Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
Faculty Friday: Dr. Qi Wang
CLINTON, South Carolina, Feb. 6 -- Presbyterian College posted the following news:
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Faculty Friday: Dr. Qi Wang
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Presbyterian College chemistry professor aims to inspire students in the classroom
Dr. Qi Wang has always been interested in the study of chemistry, initially drawn in by the appeal of unraveling the mysteries of ordinary, everyday items.
"Even something you found interesting in the kitchen, a lot of those phenomena can be explained by chemistry," she said. "I just really love the close relationship between chemistry and real life."
Finding a home at PC
The assistant
... Show Full Article
CLINTON, South Carolina, Feb. 6 -- Presbyterian College posted the following news:
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Faculty Friday: Dr. Qi Wang
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Presbyterian College chemistry professor aims to inspire students in the classroom
Dr. Qi Wang has always been interested in the study of chemistry, initially drawn in by the appeal of unraveling the mysteries of ordinary, everyday items.
"Even something you found interesting in the kitchen, a lot of those phenomena can be explained by chemistry," she said. "I just really love the close relationship between chemistry and real life."
Finding a home at PC
The assistantprofessor of biochemistry has been at PC for just under two years now, though the Chemistry Department has felt like home to her since the beginning.
"It's hard to put into words, but it's a feeling I have when I step into the chemistry department," Wang said. "There can be a lot of difficulties or troubles, but everybody is so helpful, and we treat each other as family members. It's really nice to be here."
Having received her doctorate two years ago, Wang feels extra grateful for her time spent at PC so far, and for the years yet to come.
"I felt really lucky because I just received my Ph.D. last year, so I'm in the lucky group where I could find a job soon after graduation, so I feel very fortunate to have landed here," she said.
Teaching is the thing that makes me feel I'm still young. I can't be forever young, but I can always keep in touch with young people to make myself feel young on the inside."
Dr. Qi Wang, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
The journey to teaching
Wang wasn't always sure that she wanted to teach. As a child, she wanted to be a teacher because she looked up to her own educators, but as she grew older, she began to think about other career paths.
"When I got to graduate school, and I became a teaching assistant, that's where I found out that teaching was the thing that I really wanted to do, and enjoyed doing," she said.
Wang knew from her own experience at a small graduate school that she eventually wanted to teach in a similar environment.
"We had a small department with 50 students maximum, and six professors, so if we wanted, we could talk with each professor every day," she said. "I really enjoyed those interactions."
Though Wang enjoys every aspect of teaching, her favorite part is the connections she makes with her students, and their ability to keep her young.
"Teaching is the thing that makes me feel I'm still young," she said. "I can't be forever young, but I can always keep in touch with young people to make myself feel young on the inside."
Plans for the future
In the coming years, Wang looks forward to growing as a professor and experimenting with new teaching methods. "I want my classes to be vivid instead of me just talking and talking. I want us to have interesting discussions," she said. "Everybody should be getting inspired and having fun. I don't want there to be silence in the classroom."
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Original text here: https://www.presby.edu/faculty-friday-qi-wang/
Social housing the key to protecting low-income renters, study finds
PERTH, Australia, Feb. 2 -- Curtin University issued the following news release:
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Social housing the key to protecting low-income renters, study finds
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Low-income renters in Australia are far less likely to experience housing stress, rent arrears, or be forced to relocate, when living in social housing compared to those receiving cash rent assistance payments or no assistance, according to a new global study by Curtin University.
The research analysed data from 2001-2020, tracking housing outcomes for more than 9200 low-income renters in Australia and almost 15,000 in the United Kingdom,
... Show Full Article
PERTH, Australia, Feb. 2 -- Curtin University issued the following news release:
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Social housing the key to protecting low-income renters, study finds
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Low-income renters in Australia are far less likely to experience housing stress, rent arrears, or be forced to relocate, when living in social housing compared to those receiving cash rent assistance payments or no assistance, according to a new global study by Curtin University.
The research analysed data from 2001-2020, tracking housing outcomes for more than 9200 low-income renters in Australia and almost 15,000 in the United Kingdom,comparing how different rental support schemes affected housing security.
It found low-income Australian renters were 7.3 percentage points less likely to face housing stress when they moved into social housing and were less likely to fall behind on rent, compared with renters receiving no assistance.
Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA) however was not found to significantly reduce housing stress or rent arrears, despite being the main form of rental support for private renters in Australia.
Social housing also greatly reduced the risk of forced moves such as eviction or loss of housing, while rent assistance offered little protection.
Lead author Dr Jack Hewton from Curtin Business School said the findings challenged policy reliance on cash payments such as CRA.
"Our results show social housing provides much stronger and more reliable protection against housing stress and instability than rent assistance paid in cash," Dr Hewton said.
"In Australia, social housing rents are tightly linked to income, which means affordability adjusts automatically when people's circumstances change.
"That protection simply doesn't exist to the same extent in the private rental market."
Co-author Dr Ranjodh Singh, also from Curtin Business School, said the limited impact of cash assistance reflected long-standing structural problems.
"Rent assistance has not kept pace with rising rents and a large share of low-income renters in housing stress don't qualify under current rules," Dr Singh said.
"When support is paid into lightly regulated private rental markets, much of its value can be absorbed by rent increases rather than improving stability for tenants."
The study found similar patterns in the UK, with social housing tenants less likely to experience housing stress by 3.1 percentage points compared to those not receiving any assistance, though protections were generally weaker than in Australia due to differences in rent-setting rules.
Co-author John Curtin Distinguished Professor Rachel Ong ViforJ said the findings highlighted the need to strengthen social housing supply while reforming rent assistance and private rental regulation, to improve housing security for the growing number of vulnerable Australians.
"Australia is facing a deepening housing crisis: between 2011 and 2021, homelessness increased by 20 per cent" Professor ViforJ said.
"If governments are serious about reducing housing stress and instability, this research shows social housing remains a critical part of the solution."
"Cash assistance alone cannot compensate for high rents, insecure tenancies and weak regulation in the private rental sector."
The effects of subsidies and regulatory contexts on precarious housing among low-income renters: A cross-national comparison was published in Housing Studies.
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Original text here: https://www.curtin.edu.au/news/media-release/social-housing-the-key-to-protecting-low-income-renters-study-finds/
Niagara University College of Nursing Receives $400,000 Cabrini Grant to Address Maternal Health Disparities
NIAGARA FALLS, New York, Feb. 2 -- Niagara University posted the following news:
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Niagara University College of Nursing Receives $400,000 Cabrini Grant to Address Maternal Health Disparities
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Niagara University's College of Nursing has received a $400,000 grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to develop a comprehensive educational and community engagement program aimed at addressing maternal health disparities in and around Western New York.
The Rural Maternal Health Project will facilitate both clinical and simulated opportunities focused on maternal health, giving nursing
... Show Full Article
NIAGARA FALLS, New York, Feb. 2 -- Niagara University posted the following news:
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Niagara University College of Nursing Receives $400,000 Cabrini Grant to Address Maternal Health Disparities
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Niagara University's College of Nursing has received a $400,000 grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to develop a comprehensive educational and community engagement program aimed at addressing maternal health disparities in and around Western New York.
The Rural Maternal Health Project will facilitate both clinical and simulated opportunities focused on maternal health, giving nursingstudents a deep understanding of the challenges faced by women of child-bearing age, specifically those in more vulnerable groups.
"Maternal health disparities remain a persistent and urgent challenge in rural communities in and around Western New York," said Dr. Christine Verni, dean of the college. "This project will prepare a new generation of nurses who are equipped to recognize, address, and advocate against maternal health inequities in underserved communities and create a sustainable model for improving maternal health outcomes in rural areas."
Students will engage in evidence-based simulations, community health projects, and clinical rotations in settings where they will be exposed to a variety of conditions to build real-world skills in maternal healthcare and health equity advocacy.
In addition, partnerships with rural community organizations, faith-based groups, and public health departments will be developed to improve maternal health literacy and foster stronger relationships between healthcare providers and rural residents. Communities will gain critical knowledge to better advocate for their own maternal health needs, strengthening the foundation for long-term systemic change. "These community outreach initiatives will create awareness among vulnerable populations about maternal health risks, preventive care, and available resources to support healthier pregnancies and births," said Dr. Verni. "This program will allow us to help close critical gaps in care, expand the rural maternal health workforce, and ultimately contribute to healthier mothers, infants, and families across the regions that need it most."
