Education
Great minds lead to great solutions. Our education section features solutions and innovations directed at strengthening educational systems around the world.
Get lost in these incredible x-ray images of the universe
You would only need to be subscribed to the Optimist Daily for a little while to know we are geeks for outer space. That’s why we were over the moon when NASA released a gallery of jaw-dropping imagery of the universe captured by telescopes from around the world. The gallery is a “treasure Read More...
Archaeologists in Egypt unveil 59 coffins that date back millennia
Archaeologists in Egypt recently announced the exciting discovery of 59 well-preserved and sealed wooden coffins dating back to more than 2,500 years ago. The extraordinary discovery took place in the desert necropolis of Saqqara, believed to have served as an extensive burial ground for Memphis, Read More...
Cambridge just dropped its $4.5 billion endowments from fossil fuels
More and more universities are choosing to divest from fossil fuels, but the University of Cambridge is going one step further and decarbonizing its entire portfolio. Just last week, Cambridge announced it will drop its $4.5 billion endowments from fossil fuels and reduce its holdings in companies Read More...
Tartu transformed its main street into a pedestrian paradise
From Oakland and Seattle to Bogota and York, cities around the world have been showcasing the community-building benefits that come with removing cars from the streets. In another display of car-free living, the Estonian city of Tartu transformed its main street into a pedestrian-friendly paradise Read More...
Number of young black authors doubles to nearly 20% in UK
People of color have long been underrepresented in the publishing industry, but a new study out of the University College London shows that is starting to change amongst young adult writers in the UK. The study found that only 7.1 percent of YA authors in the UK were people of color in 2017. That Read More...
Vincent Namatjira becomes first indigenous winner of Australia’s Archibald Prize
In its 99 year history, no indigenous artist has won Australia’s Archibald Prize for portraiture, but that changed this year when Vincent Namatjira’s Stand Strong for Who You Are took first place. Namatjira’s piece was chosen from 1,068 entries and depicts retired Australian footballer Read More...
This dad is reinventing the playground to make it more inclusive
The playground is meant to help kids imagine. It is meant to help kids imagine and investigate the world, to develop motor skills, and enjoy exercise through play. And perhaps most importantly, the playground is there to help kids make new friends. Here’s the problem: the way playgrounds are Read More...
Parental advice: How to help your kids succeed at distance learning
How do you set up your child for academic success in the age of distance learning? It is a question many parents are asking themselves these days, and one that sociologist Christine Carter recently received from one of her anonymous readers. To help kids work faster, concentrate longer, and Read More...
You can take these 11 popular Yale courses online for free
Back in March, we shared how you can now take Yale’s most popular class, “Psychology and the Good Life,” online. Now, we are happy to share 11 additional top courses you can take for free online from the top-ranked university. The university offers a wide variety of courses through its Read More...
Michigan is compensating essential workers with free college education
Essential workers have put their health and safety on the line to keep critical services running during the pandemic. Michigan is recognizing the commitment and sacrifices of their state’s 625,000 essential workers by offering them free education at any community college in the state. The Read More...