|
A willingness to change your mind – and admit that it has been changed – is one of the traits I most respect in other people. Our beliefs aren’t fixed. They’re shaped, stretched and sometimes overturned by the ideas we encounter as we move through life. For many of us, books are the moments where that shift happens – a sentence that lingers, an argument that unsettles, a story that re-frames how we see the world.
To that end, I asked 12 academic experts in the realms of science, technology, geography, philosophy and more to share the book that challenged their assumptions and changed their thinking in a lasting way. From a new understanding of time, to discovering non-human heroes and curing arachnophobia, their choices are diverse and fascinating.
As governments move to curb Elon Musk’s AI tool Grok after it generated sexualised deepfakes, a computer scientist explains why AI can so easily create non-consensual imagery. Regulation alone, they argue, may struggle to stop it.
And how realistic is Mattel’s new autistic Barbie? A pair of autism researchers weigh in and explain why, despite the doll’s limits, representation like this still matters.
|
Sylverarts Vectors/Shutterstock
Mark Lorch, University of Hull; Alina Patelli, Aston University; Ana M Queirós, Plymouth Marine Laboratory; Anna Bedenk-Smith, University of Lincoln; Benjamin Curtis, Nottingham Trent University; Eva Wennås Brante, Malmö University; Jack Fennell, University of Limerick; Jonathan Fisk, University of York; Laura Stephenson, University of Westminster; Makayla Lewis, Kingston University; Michael Strange, Malmö University; Viren Swami, Anglia Ruskin University
We asked 11 academic experts to share the book that challenged their assumptions and changed their thinking in a lasting way.
|
Yui Mok/PA Images/Alamy
Simon Thorne, Cardiff Metropolitan University
If companies can build systems capable of generating such imagery, they can also stop it being generated – in theory, at least.
|
The new autistic Barbie doll.
Matt Gooderick/Mattel
Aimee Grant, Swansea University; Rebecca Ellis, Swansea University
Expert researchers give their view.
|
World
|
-
Lewis Eves, University of Nottingham
A debate about whether Japan should possess nuclear weapons has resurfaced, much to the dismay of China.
-
Bamo Nouri, City St George's, University of London
Donald Trump’s best option in Iran may be to show restraint.
|
|
Business + Economy
|
-
Kirk Chang, University of East London
Our AI experiment sorted out a company’s recruitment.
-
Emre Tarim, Lancaster University
The president wants to see low interest rates to boost economic activity – but a spending spree could leave Americans facing runaway prices.
|
|
Education
|
-
David Alexander, University of Glasgow
Many of the issues disabled people encounter in society will result from political decision making.
-
Declan Flanagan, Dublin City University; Mike Chick, University of South Wales
The UK government says tougher English rules will aid integration. Esol experts warn they risk turning language learning into a tool of exclusion.
|
|
Environment
|
-
Ievgeniia Kopytsia, University of Oxford
A well-designed carbon market can support Ukraine’s recovery and strengthen its ability to withstand future conflict.
|
|
Health
|
-
Adam Taylor, Lancaster University
Hiccups are usually harmless, but when they persist, they can signal something serious.
-
Chloe Casey, Bournemouth University; Sarah Hillier, Bournemouth University
Crash diets could even have the opposite effect on your waist line.
-
Avidesh Seenath, University of Oxford; Scott Mahadeo, University of Reading
Air pollution, including exposure inside homes, contributes substantially to premature death worldwide.
|
|
