With New Year’s resolutions right around the corner, Knowledge E is spending the month of December taking stock of our 2022 contributions to our community of curious readers and innovative researchers. This edition of Top Picks reflects on the past, present, and future: with art connecting us to legacies and traditions otherwise forgotten, our health and well-being grounding us in the present, and technological advancements helping us evolve as a society.
1. Can Art Transcend Language Barriers?
Art and language have a strong historical connection, and artists have long used the written word as a form of visual expression. Traditional Arabic calligraphy is an example of this art form, with Arab and Muslim artists finding ways to merge the visual appearance of Arabic letters with their underlying meanings. Nja Mahdaoui, an influential Tunisian painter, is an expert at this approach, passionately invested in the unique beauties of his mother tongue, his paintings convey the meaning of Arabic words through their visual forms.
Learn more about how his art can help patrons connect to their mother tongues here.
2. How Can We Protect Our Heritage Through New Artforms?
Globalisation is becoming more pervasive as foreign cultures, traditions, and languages continue to integrate into populations all over the world. At times, these developments can lead to the erasure of cultural heritages within smaller communities. This is particularly evident in the design and production of local arts and crafts. Formerly the repository of traditional styles and techniques, locally produced arts and crafts are now becoming increasingly detached from their historical antecedents.
Find out more about how these Indonesian researchers fight to protect their cultural heritage here.
3. How Has the Pandemic Heightened the Presence of Burnout Syndrome in Our Lives?
With the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic hopefully over, many of us have gone back to our normal lives, returning to offices and schools, traveling abroad, and abandoning masks. But while things might seem better on the surface, the pandemic had long-term consequences on all those affected by it, especially with regards to mental health. In particular, the continued pressures placed on our frontline healthcare heroes have resulted in a steep rise in burnout syndrome.
Develop a deeper understanding of how burnout syndrome continues to affect the lives of healthcare workers, and what we can do about it here.
4. How Has Our Dependence on Technology Affected Our Health?
A study released in 2022 suggests that the average person spends a total of 7 hours looking at a screen each day (excluding time spent at work). Although the pandemic encouraged the development of a variety of virtual solutions, it also pushed us to rely more on technology than ever before. This increased emphasis on technological solutions could pose health issues as our lives become more sedentary.
As technology continues to play a major role in our lives, learn more about why your New Year’s resolution to have an active lifestyle should be taken seriously here.
5. Can Technology Harm Our Humanity?
The labour force is evolving at a faster rate than ever before. With Industry 4.0 looming, many international institutions are excited about the beneficial implications of technological advancements for the world. However, some researchers fear the effects these advancements could be having on our ability to connect with others, as skills evaluation metrics reveal a correlation between the rising prevalence of technological solutions and a reduced value being placed on emotional intelligence and social skills in our professional lives.
Read more about the philosophical debate between man and technology here.
6. Should Parents Play a Role in Their Daughter’s Life Choices?
Industry 4.0 is introducing several exciting changes to global labour forces, and one example of this is the introduction of more women in leadership positions, particularly in emerging economies. In 2022, 8.9% of women are holding board positions in the UAE, as compared to only 3.5% in 2020. But how did these women make the decisions that led them to their success today? In many cases, young women are guided by families and communities to help them with life-changing choices.
Find out more about how policymakers can consider the role of culture and kin to encourage gender equality within their workforce here.
More from the KnE Blog
