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STEM: Teaching critical thinking for the new age

Suzanne Adams-Ockrassa

March 05, 2017 |

Arizona Daily Sun |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Flagstaff, Arizona

Flagstaff STEM City partners schools with professionals and creates kits that teachers can use to bring science into the classroom, teaching students and parents how to think critically and search out information through the application of real world skills like the culinary arts, mechanics, and childcare.

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Is your kid absent more than classmates? School ‘nudge' letters tell parents just how much

Neal Morton

March 02, 2017 |

The Seattle Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Tacoma, Washington

Adapting tactics that have helped persuade homeowners to use less electricity by comparing them to their neighbors, schools in Tacoma and other school districts across the nation are trying to boost student attendance with “nudge” letters. These nudges compare students’ attendance rates with school and district averages. Research has shown that the nudges reduces chronic absenteeism.

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Big in Bolivia: Zebras in the Streets

Isabel Henderson

March 01, 2017 |

The Atlantic |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: Bolivia, La Paz

In La Paz, local government is using people dressed in zebra costumes to direct traffic and change the behavior of people who break the rules. La Paz borrowed the idea from Antanas Mockus, the former mayor of Bogota, who discovered that people are more afraid of being ridiculed than being punished. Through humor, the method has improved driving and people's moods on the streets, hospitals, and schools.

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The Voter Lottery

Kathleen Hawkins

February 26, 2017 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Voter turnout is a problem around the world, especially in local elections and among minority groups. But a small group of academics and activists in the US are experimenting with a new way to encourage people to turn up to vote: a lottery. Every voter is entered and one lucky winner gets a big cash prize, eliminating the risk of bribery and bought votes.

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A simple combination of data and language tweaks is helping recruit more diverse police officers

Kara Sherwin

February 20, 2017 |

Quartz |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

To diversify the police force, UK and US research studies have focused on using behavioral economics. The UK's Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) has used behavioural economics and psychology to alter phrasing and messages, in order to attract more diverse applicants and its success has spurred more future projects.

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Mumbai church turns tonnes of waste flowers to eco-friendly cooking fuel

Akash Sakaria

February 20, 2017 |

Hindustan Times |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: India, Mumbai

After seeing prayer flowers wasted week after week, one church in Mumbai, India, implemented a new biologically-sustainable solution. The church now creates its own biogas, reducing waste and creatively producing energy alternatives.

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Iceland knows how to stop teen substance abuse but the rest of the world isn't listening

Emma Young

January 17, 2017 |

Mosaic Science |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Iceland, Reykjavík

In Iceland,the relationship between people and the state has allowed an effective national programme to reduce teen consumption of alcohol and drugs. The program identifies youth that are likely to abuse drugs and offers them physically challenging after-school activities that can reduce anxiety or provide a rush, such as dance classes and martial arts, along with curfews and parent education.

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No country for old men: Japan's elderly inmates prefer jail

Natsuko Fukue

January 14, 2017 |

Agence France-Presse (AFP) |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: Japan

In Japan more services are becoming available to help elderly offenders return to society and find work so they can be financially secure. The country is seeing increasing numbers of older people entering prison and being afraid to leave because of financial hardship and uncertainty on the outside. But right now services both inside and outside the prison are not enough to keep up with need and officials are deploying more nursing help inside.

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Attitudes Toward Female Genital Mutilation Changing in Ethiopia

Amy Yee

January 05, 2017 |

Voice of America (VOA) |

Multi-Media |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Ethiopia

An estimated 200 million woman have undergone Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a procedure which can lead to “hemorrhaging, scarring, infections and psychological trauma.” However, one nonprofit, called KMG, has made giant strides in their community and reduced the practice from 97 percent to five percent. How do you change FGM? You talk. “We don’t dictate, we just discuss,” said the founder.

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'Bribing' Mums To Feed Their Kids

Emma Wilson Sahar Zand

December 18, 2016 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Peru, Tarma, Junín

One in three children in Peru are stunted by a lack of nutritious foods in their diet. In 2005, the government gave cash hand-outs to poor mothers, but only on the condition that they had regular health check-ups and their children went to school. By 2014 the number of children growing up too small had halved.

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