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Original text here: https://news.niagara.edu/niagara-university-college-of-nursing-receives-400000-cabrini-grant-to-address-maternal-health-disparities/
Keele to lead new study to improve early diagnosis of osteoporosis
STAFFORDSHIRE, England, Feb. 2 -- Keele University posted the following news:
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Keele to lead new study to improve early diagnosis of osteoporosis
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A team led by a Keele University researcher has secured a prestigious grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to help doctors identify more people at risk of a damaging bone disorder.
Professor Zoe Paskins, a Professor of Rheumatology in the School of Medicine and Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist at Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT), has been awarded PS4.8 million from the NIHR to
... Show Full Article
STAFFORDSHIRE, England, Feb. 2 -- Keele University posted the following news:
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Keele to lead new study to improve early diagnosis of osteoporosis
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A team led by a Keele University researcher has secured a prestigious grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to help doctors identify more people at risk of a damaging bone disorder.
Professor Zoe Paskins, a Professor of Rheumatology in the School of Medicine and Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist at Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (MPFT), has been awarded PS4.8 million from the NIHR todesign and test a new approach for GPs to help them offer treatment to more people at risk of osteoporosis, which could help thousands of people in the UK every year.
Osteoporosis is a common condition where bones are weak and more likely to break. These broken bones, known as 'osteoporotic fractures', can cause pain and disability, as well as affecting people's independence.
Over half a million people have an osteoporotic fracture every year, costing the NHS PS4.7 billion and increasing demands on health and social care. But the condition is still thought to be under-diagnosed, and screening is not routinely offered.
This means less than 40% of people at increased risk of osteoporosis receive any assessments for the condition, or treatments that can strengthen bones. Some 'under-served' groups are also more likely to be overlooked, including men, people of diverse ethnicity, those living in deprived areas, and those with dementia.
Professor Paskins and her team at Keele and MPFT aim to change that by designing and testing a new approach for general practices to identify people at increased risk of fractures and offer assessment and treatment.
They will work with carers, NHS staff, and crucially people with lived experience of osteoporosis, to create a package of materials for GPs to use, and resources for patients and clinicians.
The hope is that by spotting osteoporosis earlier in more cases, doctors can help more people access care at an earlier stage to help prevent life-changing fractures, reducing the impact of the disease on individuals, and the strain this places on the NHS.
Professor Paskins said: "The PROTECTS team is thrilled to have been awarded this major funding. It enables us to move forward with designing and delivering preventative fracture care to the people who need it most. Through this programme, we hope to provide the economic evidence policymakers in the UK and worldwide need to decide if targeted osteoporosis screening should become routine clinical practice."
Ida Bentley, one of the patient public investigators involved in the study, said: "Having seen my mother lose 28cm in height and sustain multiple fractures, and with my own fracture risk increased by cancer treatment before experiencing my first osteoporotic fracture in 2022, I know that good care requires early prevention, coordinated support, and equal access wherever you live or your circumstances.
"This research offers real hope by tackling gaps in care and ensuring patient voices shape better fracture prevention and treatment. I hope this work leads to lasting, fairer care and continued funding, so fewer families face the same pain and people with osteoporosis can live fuller, healthier lives."
Kanta Sandhu, another PPI in the study, added: "Through my experience of caring for a parent with osteoporosis, I am pleased to have been able to provide insight and pose questions which put patients at the heart of this research. Best practice and accountability is what is needed for the patients, public, professionals and policymakers and I am delighted to continue collaborating with the team further."
Craig Jones, Chief Executive of the Royal Osteoporosis Society said: "This is a hugely important investment in tackling the most stubborn barrier to the bone health of the population - the fact that so many people at high risk of fractures are simply not identified early enough. Too often osteoporosis only comes to light after a life-changing fracture, when the damage is already done.
"What makes this work especially valuable is its focus on real GP settings and on groups who are consistently overlooked, including men, people from diverse communities and those living with dementia or deprivation. By combining strong clinical science with lived experience, this research has the potential to show how earlier, fairer diagnosis can work in practice and to build the evidence policymakers need to take prevention seriously. If we want to reduce avoidable fractures and ease pressure on the NHS, this is exactly the sort of research we should be backing."
