Behind the Paper
The real stories behind the latest research papers, from conception to publication, the highs and the lows
Filtered by: Social Sciences
From Waste to Resource: Rethinking Urban Futures through Innovative Solid Waste Management
Cities today are at a crossroads. Rapid urbanisation, changing consumption patterns, and rising populations have led to an unprecedented surge in solid waste generation. What was once considered a local municipal issue has now evolved into a global sustainability challenge.
How do structural change patterns differ across countries? Evidence from long‑term systemic dynamics
Structural change is dynamic, systemic, and by far nonlinear. Using structural tendencies as the core analytical unit, this post deepens the article, which examines structural change patterns in 147 economies using unsupervised machine learning techniques and provides policy insights.
Behind The Paper: Genetic algorithm-based assessment of kinetic façade prototypes for energy optimization and user comfort: a hotel case study in Iran
Every paper tells a story but most of that story remains invisible behind the final polished version. This research began with a simple question: how can we design building façades that are not only energy-efficient, but also truly responsive to human comfort in challenging climates?
When air pollution changed the rains of the Sahel
Anthropogenic aerosol emissions in Europe and North America caused the catastrophic Sahel climate changes
Lessons learned from adaptation opportunity windows in Europe
In our recent publication we identify examples of adaptation opportunity windows in Europe, and explore how these may be better leveraged using adaptive pathways planning. In this short article we reflect on how we reached our results, and some of our lessons learned.
Looking Beyond Treatment: What Children with Cancer Really Need
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, attention understandably centres on treatment and survival. Yet, many of the child’s and family’s broader needs often remain unrecognized. This work explores what lies beyond treatment
As words come of age, as words come undone
The first time my grandfather forgot the word ‘spoon,’ nobody panicked. The tenth time, we quietly wondered: “Is this just getting older… or should we get worried?”
Social Media and Teen Nutrition in Kenya: New Insights
A recent study published in BMC Nutrition explores how social media use is shaping food-related habits among Kenyan teenagers. Conducted in Mulolongo, Machakos County, the cross-sectional study surveyed 357 adolescents aged 13–19 years.
