Editor's note

Even in global development circles, women get sidelined. NGOs run by women in India and Tanzania have successfully helped to improve lives - but the women get marginalised once the projects expand, according to Bipasha Baruah and Kate Grantham.

Antarctica is seen by many as an almost mythical land: remote, isolated and a magnet for pioneers who want to explore the unknown. Chris Fogwill, Chris Turney and Zoe Robinson explain how new research shines light on the importance of the continent, overturning centuries of misunderstanding and highlighting the role of Antarctica in how our planet works and the role it may play in a future, warmer world.

Gadgets and devices are likely to feature heavily on many children’s gift wish list. But, write Kym Simoncini and Kevin Larkin, don't ignore the importance of blocks when choosing your children’s presents - they're vital to children's learning.

Lee-Anne Goodman

Politics, Business & Economics

Top Stories
Women’s NGOs work hard to improve the lives of women in the developing world, including in countries like India and Tanzania. But then they’re often cut out from the process. This photo was taken in the remote village of Uzi on Zanzibar Island in Tanzania in April 2016. (Shutterstock)

Women’s NGOs are changing the world -- and not getting credit for it

Dr. Bipasha Baruah, Western University; Dr. Kate Grantham, McGill University

NGOs (non-government organizations) run by women in India and Tanzania fuel the success of development projects, but the women are too easily marginalized once the projects get off the ground.
The continent is home to 12 million penguins…and not much else. Andrew Peacock, footloosefotography.com

Why remote Antarctica is so important in a warming world

Chris Fogwill, Keele University; Chris Turney, UNSW; Zoe Robinson, Keele University

The Antarctic Treaty was signed 58 years ago today, protecting the continent for peace and science.
Christmas lists usually suggest the latest and greatest technology, but blocks are still the best toy you can buy your child. Shutterstock

Blocks are still the best present you can buy children for Christmas

Kym Simoncini, University of Canberra; Kevin Larkin, Griffith University

Blocks probably won't top Christmas wish lists, but they have many benefits including developing fine motor skills, social, cognitive and language skills, and spatial reasoning and language.

Arts + Culture

Cities

  • With the right tools, we can mine cities

    André Stephan, University of Melbourne; Aristide Athanassiadis, Université Libre de Bruxelles

    With an ever-increasing cost to extract dwindling raw materials, it's time to look at cities as urban mines. We're developing the tools to do that.

Politics + Society

  • Somaliland after the elections: old traps, new challenges

    Claire Elder, University of Oxford

    The self-declared territory of Somaliland has held peaceful elections since it broke away from Somalia in 1991. But last month's polls triggered protests that should be cause for reflection.

  • The latest threat to peace in Colombia: Congress

    Fabio Andres Diaz, International Institute of Social Studies

    Conservative congressional reps in Colombia have been stalling votes on key parts of the country's peace accords through endless petitions and nonstop debate. In short, they're filibustering.

  • The EU-Africa summit is now the AU-EU summit. Why the upgrade matters

    Frank Mattheis, University of Pretoria; John Kotsopoulos, University of Pretoria

    The transformation of the EU-Africa summit series into the EU-AU summit is more than just a change of name. It reflects the increasing recognition of the AU as an international actor.