Chief Executive for MPFT, Neil Carr added: "We're approaching three years since MPFT became an accredited university trust and I'm incredibly proud of our partnership with Keele University and particularly how our staff have embraced research, development and innovation which has resulted in an innovative culture and the opportunity to use their considerable knowledge, experience and passion to enhance the health and care solutions we can offer both now and into the future."
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Original text here: https://www.keele.ac.uk/about/news/2026/february/new-study/early-diagnosis-osteoporosis.php
Bright Ideas: UNSW Secures $20M in Health and Medical Research Grants
SYDNEY, Australia, Feb. 2 -- The University of New South Wales posted the following news:
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Bright ideas: UNSW secures $20m in health and medical research grants
Stefanie Menezes
The funding will support 12 projects in science, engineering and medicine.
UNSW Sydney academics have been awarded more than $20 million in the latest round of National Health and Medical Research (NHMRC) Ideas and Development Grants funding.
Professor Bronwyn Fox, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research & Enterprise at UNSW, congratulated the researchers and wished them success in leading their teams to achieve their
... Show Full Article
SYDNEY, Australia, Feb. 2 -- The University of New South Wales posted the following news:
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Bright ideas: UNSW secures $20m in health and medical research grants
Stefanie Menezes
The funding will support 12 projects in science, engineering and medicine.
UNSW Sydney academics have been awarded more than $20 million in the latest round of National Health and Medical Research (NHMRC) Ideas and Development Grants funding.
Professor Bronwyn Fox, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research & Enterprise at UNSW, congratulated the researchers and wished them success in leading their teams to achieve theirproject goals.
"We're proud of the pioneering research being carried out by our teams, from improving the lives of people with cancer to investigating new ways of treating nerve disorders. These projects highlight UNSW's dedication to advancing innovation in medicine, science and engineering to tackle some of today's biggest challenges," she said.
Professor Rebecca McKetin from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at UNSW has been awarded $4.18 million to develop a national data system to understand, track and respond to illicit drug use in Australia.
"Existing research infrastructure does not have the capacity to understand the impact of our rapidly shifting patterns of drug use," Prof. McKetin said.
"This data platform will enable us to see how contemporary patterns of drug use are linked to specific health risks and to develop more tailored and effective health responses."
The five-year project will recruit 9000 adults and collect granular information about illicit drug use, tracking health outcomes through linkage to administrative health records.
Advanced data modelling will be used to understand how many people are using illicit drugs, how different patterns of drug use lead to specific health risks and how contextual factors, such as socioeconomic disadvantage, influence these health risks.
The data platform will also be embedded in Australia's national drug monitoring systems to help identify and respond to emerging illicit drug trends.
"Our partnerships with community, governments and academia will guarantee the translation of key findings into frontline harm minimisation responses," Prof. McKetin said.
"It will be truly transformative for the alcohol and other drugs sector as a whole."
Scientia Dr John Lock from UNSW Medicine & Health received $1.8 million to lead a project which will develop a new 'liquid biopsy' blood test to help tailor treatment for people newly diagnosed with lung cancer.
The blood test will use microscopic imaging of 100 molecular markers across cancer and immune cells to predict a patient's response to current immunotherapy and chemotherapy treatments, as well as to identify alternative treatment targets personalised to each patient.
"Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer in Australia. The patients we focus on in this work are at a pivotal point in their journey, where treatment could lead to a cure, but the disease could also become incurable," Dr Lock said.
"Currently, just 24% of patients respond fully to current standard-of-care therapies, while 23% have no response at all. Developing a safe blood test that can track and predict who will respond positively to standard therapies, and identify better alternative treatments for other patients, is essential to give every patient the best possible outcome."
Dr David Tsai from UNSW Engineering was awarded $1.71 million to investigate using flexible, miniature wireless implants to study and treat the spinal cord and peripheral nerves.
There have been dramatic improvements in brain machine interfaces over the past decade, thanks to advances in implantable neurotechnology, pioneered by researchers in Dr Tsai's team and supported by global efforts such as the US BRAIN Initiative and the EU Human Brain Project.
As an example, people with quadriplegia who've lost the ability to speak can now use brain-computer interfaces to 'think' sentences, which are decoded and shown on a screen.
