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Editor's note
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The term “conspiracy theory” has long had a bad reputation. But yesterday’s conspiracies can become today’s incontrovertible facts, writes philosopher David Coady. Indeed he believes we should do away with the term. It is, he writes, a form of silencing that serves “to herd respectable opinion in ways that suit the interests of the powerful”.
And what happened to Shoes of Prey? The Aussie startup ought to have had the world at its feet, so to speak. A dirty secret in the fashion industry is that unsold products worth tens of millions are burned or buried each year when fashions change. But Shoes of Prey made shoes to order. It promised no waste. Marketing experts Jessica Pallant and Sean Sands say what went wrong tells us something about our attitude to choice. We like to be able
to choose between options, but too many of them overpower us.
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Suzy Freeman-Greene
Section Editor: Arts + Culture
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Top story
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Jeremy Renner as US journalist Gary Webb in the 2014 film Kill The Messenger. The film is an account of Webb’s role in uncovering CIA links to cocaine importation to the US.
Sierra / Affinity,Bluegrass Films,The Combine
David Coady, University of Tasmania
Ever since the philosopher Karl Popper popularised the expression in the 1950s, conspiracy theories have had a bad reputation. But is it justified?
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Business + Economy
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Jessica Pallant, Swinburne University of Technology; Sean Sands, Swinburne University of Technology
For a while Shoes of Prey could do no wrong. So what happened?
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Robert Drake, Macquarie University
Dud insurance is the tip of the iceberg.
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Politics + Society
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Brendon O'Connor, University of Sydney
Since the arrival of Barack Obama on the political scene, non-Americans have taken a much greater and more sophisticated interest in US politics.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
The byelection is vital for Scott Morrison who will face a very difficult test in his initial days as prime minister. He will encounter a lot of anger in the electorate at the removal of Turnbull.
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Health + Medicine
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Erica Millar, University of Adelaide
Although there is a move towards decriminalising abortion in Australian states, there is a long way to go before abortion is treated like other medical procedures under the law.
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Luke Smillie, University of Melbourne; Jessie Sun, University of California, Davis; Rowan Jacques-Hamilton, University of Melbourne
Past studies have found acting extraverted can even make introverts happy. But a new study had the opposite findings.
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Science + Technology
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Katharine McKinnon, La Trobe University
Once artificial intelligence takes over task-based and calculative jobs, the invisible care work that underpins our offices, marketplaces and institutions could finally become more visible and valued.
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Sarah Logan, UNSW
As a resource-driven economy, Australia is not used to being at the pointy end of supply chains – and it feels as though we are managing risks and benefits of critical infrastructure on the fly.
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Rain Liivoja, The University of Queensland
We already have some autonomous weapons – so talk of any ban should focus on where we draw the line on what is acceptable, and what is not. Can we at least agree on that?
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Cities
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Dominic Stead, Delft University of Technology; Anthony Kimpton, The University of Queensland; Dorina Pojani, The University of Queensland; Iderlina Mateo-Babiano, University of Melbourne; Jonathan Corcoran, The University of Queensland; Neil Sipe, The University of Queensland
To maximise the benefits and limit the costs, the use of autonomous vehicles should be pooled and their access to the city restricted.
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Environment + Energy
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Samantha Hepburn, Deakin University
'Energy security' isn't just about cheaper bills. We urgently need to design a modern, safe Australian grid.
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Arts + Culture
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Russell Campbell, Victoria University of Wellington
Ivor Montagu’s childhood was privileged, but he rebelled against his wealthy upbringing to become a pioneer of film culture, an activist documentary maker and an ardent supporter of Soviet communism.
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Christopher R. Marshall, University of Melbourne
Born into late-16th century Papal Rome, Gentileschi transcended the path of utter obscurity that was the lot of her female peers to become one of the most famous painters of the day.
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Education
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David Rhodes, Edith Cowan University
Sex, sexuality, respectful relationships, and gender all need to be discussed in schools as a measure to combat discrimination against LGBTQ people, rising rates of STIs and violence against women.
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Featured jobs
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Curtin University — Perth, Western Australia
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Deakin University — Geelong, Victoria
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Curtin University — Perth, Western Australia
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University of Adelaide — Adelaide, South Australia
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Featured events
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19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton campus, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia — Monash University
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30 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia — Monash University
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Level 1, 7 Macquarie Place, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia — The Institute of Managers and Leaders
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State Library Theatrette, Enter via Entry 3, 179 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia — La Trobe University
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