Editor's note

As the old joke says, “How do you know if someone’s a vegan? Don’t worry, they’ll tell you within 30 seconds.” But why do vegans and vegetarians face such ire, especially given more Australians are adopting plant-based diets? Tani Khara delves into the phenomenon of “vegaphobia” and finds the resentment may be partly due to the perception that our moral failings (real or imagined) are being reflected back at us. And she suggests overall meat consumption might fall if both sides soften their view of the other.

And if you do eat animal products, are light dairy products better for us? We asked five experts in nutriition, epidemiology and obesity research if we should be switching to the “lite” varieties, and responses were mixed.

Michael Hopkin

Section Editor: Energy + Environment

Top story

Shock tactics - such as those used by these vegan activists in Spain - can cause people to switch off. Andreu Dalmau

Why do vegans have such bad reputations?

Tani Khara, University of Technology Sydney

More and more people are adopting plant-based diets in Australia and other western nations. But also seemingly on the rise is resentment towards vegans and vegetarians.

Should we all be consuming the low-fat versions? from www.shutterstock.com

We asked five experts: are light dairy products better?

Alexandra Hansen, The Conversation

Five experts were divided on whether or not we should choose the "light"dairy option.

Health + Medicine

Arts + Culture

Cities

  • Where are Chinese migrants choosing to settle in Australia? Look to the suburbs

    Thomas Sigler, The University of Queensland; Jonathan Corcoran, The University of Queensland; Siqin (Sisi) Wang, The University of Queensland; Yan Liu, The University of Queensland

    China-born migrants in Australia's capital cities are becoming more suburban, but there are differences in settlement patterns between the biggest cities and smaller cities.

Politics + Society

Business + Economy

Education

  • How to beat exam stress

    Michaela Pascoe, Victoria University; Alexandra Parker, Victoria University

    The exam period can be a stressful time for students. Here are a few strategies to help students cope.

  • How to tackle NZ’s teacher shortage and better reflect student diversity

    Ruth Boyask, Auckland University of Technology

    The New Zealand government's strategy to import teachers from the UK, Canada, South Africa, Australia and Fiji will do little to improve representation for indigenous Māori in the teacher workforce.

FactCheck

Science + Technology

  • Curious Kids: Why do people grow to certain sizes?

    Anna Vinkhuyzen, The University of Queensland

    Every human carries an instruction booklet with a very special code, called DNA. Our eyes cannot read the code, but our bodies can. The code tells our body what to do and how to look.

 

Featured jobs

Lecturer In Music (Musicology)

University of Melbourne — Parkville, Victoria

Deputy Vice Chancellor Māori

Massey University — Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui

Research Associate

University of Western Australia — Perth, Western Australia

Lecturer Paramedicine

La Trobe University — Melbourne, Victoria

More Jobs
 
 
 
 
 
 

Featured events

Social Justice in the Neoliberal Age

Clemenger Auditorium, National Gallery of Victoria, 180 St Kilda Road, Southbank, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia — La Trobe University

An evening in conversation with Michelle Grattan

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) 1 Convention Centre Place , South Wharf, Victoria, 3000, Australia — The Conversation

Monash Law Breakfast: Investor Choice in Global Security Markets

RACV City Club, 501 Bourke Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia — Monash University

Master of Education and Master of Leadership Information Evening - for prospective students

19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton campus, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia — Monash University

More events
 

Contact us here to list your job, or here to list your event.

For sponsorship opportunities, email us here