To treat sensory, motor and autonomic conditions outside the brain with less invasive methods, doctors aim to place devices in the spinal cord or peripheral nervous system (PNS).
"But designing neurotech for these areas is very challenging because they have complex anatomy, varied surrounding tissues and can shift or stretch during movement," Dr Tsai said.
"By developing stretchable, transparent, wireless implantable devices for recording and stimulating neurons in the PNS and spinal cord, our project is addressing a critical void in neurotech - the lack of low-invasiveness, wireless devices that can interact with these neurons at scale."
The technologies developed through this project could lead to the development of medical devices that help restore movement and sensation for people with disabilities. In the future, they could also improve human-computer and human-robot interfaces, making interactions with our environment faster and more effective.
Professor John Mattick from UNSW Science received $1.68 million to lead a project to identify the molecular factors that increase a person's risk of neuropsychiatric disorders.
The project will investigate the RNA molecules that underpin neuropsychiatric disorders, including addiction, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression and schizophrenia, using genetic data and rodent models.
"This is an emerging type of research which shows promise for using RNA-based biomarkers and therapeutics in psychiatric neuroscience," Prof. Lock said.
"Identifying the RNAs linked to neuropsychiatric disorders will help us diagnose these conditions early and create better treatments for these conditions."
The other UNSW recipients are:
Associate Professor Gila Moalem-Taylor from UNSW Medicine & Health received $1.7 million to decode how nerves and the immune system interact, potentially opening new ways of treating peripheral neuropathy.
Professor Susan Rees from UNSW Medicine & Health received $1.77 million for the Enabling Communities Translation Project (ECTP) to improve social and emotional wellbeing in remote First Nations communities.
Scientia Professor Gary Housley from UNSW Medicine & Health received $1.72 million for the Neuromuscular BaDGE project, which will use gene-based therapy and electric transfer to accelerate nerve repair and muscle reinnervation.
Professor Rowena Bull from UNSW Medicine & Health received $1.63 million and will examine whether immune system patterns can be passed down through generations.
Conjoint Associate Professor James Van Gelder from UNSW Medicine & Health and his team received $1.44 million for a project investigating treatment for arthritis.
Associate Professor Mate Biro from UNSW Medicine & Health and the Garvan Institute of Medical Research received $1.3 million to investigate triggering cells to remotely destroy solid tumours using mechanical and tissue signals.
Associate Professor Mohit Shivdasani from UNSW Engineering received $667,619 for a project that will use targeted electrical stimulation to activate retinal bipolar cells and restore vision clarity.
Professor Daniel Christ from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and UNSW Medicine & Health received an NHMRC Development grant of $1.2 million for a project that will aim to create antibody therapy for AL amyloidosis.
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Original text here: https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2026/02/unsw-secures-20-million-in-health-and-medical-research-grants
Australia needs to get real about Trump's changing America
BRISBANE, Australia, Feb. 2 -- The University of Queensland posted the following news:
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Australia needs to get real about Trump's changing America
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's Davos speech should unsettle Australian strategic thinkers, who have been raised in the belief the US alliance is the unshakeable foundation of Australia's regional security.
Carney's point - that American leadership is no longer a reliable anchor for the international system - had strong appeal in Europe and Canada. But it also highlights what is now clearly the weakest link in the US-Australia alliance
... Show Full Article
BRISBANE, Australia, Feb. 2 -- The University of Queensland posted the following news:
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Australia needs to get real about Trump's changing America
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's Davos speech should unsettle Australian strategic thinkers, who have been raised in the belief the US alliance is the unshakeable foundation of Australia's regional security.
Carney's point - that American leadership is no longer a reliable anchor for the international system - had strong appeal in Europe and Canada. But it also highlights what is now clearly the weakest link in the US-Australia alliance- not American capability, but American reliability.
Deterrence is not just a matter of military hardware and presence. It relies on confidence that commitments will be honoured, risks will be borne, and allies will not be treated with disdain. When US policy becomes more transactional and less predictable, that confidence weakens -even if the underlying military power remains formidable.
But what is the alternative to Pax Americana ? Washington's traditional allies each face their own unique strategic circumstances, and their answers will naturally vary.
Trump renewed tariff threats against Canada after Carney's Davos speech.
