Experts' Corner

You heard it here first. NO NEW BUILDINGS. The future of architecture hangs in the balance–a balance of energy and environmental constraints that will profoundly alter the way humans interact with their environment. For centuries architects have seen themselves as creators of the built environment ... Read More

What's the Big Idea? In the 21st century, the intelligence of people will determine the future. Our free society can be the magnet for some of the world's brightest minds if we deliberately, carefully, and intelligently open ourselves up. Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime Minister of Singapore, has ... Read More

It’s an absolute fixture in children’s libraries worldwide and upon its publication in 1963 was awarded the Caldecott Medal, a distinguished award given to the year’s best picture book for children as decided by the Association for Library Service to Children. In the years since, it has inspired  ... Read More

Editor's Note: In a recent interview with Big Think, Richard Tafel, founder of the Log Cabin Republicans and The Public Squared gave us his advice for transforming the system: create a super PAC for the people, by the people. Challenge intractable elected officials. Shake things up. Ensure that ... Read More

Francis Tapon has traveled to 80 countries and spent the last three years traveling to 25 Eastern European countries. In 2013, he will begin a three-year trip to all 54 African nations. Today, April 28, is the official launch of his new book, The Hidden Europe: What Eastern Europeans Can Teach Us. ... Read More

Good intentions can lead to bad outcomes in business. This is especially true in organizations that have toxic cultures in which leaders tout worthy values--and then put up roadblocks that prevent employees from living those values. The GSA scandal provides an apt example. With all the rampant ... Read More

Editor's Note: Joanne Barkan is a writer for Dissent who sees serious flaws in the "school reform" movement that went national with the 2001 enactment of the federal No Child Left Behind law. In the following excerpts from her article, "Hired Guns on Astroturf: How to Buy and Sell School Reforms ... Read More

Several weeks ago, you may have read Frozen. Canada’s Anti-Spam Reporting Centre: 5 Reasons Why The Fed’s Latest Flight of Fancy is Dead on Arrival  by Claudiu Popa on this site. Popa capably outlines the notion of The Freezer, a repository of ISP & user-reported spam, operated by Industry Canada ... Read More

Editorial Note: This is a guest contribution from Kristen Wolf, author of The Way, which was was recently selected by Oprah for her Reading List. Everyone grows up under the shadow of religion. No matter your race, gender, creed, or lack thereof, every aspect of our lives is touched, if not ... Read More

Editor's Note: This is a guest post by Dr. Larry Rosen, a research psychologist who focuses on the effects of technology on the human mind.  What's the Big Idea? It should come as no surprise that we are all hopelessly addicted to our devices, particularly our smartphones. Why shouldn't we be ... Read More

Have a quick read of available coverage and you might be tempted to think “The Freezer”, the Canadian government’s plan for a national Anti-Spam Reporting Centre is a great initiative whose time has come. Headlines already abound with such emphatic language as “crack-down” and “getting tough on ... Read More

Bano, a mother of five who lives in the ancient quarter of Lahore—the cultural center—was without power for days. She wanted to make goat stew, a family favorite and a dish that can take hours to prepare. So that morning, Bano built a makeshift stove with wood and charcoal to cook. “I was ... Read More

Slovenia Donald Reindl, an Assistant Professor of English Translation in Slovenia, told me that one thing that Americans can learn from Slovenians is to give young children more independence. He said,  “The independence of Slovenian children at the primary level and the confidence that they gain ... Read More

Editorial note: This is a guest post by Faisal Saeed Al-Mutar, the 20 year old Iraqi founder of the Global Secular Humanist Movement – a forum for the discussion of rational humanism with 42K fans on Facebook.  It started when I was a child and has never stopped since then: the desire to ... Read More

By Chris Rivard and Karl Rebay (Partners, Moss Adams) The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is two years old. Is it a success? A failure? Has health care been reformed? Is reform on its way? These are but a few of the questions being asked on the second birthday of this monumental and ... Read More