The Conversation
The Conversation is an independent, nonprofit publisher of commentary and analysis, authored by academics and edited by journalists. The stories below were written by Texas State faculty and staff.
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Environmental Studies
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Health and Medicine
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Cultural and Religious Practices
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Student Loan Debt
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Food and Alcohol
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Honors College
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5 children’s books that teach valuable engineering lessons
Michelle Forsythe, Assistant Professor of STEM Education
Julie Jackson, Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction
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Adults judge children who tell blunt polite truths more harshly than they do liars
Laure Brimbal, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology
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An interfaith discussion on the role of religion in mental health
Natasha Mikles, Assistant Professor in Philosophy and Religious Studies
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As one of Vladimir Putin’s closest advisers on Ukraine, Nicolai Patrushev spreads disinformation and outlandish conspiracy theories
Susanne Sternthal, Lecturer in Post-Soviet Government and Politics
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The average person’s daily choices can still make a big difference in fighting climate change – and getting governments and utilities to tackle it, too
Tom Ptak, Assistant Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies
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Beyoncé’s ‘Blackbiird’ breathes new life into a symbol that has inspired centuries of Black artists, musicians and storytellers
Katie Kapurch, Associate Professor of English
Jon Marc Smith, Senior Lecturer of English
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Biden is inheriting a wrecked economy, but Democrats have a record of avoiding recession and reducing unemployment
William Chittenden, Presidential Fellow
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Bringing joy back to the classroom and supporting stressed kids – what summer school looks like in 2021
Raphael Travis Jr., Professor of Social Work
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Buying groceries isn’t a problem just for the poor – middle-class millennials like me with student debt have trouble too
Cassandra M. Johnson, Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Foods
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Canceling student loan debt will barely boost the economy, but a targeted approach could help certain groups
William Chittenden, Presidential Fellow
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Cannabis legalization has led to a boom in potent forms of the drug that present new hazards for adolescents
Ty Schepis, Professor of Psychology
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The Catholic Church’s views on exorcism have changed – a religious studies scholar explains why
Joseph P. Laycock, Associate Professor of Religious Studies
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Chauvin conviction: 2 things to know about jury bias and 2 ways to reduce it
Angela M. Jones, Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice and Criminology
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College-age kids and teens are drinking less alcohol – but something else is rising
Ty Schepis, Professor of Psychology
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Colleges are using federal stimulus money to clear students’ past-due debts – an economist answers five questions
William Chittenden, Presidential Fellow
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Craft breweries are fermenting change, addressing local ills while serving local ales
Colleen C. Myles, Associate Professor of Geography
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Does ‘virtue signaling’ pay off for entrepreneurs? We studied 81,799 Airbnb listings to find out
Jacob A. Waddingham, Assistant Professor of Management
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Effects of childhood adversity linger during college years
Toni Watt, Professor of Sociology
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Entrepreneurs, beware: Owning your own business can make it harder to get hired later
Jacob A. Waddingham, Assistant Professor of Management
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Feeding insects to cattle could make meat and milk production more sustainable
Merritt Drewery, Assistant Professor of Animal Science
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For some craft beer drinkers, less can mean more
Colleen C. Myles, Associate Professor of Geography
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Fungal infections worldwide are becoming resistant to drugs and more deadly
Rodney E. Rohde, Professor of Clinical Laboratory Science
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Government and nonprofit workers are getting billions in student loan debt canceled through a public service program
Associate Professor of Finance
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Government and nonprofit workers are getting billions in student loan debt canceled through a public service program
William Chittenden, Associate Professor of Finance
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How do blood tests work? Medical laboratory scientists explain the pathway from blood draw to diagnosis and treatment
Rodney E. Rohde, Regents' Professor of Clinical Laboratory Science
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How stigma, anxiety and other psychological factors can contribute to food insecurity
Cassandra M. Johnson, Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Foods
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How the Satanic Temple is using ‘abortion rituals’ to claim religious liberty against the Texas’ ‘heartbeat bill’
Joseph P. Laycock, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies
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How to plan successful e-conferences during and after the COVID-19 pandemic
Emily Roehl, Lecturer, Honors College
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If Biden decides not to run for reelection, he faces a big threat: Being a lame duck
Michael J. Faber, Associate Professor of Political Science
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Indians are forced to change rituals for their dead as COVID-19 rages through cities and villages
Natasha Mikles, Assistant Professor in Philosophy and Religious Studies
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Lack of burial space is changing age-old funeral practices, and in Japan ‘tree burials’ are gaining in popularity
Natasha Mikles, Assistant Professor in Philosophy and Religious Studies
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Louis Pasteur’s scientific discoveries in the 19th century revolutionized medicine and continue to save the lives of millions today
Rodney E. Rohde, Regents' Professor of Clinical Laboratory Science
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Manifesto published in Russian media reflects Putin regime’s ruthless plans in Ukraine
Susanne Sternthal, Lecturer in Post-Soviet Government and Politics
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The many stories of Diwali share a common theme of triumph of justice
Natasha Mikles, Assistant Professor in Philosophy and Religious Studies
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Mental health problems come with an added ‘cost’ of poorer cognitive function – a neuropsychologist explains
Amitai Abramovitch, Associate Professor of Psychology
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Motivation is a key factor in whether students cheat
Carlton J. Fong, Assistant Professor of Education
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Now that President Biden’s student loan cancellation program has been canceled, here’s what’s next
William Chittenden, Associate Professor of Finance
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Obasanjo: from a Nigerian village to the pinnacle of power on the continent
Sheriff Folarin, Professor of International Relations and Visiting Scholar
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The omicron variant is deepening severe staffing shortages in medical laboratories across the US
Rodney E. Rohde, Regents' Professor of Clinical Laboratory Science
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Organized crime is a top driver of global deforestation – along with beef, soy, palm oil and wood products
Jennifer Devine, Associate Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies
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The pandemic changed death rituals and left grieving families without a sense of closure
Natasha Mikles, Assistant Professor in Philosophy and Religious Studies
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Plant-based meat alternatives are trying to exit the culture wars – an impossible task?
