Rethinking Holocaust education for Gen Z

+ is yoga good for you? A behavioral scientist investigates US Edition - Today's top story: Combating antisemitism today: Holocaust education in the era of Twitter and TikTok [View in browser]( US Edition | 24 January 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( This Friday is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, marking 78 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. The date may have particular resonance this year, at a time when antisemitism has been regularly in the headlines – particularly concerns about the rise of hate on social media. Meanwhile, powerful new AI technology can rapidly generate and spread misinformation. Museums and schools that teach about the Holocaust have already been thinking about how to adapt their lessons for the 21st century, especially as the number of survivors who can share their stories firsthand fades. [But to be effective today, Holocaust education requires another rethink](, argues Alan Marcus, a University of Connecticut professor who researches how to teach difficult history. “Rather than teaching the Holocaust as an isolated event, educators must grapple with how it connects to antisemitism past and present,” he writes. “That means adapting to how people learn and live today: online,” in a “Wild West of information and misinformation.” One of the most powerful tools teachers can empower students with is media literacy – the skills to help them navigate questionable claims, recognize stereotypes and think critically about all the content flooding through their phones. Also today: - [Why reasonable, intelligent people promote pseudoscience]( - [Even as the world opens up, not all passports are created equal]( - [How AIDS activists helped make antivirals available globally]( Molly Jackson Religion and Ethics Editor Technology is increasingly important in Holocaust education – seen here in ‘The Journey Back’ within The Richard and Jill Chaifetz Family Virtual Reality Gallery at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. Courtesy of the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center [Combating antisemitism today: Holocaust education in the era of Twitter and TikTok]( Alan Marcus, University of Connecticut Antisemitism often appears and spreads on social media. But digital technology can be part of the solution, too. Health + Medicine - [Yoga: Modern research shows a variety of benefits to both body and mind from the ancient practice]( Herpreet Thind, UMass Lowell Yoga’s surge in popularity in the past decade has spurred more research into its effects. The combination of physical movement and mindfulness provides a wide range of health benefits. - [Horror and anguish are playing out on repeat following the latest mass shooting – and the mental health scars extend far beyond those directly affected]( Arash Javanbakht, Wayne State University Even people who are only indirectly exposed to these repeat tragedies, such as first responders and those affected by media coverage, can experience profound and long-lasting grief. - [Grassroots AIDS activists fought for and won affordable HIV treatments around the world – but PEPFAR didn’t change governments and pharma]( Dan Royles, Florida International University The US PEPFAR initiative has brought HIV medication to millions of people globally. Behind this progress are the activists that pressured politicians and companies to put patients over patents. - [Parsing which foods are healthy and which are less so isn’t always straightforward – a new rating system aims to demystify the process]( Dariush Mozaffarian, Tufts University; Jeffrey B. Blumberg, Tufts University; Paul F. Jacques, Tufts University; Renata Micha, Tufts University The Food Compass system scores foods based on variables like the amounts of refined grains and sugars, processing and healthful ingredients. People who ate better-scoring foods had better overall health. Politics + Society - [How some enslaved Black people stayed in Southern slaveholding states – and found freedom]( Viola Franziska Müller, University of Bonn Instead of using the secret routes along the Underground Railroad to find freedom in the North, thousands of enslaved Black people fled to free Black communities in Southern slaveholding states. Science + Technology - [Device transmits radio waves with almost no power – without violating the laws of physics]( Joshua R. Smith, University of Washington; Zerina Kapetanovic, Stanford University A wireless transmitter uses almost no power and at first glance appears to violate the laws of physics. It’s actually a clever use of physics that could one day transmit data from tiny remote sensors. Education - [Lots of people believe in Bigfoot and other pseudoscience claims – this course examines why]( Craig Foster, State University of New York College at Cortland A university course teaches students why people believe false and evidence-starved claims, to show them how to determine what’s accurate and real and what’s neither. Environment + Energy - [New passport rankings show that the world is opening up – but not for everyone]( Patrick Bixby, Arizona State University A passport from the United Arab Emirates will get you into far more destinations than one from Afghanistan. Gaps like this have big implications for people’s ability to travel, reside and work. From our international editions - [Copper transformed way the world works before: it’s about to do so again]( - [Why can’t the West agree on how much military support to send to Ukraine?]( - [Deepfakes: faces created by AI now look more real than genuine photos]( Today's graphic [A chart showing China's fertility rate from 1960 to 2020.]( From the story, [Why China’s shrinking population is a big deal – counting the social, economic and political costs of an aging, smaller society]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Trying out new social media? Follow us: • [Mastodon]( • [Post.news]( • [Instagram]( • [LinkedIn]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. [Donate now to support research-based journalism]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](