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Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a public research university located in DeKalb, Illinois, United States in Chicagoland, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895, by Illinois Governor John P. Altgeld as part of an expansion of the state’s system for producing college educated teachers. Douglas Baker was named the university’s twelfth president in May, 2013.

The university is composed of seven degree-granting colleges and has a student body of 25,000 with over 225,000 alumni. Many of NIU’s programs are nationally accredited for meeting high standards of academic quality, including business, engineering, nursing, visual and performing arts, and all teacher certification programs.

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A group of Spanish people have filed a lawsuit seeking compensation for torture they and others experienced under the Franco regime from 1939 to 1975. David Zorrakino/Europa Press via Getty Images

After 50 years of global effort to abolish torture, much work remains

More than three-quarters of the world’s nations engage in torture, which is notoriously difficult to study because it often occurs in secret.
Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas, who fought for the Union army during the Civil War, stands in uniform for a photo. Heritage Images/ Hulton Archive

US Army Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas’ journey from enslaver to Union officer to civil rights defender

A Southerner, Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas was a racist enslaver before the Civil War. But he fought for the Union because he prioritized his oath to defend the Constitution over state interests.
Activists including Myanmar citizens protest in Tokyo on July 26, 2022, against Myanmar’s recent execution of four prisoners Philip Fong/AFP via Getty Images

Top democracy activists were executed in Myanmar – 4 key things to know

Myanmar’s military junta is losing some control over the country, but its execution of four high-profile leaders and prisoners sends a warning to Myanmar citizens and the rest of the world.
At the Amna Suraka museum in Iraq, exhibits show the torture that was carried out in the cells. Hélène Veilleux/Flickr

How someone becomes a torturer

Interviews with former torturers in Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq reveal what it takes to be a torturer – which could help explain how to reduce the number of people who get tortured around the world.
Lifetime tenure has pushed the average age of judicial nominees down as presidents appoint younger justices in hopes they will serve for many decades. Erin Schaff/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Should the Supreme Court have term limits?

Unlike in most countries, US Supreme Court justices enjoy life tenure. Some legal scholars believe that centuries-old custom, meant to protect judicial independence, no longer serves the public.
Every March 27, the Myanmar military celebrates its anniversary with a parade. The day of the 2021 parade, soldiers killed at least 90 pro-democracy protesters. Xinhua/Zhang Dongqiang via Getty Images

Myanmar’s brutal military was once a force for freedom – but it’s been waging civil war for decades

What began in the 1940s as a revolutionary army created to liberate Myanmar from British colonial rule soon turned repressive. The country has been a military dictatorship on and off since 1962.
Industrial activities like mining, fossil fuel combustion, and cement production release mercury into the environment. Shutterstock

Plants safely store toxic mercury. Bushfires and climate change bring it back into our environment

Plants can store mercury and keep it from contaminating waterways, air and soils. Unfortunately, that mercury is released when plants burn.
Pembingkaian “perang melawan sains” punya kecenderungan menjauhkan orang-orang dari dukungan sains. Gan chaonan/Shutterstock.com

Kritik agresif terhadap kebijakan anti-sains justru bisa berdampak buruk terhadap kredibilitas ilmuwan

Memakai pendekatan agresif dalam komunikasi sains berkemungkinan mengurangi kredibilitas ilmuwan di mata orang awam.
How does the concept of science in the crosshairs affect opinions? gan chaonan/Shutterstock.com

Calling it a ‘war on science’ has consequences

Researchers found that aggressive messaging and framing current events as a ‘war on science’ had different effects on how liberals and conservatives felt about scientists’ credibility.
In Myanmar, gender inequality is fed by a deeply held concept called ‘hpon,’ which considers men to be spiritually and morally better than women. Reuters/Staff

Myanmar debates women’s rights amid evidence of pervasive sexual and domestic violence

In Myanmar, spousal abuse is legal and stigma stop most women from reporting sexual violence. A bill championed by feminists but long stalled in Parliament may soon give women their basic rights.
Planning a communication strategy isn’t unethical. Have a nice day Photo/Shutterstock.com

Science communicators must consider short-term objectives while keeping their eyes on the prize

Scientists who engage with the public may have goals about influencing policy or behavior. But they also need to think about the short-term objectives that will help get them there.

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