provide welfare, friendly societies provided vital financial and social support to many Australian communities Read More
The West’s age of retreat
Liberal democracy is in an age of retreat and needs to re-engage citizens, tackle inequality and end internet monopolies, argues a University of Melbourne expert. Read More