Category: Great reads

Filmmaker Mira Nair shares the art of portraying the complexities of South Asia

“Nothing prepared me for the extraordinary hospitality, but also the ancient and deeply modern culture that I was in front of,” MIRA NAIR recalled thinking during her first trip to Lahore, Pakistan. “And that is what led me to make a film about Pakistan.” Nair, a renowned Indian filmmaker, was speaking at a film screening… Read more Filmmaker Mira Nair shares the art of portraying the complexities of South Asia

Stanford awarded high honors as a bicycle-friendly university – again

Stanford recently received a 2015 Platinum Bicycle Friendly University Award from the League of American Bicyclists, the highest designation in the award program. It is the second time Stanford has received the platinum award for its bicycling program from the league, which hands out the awards – bronze, silver, gold and platinum – every four… Read more Stanford awarded high honors as a bicycle-friendly university – again

Stanford researchers offer new comprehensive conservation strategy

Costa Rica’s rich biological diversity of birds and other wildlife drives a thriving tourism industry and provides economically vital services to farmers, such as pest suppression, crop pollination and seed dispersal. Perspectives on why and how that diversity should be conserved can be equally varied, and sometimes conflict. A recent study by Stanford researchers may… Read more Stanford researchers offer new comprehensive conservation strategy

French economist brings message of inequality to Stanford

Is inequality rising? Yes, and something can be done about it. That was the word from French economist THOMAS PIKETTY, who spoke at Stanford on Friday, Oct. 23,  about wealth and income inequality. He is the author of the 2014 bestseller, Capital in the 21st Century, which takes a historical and statistical approach to examining… Read more French economist brings message of inequality to Stanford

Stanford professors receive top honor from sociology journal for speed dating paper

Stanford Professors DANIEL MCFARLAND, of education, and DAN JURAFSKY, of linguistics and of computer science, are the recipients of this year’s Roger V. Gould Prize from the American Journal of Sociology (AJS) for their paper analyzing social connections and what makes people click. The prize is awarded to the AJS article that, according to the… Read more Stanford professors receive top honor from sociology journal for speed dating paper

Stanford scholars contribute to books published by the Hoover Institution Press

Two new books from the Hoover Institution Press grapple with two unrelated subjects that have shaped history: bank regulatory reform and ANDREI SAKHAROV. In Making Failure Feasible, a group of Hoover economists and scholars challenges existing U.S. banking policy while urging bold monetary reforms, such as adding a new Chapter 14 to the U.S. bankruptcy… Read more Stanford scholars contribute to books published by the Hoover Institution Press

Former softball standout makes history – again

One of the best hitters ever in softball, JESSICA MENDOZA, ’02 has made history once again. Mendoza, who was an All-America outfielder for the Stanford softball team from 1998 to 2002, is now pioneering a role for women in a largely male-dominated world of sports broadcasting. On Aug. 24, she became the first female ESPN… Read more Former softball standout makes history – again

Stanford palliative care specialist creates an app to facilitate end-of-life decisions

For many of us, the topic of how we want to spend our final days rarely comes up in discussions with our family members or doctors. And a big reason why is that we think of reflecting on how we want to die as highly emotional and unpleasant. But there are some compelling reasons to take… Read more Stanford palliative care specialist creates an app to facilitate end-of-life decisions

Stanford poll shows Californians ready for drought 'sacrifice'

When it comes to California’s longstanding drought, citizens are ready for action – both of the policy as well as the personal kind. On Sept. 29, Stanford’s Hoover Institution released a new survey revealing deep concern within the Golden State’s electorate about California’s historic drought. Ideology and regional affiliations did not matter on most issues.… Read more Stanford poll shows Californians ready for drought 'sacrifice'

Stanford scholars co-author book featuring the faces of extinction

What are the faces of extinction? In a photo-rich new book, The Annihilation of Nature: Human Extinction of Birds and Mammals, Stanford renowned population biologist PAUL EHRLICH tells the stories of animals that have gone extinct and those that face an uncertain future. The book also calls for increased engagement and action for environmental restoration. Ehrlich’s co-authors… Read more Stanford scholars co-author book featuring the faces of extinction