In Australia, we have largely managed to keep our head down. We have not been the direct target of American tariffs or sovereignty threats like Canada and Europe. Nor have we publicly challenged Washington in the way some others have - most recently in response to Trump's apparent contempt for allied sacrifice.
Instead, Australia has doubled down on alliance management. This is mostly visible through AUKUS, which is hanging on doggedly despite growing questions about timeframes, costs and long-term sustainability.
AUKUS reflects Canberra's judgement that remaining deeply embedded in the US strategic system is preferable to standing outside it. But it also exposes the Australian government to charges it is accepting new forms of dependence on future American and British political decisions, industrial capacity we do not control, and timelines that stretch beyond the current strategic decade.
It is a wager on alignment and continuity at a moment when both are uncertain. That reality frames how Australia should respond to Carney's call.
Eroding confidence and trust in the US
Throughout the post-war era, Australian governments have spoken about the US alliance in warm, expansive terms: shared values, shared history, shared sacrifice. The relationship was framed not only as strategically necessary, but morally reassuring. That language is becoming hard to sustain.
Public confidence in the United States has weakened considerably since Trump took office again and began pushing an "America First" doctrine. In public debate, criticism of American conduct increasingly competes with, and sometimes displaces, concerns about China's rising power.
For Australia, this creates an uncomfortable dilemma. The US remains the only power with the military reach and technological depth to shape the regional strategic balance and constrain China's ambitions.
Yet, the political foundations that made reliance on that power relatively predictable -and domestically saleable -are eroding.
Managing that tension is now a core task of Australian statecraft. The appointment of Greg Moriarty as Australia's next ambassador to Washington is very welcome. He brings not only deep knowledge of our own military requirements and the US system, but something equally important: long experience in the Asia-Pacific region. He knows better than most that the US-Australia alliance cannot be separated from the dynamics of Australia's neighbourhood.
But a growing challenge for the Australian government he serves will be to persuade the public that China -rather than the United States -is still our primary strategic problem.
If the public conversation shifts from managing China's rise to managing America's decline, governments will struggle to explain why uncomfortable investments, risks and trade-offs with the Trump administration are required.
What unchecked Chinese influence would mean
Australia should maintain cautious about Beijing's regional behaviour, even while strengthening our bilateral economic ties with China.
The issue is not whether China builds roads, stadiums or ports in the Pacific. It is what an overall environment of uncontested Chinese strategic hegemony in the region would mean for Australia.
If China gains a stronger foothold in the Pacific, regional civil society leaders warn their governments would face pressure to align political positions, security choices and domestic rules with Chinese preferences.
For Australia, the consequences would be profound. Our ability to operate militarily, diplomatically and economically in our own region would narrow. Our capacity to support Pacific partners in resisting coercion would weaken. And our freedom to make independent strategic choices would be constrained.
It is important to acknowledge Canberra is not standing still.
The Albanese government has made real progress in strengthening regional partnerships to help buffer the unpredictable US alliance. This includes the new alliance with Papua New Guinea, recently concluded defence cooperation treaty with Indonesia, and the overall intensified, respectful Pacific engagement we have seen in recent years. All of this reflects a more deliberate effort to embed Australia more deeply in its own region.
These steps deepen Australian influence, give regional partners more choices, and reduce the risks associated with over-reliance on any single external power. But they do not remove the underlying strategic dilemma.
The US still plays an important role in our region, albeit with more caveats than Canberra has traditionally acknowledged.
Let's be clear. The US does not really contribute much to Pacific economic development and never really has. Its regional relevance lies in its strategic and military weight - the ability to deter high-end conflict and complicate China's calculations.
But capability is not the same as commitment. Uncertainty itself can be truly destabilising.
American power may still shape the regional environment, but it does so unevenly and with greater risk of miscalculation. China does not need to defeat the US to exploit this; it only needs to test thresholds and capitalise on ambiguity.
Put simply, the protection the US offers is less absolute -and far less reassuring -than Australian rhetoric often implies.
The way forward: not abandonment, but adjustment
First, Australian leaders need to speak more plainly about the US alliance in order to maintain public support.
This means no longer trumpeting shared virtue, but being honest about what is actually a conditional, interest-based arrangement with a larger power whose values and priorities do not always align with our own.