S. Marek Muller, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies
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Rabies is an ancient, unpredictable and potentially fatal disease − two rabies researchers explain how to protect yourself
Rodney E. Rohde, Regents' Professor & Chair, Medical Laboratory Science
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The real priest behind ‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ was a fan of Hollywood horror films
Joseph P. Laycock, Associate Professor of Religious Studies
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Ringworm fungal infections are common in the US and are becoming increasingly resistant to treatment – 6 questions answered
Rodney E. Rohde, Regents' Professor of Clinical Laboratory Science
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Silicon Valley Bank biggest US lender to fail since 2008 financial crisis – a finance expert explains the impact
William Chittenden, Associate Professor of Finance
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Student loan cancellation got blocked. Now what? 3 questions answered
William Chittenden, Associate Professor of Finance
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Unlicensed teachers now dominate new teacher hires in rural Texas schools
James P. Van Overschelde, Associate professor of secondary education
Minda Lopez, Professor of Literacy and Education
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US food insecurity surveys aren’t getting accurate data regarding Latino families
Lauren Butler, Assistant Professor of Nutrition
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US food insecurity surveys aren’t getting accurate data regarding Latino families
Cassandra M. Johnson, Assistant Professor of Nutrition
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US is split between the vaccinated and unvaccinated – and deaths and hospitalizations reflect this divide
Rodney E. Rohde, Professor of Clinical Laboratory Science
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Voters are starting to act like hard-core sports fans – with dangerous repercussions for democracy
Michael Devlin, Associate Professor of Communication
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What a biannual gathering of 1967 Impalas reveals about the blurry line between fandom and religion
Joseph Laycock, Associate Professor of Religious Studies
Natasha Mikles, Assistant Professor in Philosophy and Religious Studies
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What does weight-inclusive health care mean? A dietitian explains what some providers are doing to end weight stigma
Lauren Butler, Assistant Professor of Nutrition
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What does weight-inclusive health care mean? A dietitian explains what some providers are doing to end weight stigma
Lauren Butler, Assistant Professor of Nutrition
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What is child care insecurity? 2 social scientists explain
Cassandra M. Johnson, Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Foods
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What is herd immunity? A public health expert and a medical laboratory scientist explain
Rodney E. Rohde, Professor of Clinical Laboratory Science
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What is mpox? A microbiologist explains what’s known about this smallpox cousin
Rodney E. Rohde, Regents' Professor & Chair, Medical Laboratory Science
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What monoclonal antibodies are – and why we need them as well as a vaccine
Rodney E. Rohde, Professor Clinical Laboratory Science
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What’s a 100-year flood? A hydrologist explains
Robert Mace, Executive Director of the Meadows Center for Water and Environment
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What’s behind the enduring popularity of crystals?
Joseph P. Laycock, Associate Professor of Religious Studies
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Who benefits from a break on federal student loan payments? An economist answers 3 questions
William Chittenden, Presidential Fellow
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Who is doing all those COVID-19 tests? Why you should care about medical laboratory professionals
Rodney E. Rohde, Professor of Clinical Laboratory Science
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Why ‘Barbie’ and ‘The Little Mermaid’ made 2023 the dead girl summer
Katie Kapurch, Associate Professor of English
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Why are nuclear weapons so hard to get rid of? Because they’re tied up in nuclear countries’ sense of right and wrong
Thomas E. Doyle II, Associate Professor of Political Science
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Why are people calling Bitcoin a religion?
Joseph P. Laycock, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies
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Why herd immunity may be impossible without vaccinating children against COVID-19
Rodney E. Rohde, Professor of Clinical Laboratory Science
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Why inflation will likely stay sky-high regardless of which party wins the midterms
William Chittenden, Associate Professor of Finance
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Why Republicans and others concerned about the economy have reason to celebrate Biden in the White House
William Chittenden, Presidential Fellow
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Why the Fed raised interest rates by the smallest amount since it began its epic inflation fight
William Chittenden, Presidential Fellow
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Willie Nelson at 90: Country music’s elder statesman still on the road again
Jason Mellard, Director of the Center for Texas Music History
