AKA Review– May 27, 2022

From The Scholarly Kitchen:
Humanities and Graduate Education: The Crisis is Real, but Not New
By Karin Wulf
The American Academy of Arts & Sciences report, “From Graduate Education to the Workforce,” describes graduate education in the humanities and its relationship to employment: who has been earning master’s and doctoral degrees, who offers them, how people assess their value, and how those degrees translate to employment. Among its findings is that the perception that the humanities do not prepare students for careers seems pervasive among undergraduates and their parents despite employers continuing to call for skills that the humanities can provide. Read this article

From The Moscow Times:
Russia to Quit European Standards System for Higher Education
Signed by Russia in 2003, the Bologna Process standardized higher education across Europe and gave students greater control of their education and academic mobility. This week, Russia announced plans to replace its participation in the Bologna Process with a new system designed to meet its “national interests.” With this change, academic and political analysts warn Russian diplomas would no longer be recognized beyond the country and Russian students would be unable to find jobs or enter doctoral programs in Europe as easily. Read this article

From BBC:
What defines cultural appropriation?
By Bel Jacobs
What are the critical distinctions between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation? Drawing on the concept of environmental sacrifice zones, a resource rich area deemed expendable and exploited for economic gain, experts argue that industrial expansion and “fast fashion” are being prioritized at the expense of traditional dress, craftspeople, and culture. “Respect, inclusion, consent, and communication are key to ensure that brands are not diminishing something of intrinsic cultural value when adopting elements from another culture.” Read this article

From WIRED:
If Tech Fails to Design for the Most Vulnerable, It Fails Us All
By Afsaneh Rigot
With Roe v. Wade under threat and the projected criminalization of those seeking or providing abortions, it is increasingly apparent that technologies for accessing vital health care data are insecure. The weaponization that users fear could be mitigated if app builders focused on safety in high-risk environments, particularly for marginalized persons. The author argues that reimagining cases that deviate from the “typical tech user” and placing them at the center of the design process should be seen as a corporate responsibility. Read this article

From The Atlantic:
As the Climate Changes, So Does Fiction
By Heather Hansman
Novels about climate used to be set in the distant future or on far-removed planets, with environmental catastrophes the catalyst for these often-grim tales. Increasingly, however, writers are weaving climate change into domestic dramas and comedies as an unavoidable part of life. This article highlights several novels on immigration, corporate malfeasance, tourism, families, and friends that use climate-related issues as backdrops that impact characters’ lives in ways similar to how climate change affects people today. Read this article