Second, Australia must continue to hedge more deliberately. This includes deepening defence cooperation with Japan and India, enhancing strategic partnerships across Southeast Asia, and sustaining Pacific engagement. All of this becomes more important as US certainty declines.
Third, as others have argued, Australia must invest more seriously in its own capabilities -diplomatically, militarily and politically -so our security is not wholly contingent on a single power.
The era of comforting myths is over. The alliance still matters -but it is more fragile and conditional now. Recognising that is the necessary starting point for safeguarding Australian security
Ian Kemish is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry at The University of Queensland.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Original text here: https://news.uq.edu.au/2026-02-australia-needs-get-real-about-trumps-changing-america
100 years of broadcast TV - what can we learn heading into an uncertain future?
MELBOURNE, Australia, Feb. 2 -- The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University issued the following news release:
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100 years of broadcast TV - what can we learn heading into an uncertain future?
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When the TV broadcast signal hit the scene 100 years ago, it went on to disrupt existing news, media and entertainment to form a billion-dollar industry engaging audiences and reaching every part of Australia, from cities to remote communities.
RMIT experts are available in the lead up to the ' 100 Years of Broadcast TV Symposium ' to comment on why broadcast TV is still important
... Show Full Article
MELBOURNE, Australia, Feb. 2 -- The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University issued the following news release:
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100 years of broadcast TV - what can we learn heading into an uncertain future?
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When the TV broadcast signal hit the scene 100 years ago, it went on to disrupt existing news, media and entertainment to form a billion-dollar industry engaging audiences and reaching every part of Australia, from cities to remote communities.
RMIT experts are available in the lead up to the ' 100 Years of Broadcast TV Symposium ' to comment on why broadcast TV is still importantfor Australia.
Dr Damien O'Meara, Lecturer in Public Relations
"Broadcast TV in Australia remains vital for reach, access and equity when it comes to news, information and entertainment.
"While we see pushes in other markets to move away from broadcast, such as the UK and Europe, Australia must think critically about what we can learn from our past and carry that into the future.
"As a latecomer to television, Australia built its local brand against the prominence of the more established UK and US industries. That meant legislation and regulation was vital to seeing our own stories on screen, and ensuring Australian culture was part of the rise of television across the nation.
"We forged a brand for gritty and grounded crime procedurals, must-watch drama and soaps, and children's and youth TV that goes there, making young people around the world look to Australia to explore tough issues. But that brand came from a rich history where technology, policy, investment, and people converged to make Aussie TV punch above its weight on the international stage.
"Streaming does not yet provide the investment, prominence, or reach and access of broadcast. We must start these conversations now as we consider the continuing role of broadcast TV in the future."
In a panel at the Symposium, Reflecting on Australian TV history, Dr O'Meara will lead a discussion about Australia's TV brand, the sustainability of and support for broadcast TV, and the role TV has played in our nation and national identity.
Dr Damien O'Meara's research investigates communication, brand and visibility in creative industries. He examines how creative workers and media institutions construct and negotiate identity, create value, define and reach audiences, and include underrepresented communities onscreen.
Dr Alexa Scarlata, Lecturer in Digital Communication
"Over the last two decades, the broadcast TV disruptor has become the disrupted.
"Streaming, social media and countless media convergences have irrevocably changed the broadcast TV industry.
"More Australians are now watching content via paid subscription services than free-to-air TV. Broadcast ad rates have plummeted and revenues have declined, leading to regional closures and content cuts.
"The future of television broadcasting in Australia is highly uncertain, but uneven broadcast infrastructure, the rising costs of subscriptions and differences in digital skills means that streaming remains out of reach for many Australians.
"Broadcast TV will continue to play an integral role in providing free local news, sport and entertainment."
In a panel at the Symposium, Australian broadcast TV today and beyond, Dr Scarlata will consider what's being made and watched on broadcast TV today; what the commercial broadcasters are focusing on, now that content quotas are more flexible, and the gaps our public service broadcasters are subsequently trying to fill; and what Australian broadcast TV could look like in the future.
Dr Alexa Scarlata is a scholar of media and cultural industries with a special interest in internet distributed television, content production and national screen policy.
General media enquiries: RMIT External Affairs and Media, 0439 704 077 or news@rmit.edu.au
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Original text here: https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/media-releases-and-expert-comments/2026/feb/100-years-broadcast-tv
