Contact magazine

Contact magazine

We all have our ‘sneeze signature’, a pattern or style of sneezing that’s unique to us. But where do they come from – and can we change our sneezing ways?
  • Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this story contains images and names of deceased persons. In 1982, Eddie Koiki Mabo and 4 other plaintiffs initiated a legal case that would change Australia forever.
  • Are we really putting ourselves at risk when we reheat our leftovers, or is this all just over-inflated plastic panic?
  • Having déjà vu? The final instalment of the Mission: Impossible franchise has landed and we want to know one thing – why are we obsessed with the reboot? UQ’s expert-in-residence and PhD candidate, Talia Parker, unpacks Hollywood’s movie sequel mania and what makes a sequel great.
  • In a world where nearly every click leaves a trace, is your online presence a liability or an asset? Contact talked to UQ Cyber expert Professor Ryan Ko to find out whether we should be cleaning up our act to protect future job prospects and safeguard ourselves from the millions of daily hacking incidents.
  • We spoke to UQ experts Professor Jolanda Jetten, Head of UQ’s School of Psychology and Professor Alina Morawska, Director of the Parenting and Family Support Centre to unpack how online radicalisation works, how to identify potential warning signs and how to approach someone you care about if you think they need help.
  • In September 2024, Queensland’s Parliament passed landmark legislation that will soon give donor-conceived people – individuals conceived with a donated egg or sperm, usually through a fertility clinic – the right to access identifying information about their donor parents. It’s a change that donor-conceived people and their allies have long advocated for.
  • From Olympians to business leaders and entrepreneurs, we already have some extraordinary alumni committed to joining the program as mentors.
  • With new campaign advertisements flooding social media feeds and traditional media channels, it can be hard for voters to understand where they sit on contentious topics. Contact asked UQ experts Professor Brenda Gannon, Dr David Morrison, Professor Shaun Bond and Professor John Quiggin to share their take on some key 2025 election issues.
  • At just 21 years of age she launched Be Seen Socials, and 5 years on her social media agency’s success has earned her recognition as one of Forbes’ 30 under 30 Asia. Contact spoke to her about taking the leap into owning her own business, the power of manifesting your goals and how a personal brand could elevate your career.

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  • Whether struggling to get in the zone at work or reading the same sentence of a book 20 times, all of us have experienced frustration at our inability to focus. UQ's expert on the science of concentration busts some myths and shares some tips.
  • The Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and many other political leaders want to ban young Australians from social media until they turn 16. Is that a good idea or a regressive move that distracts us from the more important task of building forms of social media that enable young people to flourish?
  • Despite the endless array of products, advice, and pimple-popping YouTube videos, most of us probably couldn’t say with certainty what actually causes acne, nor which treatments are genuinely effective. UQ Mythbusters is here to clear that up.
  • It’s hard to know where to begin when it comes to cutting through the nonsense and understanding the science around sugar intake. So, 'Contact' called on a UQ expert who knows her glucose from her fructose: Professor Sarah McNaughton.
  • While a lot of profit stands to be made from alcohol and liquor licensing fees, we can’t ignore the harm it poses to young people.

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About Contact magazine

Contact magazine is your pocket guide to navigating our changing world. Landing in email inboxes monthly, with added special editions covering timely topics, our features keep you informed and entertained. Contact brings together the best insights from UQ’s alumni, researchers and community, connecting our global network of ChangeMakers through storytelling.