By Gilles Paché, Professeur des Universités en Sciences de Gestion, Aix-Marseille Université (AMU)
The Gironde wildfires reveal how logistics are key in firefighting. Emergency operations in the French region are twofold: providing relief and evacuating large populations.
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By María-Luisa Chas-Amil, Catedrática de Economía Aplicada, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
Emilio Nogueira-Moure, Profesor interino, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
Forest fires have raged across Spain throughout July 2026, leading many people to ask whether the country has enough firefighting resources.
The answer is complex, particularly in emergency situations where homes and lives are at stake. However, the broad scientific consensus is that the key lies not in increasing the resources allocated to firefighting, but in investing more in prevention and land management.
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By Daria Dergacheva
For transgender people in Russia, their identity is a risk. Isabelle started her transition in Russia but the anti-LGBTQ+ laws and prohibition of gender transition in 2023 made living there unbearable.
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By Kate Hunter, Senior Lecturer in Art and Performance, Deakin University
Uncle Vanya is Anton Chekhov’s classic tale of the flawed lives of educated, wealthy Russian elites.
First performed in 1899 and set in the time of slow decline of the old rural estate class, the play revolves around the characters of a loosely related family. Now, playwright Joanna Murray-Smith has produced a sterling adaptation, stripping back the historical language to contemporise and bring it into the 21st century.
Under director Anne-Louise Sarks, this new production is a sumptuous piece characterised by expert direction and a distinctly modern feel, while retaining…
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By Cliff Mallett, Professor of Sport Psychology and Coaching, The University of Queensland
Australia hasn’t produced as many world-class track and field athletes compared with our swimmers and those in team sports. That may be changing.
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By David Bowman, Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania
Calum Cunningham, Research Fellow in Pyrogeography, University of Tasmania
Grant Williamson, Research Fellow in Environmental Science, University of Tasmania
Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes in southwestern France and Spain as extreme wildfires intensify. At least three people have died, including two firefighters. Many houses have been lost.
While this region is no stranger to fire, our analysis shows these wildfires are off the charts. A very hot summer primed many areas for fire. When they ignited, they spread ferociously. The area of land burned in France is already
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By Louise Starkey, Professor of Education, University of Tasmania
David Moltow, Lecturer in Education Philosophy and Ethics, University of Tasmania
A rural district in New York state has made global headlines for plans to introduce a humanoid robot into high school classrooms as a teaching assistant.
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By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
The ex-champion cyclist turned commentator explains why heat is a growing risk to the annual summer event, and points to some Australian women to watch this weekend.
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By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne
As Ben Carroll replaced Jacinta Allan as Victorian premier four months before the state election, a Newspoll had Allan at -46 net approval, but Labor only trailed the Coalition by 52–48.
Legislation that reforms the Victorian upper house by scrapping group voting tickets is set to pass parliament this week.
There have also been four federal polls released since Monday. The combined vote for One Nation and the Coalition is 47% in YouGov and Essential, 47.5% in Morgan and 49% in Spectre.
Victoria’s new premier and Newspoll
Jacinta Allan resigned as premier…
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By Tina Soliman-Hunter, Professor of Energy and Natural Resources Law, Macquarie University
The Australian government this week announced plans to construct a new large-scale oil refinery in Western Australia. If approved, it would be the first refinery to be built since the 1960s.
The federal government initially touted the idea of a government-backed oil refinery in April. In the months since, Australians have…
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