Free speech on campus: universities need to create ‘safe but critical’ spaces for debate – here’s how they can do it: The issue of free speech in universities continues to plague UK campuses. Earlier this year, the government announced “landmark proposals” to tackle the issue, including appointing a “free speech tsar” and giving the Office …
Nairobi is rapidly losing its green spaces: this could open the door to more diseases: Hundreds of trees have been felled along Nairobi's Uhuru and Waiyaki highways to make space for a new expressway. CELINE CLERY/AFP via Getty Images There’s been widespread concern in Kenya over the shrinking of green spaces in Nairobi, the capital …
Living near water can be beneficial to your mental health – here’s how to have more blue spaces in cities: People who live near water report better mental health and wellbeing. Olga888as/ Shutterstock We know that people are more likely to experience mental health disorders in areas with greater population density. Overcrowding, pollution, urban violence …
LGBTQ+ spaces face a new threat from the pandemic – here’s how they can adapt: Hollie Adams/EPA Dedicated spaces have long been crucial to LGBTQ+ people. Whether it’s with friends and chosen family, or partners and hook-ups, these places have created joy and belonging while providing care that isn’t always available elsewhere. While the pandemic …
#GallerySoWhite: a digital exhibition exposing racism in contemporary art spaces: Anonymous accounts of racism in gallery spaces criticise the industry for failing to tackle systemic discrimination SeventyFour/Shutterstock Art institutions are facing a reckoning over colonial histories and racist legacies. Though the issues aren’t new, calls to unpack the British art museum and heritage sector’s ties …
Retrofitting unused spaces can help South African cities adapt to climate change: Shutterstock There are two approaches to dealing with climate change: slowing it down, and adapting to it. The first is about reducing greenhouse gas emissions and absorbing more carbon. The second is about resilience to the impacts of climate change. Cities, which house …
A cool Kings Beach image: Green Spaces Image by Viv Lynch Riverdale Park East "Since its inception in 1880, Riverdale Park has been a popular site for sport and leisure in all seasons, visited by kings and queens on multiple occasions. The park also held militia training, parades, and a mock trench network during World …
Traditional healing in South Africa needs spaces designed for the purpose: Mona Market in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa operates on the third week of every month when traders set up temporary dwellings for the four days. Gary Stafford African traditional medicine and its practices were prohibited under the pretext of witchcraft in South Africa by the …
Why political decision-making is failing our urban green spaces: Green Park, London. Kristi Blokhin/Shutterstock Green spaces in city neighbourhoods are critical for wellbeing. A huge amount of research proves their positive health benefits: they support mental and physical health, reduce stress, and cut noise and air pollution. Policymakers know this, which is why they put …
Shopping Smarter: How Samsung is Using Digital Signage to Make Retail Spaces Smarter: The reality of the New Normal, means retailers are increasingly fighting for the attention of shoppers, which has seen the rise of Smart Signage, which transcends the conventional viewing experience through realistic and compelling content. That’s why the partnership between Samsung and …
Parks and green spaces are important for our mental health – but we need to make sure that everyone can benefit: Shutterstock How does walking through a forest make you feel? Peaceful? Blissful? Reflective? For many people, lockdown brought a new appreciation of nature and what it means for our well-being. The health benefits of …
We mapped green spaces in South Africa and found a legacy of apartheid: Virtually all South African cities remain under a form of green apartheid. GettyImages It has been 30 years since Nelson Mandela was released from prison and South Africa began to dismantle apartheid, the official system of racial segregation. Yet, whether moving through …
The past stinks: a brief history of smells and social spaces: 'Living Mady Easy: Revolving hat', a satirical print with a hat supporting a spy glass, an ear trumpet, a ciggar, a pair of glasses, and a scent box, 1830, London. Wellcome Images CCBY, CC BY-SA A sunny afternoon in Paris. An intrepid TV presenter …
Oceans as empty spaces? Redrafting our knowledge by dropping the colonial lens: The myth of the empty sea is largely the product of European imperialisms and their map-making. Ingus Kruklitis/Shutterstock Google the word “seascape”, and you’ll find pictures of an aquamarine ocean, possibly with a touch of perfect coast line. These images of a generic …
City streets: why South Africa should design more people-friendly spaces: People stroll along Moshoeshoe Street in Emfuleni. Darya Maslova Streets have many purposes. They carry traffic. They’re conduits for electrical, telephone and water services to homes and businesses; below ground, they provide sewer and storm water networks. They have another crucial use too: they are …
After school clubs aren’t always safe spaces: what should be done about it: Getting involved in after-school sports can be positive, but it comes with risks too. Reuters/David Gray Young people around the world are encouraged to get involved in extracurricular activities. These range from choirs and drama clubs to sports teams, with many other …
How I helped design spaces that make astronomers’ lives easier: Reuters/Mike Hutchings The stars are an incredible source of information. Their patterns indicate when seeds should be sown or crops harvested. Their movements tell us that the seasons are changing. But it’s not just amateur enthusiasts or farmers with no scientific training who watch the …
Green Spaces in the Urban Landscape Series (Sansevieria)! – a Africa interest event taking place on 2017-08-01 19:00:00 in United States Class Description: Each week we will learn about a family of plants that do wonderfully in the home and also have the potential for creative design and beautiful aesthetics. The classes will start with more …