News and Opinion

August Highlights from the Humanities and Social Sciences Communities

From gender equality and maternal health to mental wellbeing, education, and music, discover the stories and research that sparked conversation across our communities this August.
Yuanxin Zhang Sep 01, 2026

This month’s posts explored how people navigate barriers, seek support, and create opportunities for themselves and others. From women in research and maternal health to mental wellbeing, education, and cultural storytelling, these highlights reflect some of the conversations taking place across the Humanities and Social Sciences Communities this August.

Breaking Barriers

@Rita Moreira 

After a two-year break, “Breaking Barriers for Gender Rights and Justice through Research” returns this September and October. This free virtual conference brings together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and advocates to discuss some of today's most pressing issues around gender equality, from leadership and career progression to AI, health, and social justice. The programme highlights how research can help identify barriers and create opportunities for women and girls across different disciplines.

 Explore the full post and discover this year's programme.

Register to attend live!

World Breastfeeding Week

Observed every August, World Breastfeeding Week highlights the importance of creating supportive environments for mothers and families. This year's posts explored the social, healthcare, and policy factors that help make breastfeeding possible.

Strengthening the Support Around Mothers

@Noohi Nasim 

Breastfeeding is often discussed as a personal choice, but this post highlights something broader: the support systems that make breastfeeding possible. Drawing on recent research, it explores how healthcare services, workplace policies, community support, and access to basic services such as clean water all shape mothers' experiences.

Read the full post to learn more about the support systems behind successful breastfeeding.

Further reading:

 

Looking Closer at Depression

How do we understand, measure, and support people living with depression? The posts below explore different perspectives on depression research, from assessment tools and self-beliefs to personalised approaches to care.

Are We Measuring Depression Fairly?

@Delwin B. Carter @David Alpizar 

Can the same questionnaire accurately measure depression across different populations? In this Behind the Paper post, @Delwin explores whether one of the most widely used depression assessments works equally well for Filipino American young adults. The research raises a broader question that extends beyond depression research: how can we be confident that the tools we use reflect people's experiences fairly and accurately?

Read the full post to explore why measurement matters in mental health research.

Further reading:

 

After Graduation: What Comes Next?

@Olga Oleinikova 

Scholarships can open doors, but what happens after graduation? Drawing on her forthcoming book Refugees at University: Access, Belonging, and What Comes After, @Olga explores the long-term experiences of refugee-background graduates in Australia. The post looks beyond university access to consider belonging, employment, and the challenges that can emerge once formal support ends.

Read the full post to learn what happens after the scholarship ends.

 

Rethinking the Siren

@Tanja Weyandt 

What happens when a geneticist and an opera singer start talking about music? This unusual and engaging Beyond the Book post tells the story behind Why Music is Genetic, a book inspired by conversations, curiosity, and a shared fascination with why humans enjoy music. Exploring questions about music, evolution, and human behaviour, the authors examine why music seems to play such an important role in our lives and whether our response to it may be rooted more deeply than we realise.

Read the full post to discover how an unexpected partnership became a book.

 

Beyond the Book  – A Space for book authors!

These two blog posts are also part of the new book Channel Beyond the Book. This is a space for authors to share the stories, experiences and ideas that sit beyond the pages of a published book. If you’d like to know more about it, read:

  

From supporting mothers and improving mental health care to creating opportunities for refugee students and understanding why music matters to us, this month’s posts offered a wide range of perspectives on people’s lives and experiences. I hope something here catches your interest and inspires you to dive deeper into the full posts.

Thanks for reading, and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

 

Further readings: