Education
Great minds lead to great solutions. Our education section features solutions and innovations directed at strengthening educational systems around the world.
Decolonizing Science: Kiwi scientists take a stand on using Maori language
At The Optimist Daily, we have often featured stories about scientific discoveries that help improve our understanding of the biosphere. We are also big fans of inclusivity, particularly when it shows an appreciation of Indigenous wisdom. That’s why we wanted to feature this delightful account of Read More...
Richmond, VA unveils Emancipation and Freedom Monument
Last week we shared how a controversial Robert E. Lee statue was finally removed from Virginia’s capital. In an acknowledgment of the history of slavery and the fight for equality in the US, Richmond has unveiled a new monument—a statue of a man and a woman holding an infant after they were Read More...
Thought Leader Series: Practicing Planetary Health
Want doctors to practice better planetary health? Teach advocacy better. Here's how... BY Dr. Bhargavi Chekuri My journey to climate advocacy started with a three-week plastic-free challenge that happened to coincide with the start of my family medicine residency training in 2018. What began as Read More...
St Andrews University embraces pollinator-friendly rewilding on campus
If you visit St. Andrews University in Scotland, you will probably be impressed by the beautiful campus, but the university is going above and beyond to make its grounds even more impressive by transitioning its lawns into pollinator-friendly meadows. The Urban Meadows for Pollinators Project Read More...
Fossil discovered by team of junior naturalists identified as new species
When the members of the Hamilton Junior Naturalist Club headed out on a fossil-hunting expedition, they expected to find some interesting shells and perhaps bones, but what they didn’t expect was the shocking discovery of a previously undiscovered species of penguin. Back in 2006, the students Read More...
Wild solutions: Bruce the parrot makes his own prosthetic beak
Bruce, a nine-year-old disabled parrot from New Zealand, has designed and uses his own prosthetic beak to the delight and surprise of wildlife researchers. When wildlife researchers found Bruce, he was only a baby and was already missing his upper beak, which was likely caught in a trap made for Read More...
New fabulous fly species named after "Drag Race" host RuPaul
Australian scientist Bryan Lessard, otherwise known as “Bry the Fly Guy,” has discovered a new flashy rainbow fly species and named it after RuPaul, the famous “Drag Race” host, with the hope that it would serve as a positive signal for young LGBTQ individuals who are drawn to Read More...
Emory University School of Medicine now includes climate risk in curriculum
Climate change exacerbates the risk of many health conditions including heatstroke, asthma, lung disease, and more, but despite this, most medical school curriculums do not discuss climate change when studying potential disease risk factors. In an effort to address this issue and support Read More...
Thailand’s idle taxis find an unusual new purpose during the pandemic
We’ve written a lot about the power of rooftop gardens to boost access to fresh produce in urban areas. Today we’re sharing a story about rooftop gardens, but not the type you might expect. Taxi fleets in Thailand have repurposed the tops of vehicles idled by the pandemic into mini urban garden Read More...
New York is removing policing from city schools
In the wake of racial justice protests last summer, many schools are rethinking the relationship between educational spaces and policing. Following the removal of armed police officers from 33 school districts around the country, New York City’s school system will follow suit and begin to remove Read More...