Professor Dan Woodman

Has online learning sucked the life out of university? - ABC listen Crowded lecture theatres. Hours spent sprawled on the lawn between classes. Late nights watching bands at the uni bar. For generations these were staples of university life. But with so much learning...

Well done to everyone who kicked off their 2026 teaching this week.
My regular spot on ABC Radio National Life Matters this week was about how the university experiences has changed over recent decades.
Here it is for your weekend listening:
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Why kids are starting to 'yap' like their grandparents - ABC listen Keeping up with Gen Z slang can feel like decoding a secret language. But some of the buzziest words right now aren't new at all. The American Dialect Society has named its words of the year for 2025...

For your weekend listening pleasure.

My latest on ABC Life Matters - how language changes - including the way words come back into fashion.

This topic gave me the chance to drop words like bloviate, hoodwinked and felicitations into a broadcast.

www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Social Studies: What's in a name and why are they all Charlotte and Noah? - ABC listen Giving your child a name that suits them can feel like an impossible task, and we turn to our own cultural touchpoints for inspiration. So what does it say about our cultural references when Charlott...

What is in a name? My spot on Life Matters on ABC Radio National this week is about changing social practices in naming babies. Whatever your name is, have a listen.

www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Some unboxing content.

Edition 2 of This is Sociology just arrived at my place and is about to hit the shelves. I'm pretty happy with where it ended up after the revisions. I'll share a link when it is available for purchase.

The Great Debate — that Australia's history unites us - ABC listen From the world's oldest continuous living culture, to the arrival of Captain Cook, the goldrush to the ANZACs, from Federation to elections to referendums, and beyond, our understanding of Australian ...

I was part of this, broadcast today on ABC in Australia.
Spoiler alert: my debate team didn't win, but I think we packed in more jokes. So, I ask you who were the real winners? [Still not us, but I hope you find it entertaining as well as thought provoking].
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Finding light in a time of darkness - ABC listen The light will win is the theme of today's National Day of Mourning to honour the victims of the Bondi terrorist attack. In this edition of The Conversation Hour we meet an artist for whom the theme h...

For your weekend listening - I was on the Conversation Hour on ABC Melbourne yesterday talking about (not all) Gen Xers overtaking (not all) Boomers in housing wealth. I'm on from the 11 minute mark for about 20 minutes.

www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Social Studies: Our volunteers are burning out - ABC listen Volunteer numbers have been in steady decline in Australia recently, but the amount of work those volunteers need to do has stayed roughly the same. The result? Volunteer burnout. While the voluntee...

My first Life Matters 'Social Studies' chat on the ABC for 2026.

www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

First visit to the ABC for 2026. I'll be on ABC Radio National's Life Matters every fortnight again this year, so stay tuned.

Photo of me (the large human) and Kate Moss aka 'Mossy' (our small dog).

Deadline for applications for the International Sociological Association's PhD Lab in December in Doha is fast approaching (30th Jan). I'll be one of the ISA Executive Committee members mentoring the participants (if that is an added incentive!).
www.isa-sociology.org/en/junior-so...

Sociology in the News We look back at some examples of public sociology from the past year, and news of sociologists forging social change around the world.

We look back at some examples of public #sociology from the past year, and news of sociologists forging social change around the world.

One month left until the application deadline ⏰ XIX ISA International Laboratory for PhD Students (Doha Institute for Graduate Studies in Qatar)

🪙 For successful applicants: No participation fee. Travel to Doha, accommodation, and meals during the Lab will be covered.

The 6th ISA Council of National Associations Conference in FLAME University (Pune, India) has gathered 37 delegates from 34 countries, with 28 National Associations represented.

December 2025

The International Sociological Association - Sociology of Youth Research Committee is editing a special issue of Youth and Globalization. If this is your thing, consider submitting an abstract (by January 15, 2026).

See the full call here

brill.com/fileasset/do...

Social Studies: Is cancelling plans the new cancel culture? - ABC listen You've got dinner plans with a group of friends, and you've been looking forward to it for weeks. But in the days -or hours- leading to the catch-up... you get one... maybe several texts. Sorry, I c...

Cancel your weekend plans and listen to ABC Listen instead.

Sorry to say this is my last spot on ABC Life Matters for 2025. Pleased to say I will back as the 'resident sociologist' for another year in 2026.

www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

YouTube video by isasociotube Sociology In Podcast - Australia (Episode 11)

🎙️ Sociology In Podcast is back!

Episode 11: Sociology in Australia with Sally Daly, Alphia Possamai-Inesedy, Morgan Carter and Rhys Gower.

youtu.be/j43XwLfvc7M

Is Schoolies travel still the rite of passage it used to be? - ABC listen This Friday, another generation of school leavers will walk out of the school gates for the last time. Schoolies travel has been a rite of passage for Aussie teenagers since the 1970s, but the event ...

My latest on ABC Radio National Life Matters - this week I was chatting about 'Schoolies' (Australian tradition of celebrating the end of high school with a week of partying or other activities with mates) and how it has changed over time.
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Five academics inducted to the Australian Research Council’s College of Experts Five academics inducted to the Australian Research Council’s College of Experts

about.unimelb.edu.au/news-resourc...

Assistant Professor in Sociology at Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin Explore an exciting academic career as a Assistant Professor in Sociology. Don't miss out on other academic jobs. Click to apply and explore more opportunities.

2 Assistant Professor in Sociology at Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPH703/a...

Julia Cook, Dan Woodman & Rachel Brooks How does providing financial and practical support to young adult children impact upon their parents’ present-day lives and future plans? https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00380261251390989 The Sociological Review #OnlineFirst

What happens when intensive forms of parenting extend into young adulthood?

@juliacook.bsky.social @drdanwoodman.bsky.social @rachelbrooks.bsky.social take a look at intergenerational support, independence and the risk of downward mobility.

#OpenAccess @journals.sagepub.com buff.ly/21dX1A0

Call for two or more open-rank academic positions in Sociology

LAST CALL! #Sociology Professorships in Copenhagen, Denmark!

We're hiring 2+ open-rank profs (Asst/Assoc/Full). Any area.

Deadline: this Saturday, Nov 15!

Join a leading European sociology department. Please repost!

jobportal.ku.dk/videnskabeli...

Congratulations, Frank. And congratulations to Uni Canberra.

Are "nepo" babies just joining the family business? - ABC listen The Apple doesn't fall far from the tree, especially for Chris Martin's family. The Coldplay frontman's daughter recently sung at a gig in Nashville - and reviews have been mixed.  So, is this an ex...

My latest on ABC Life Matters

www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Social Studies: Why do we still bother with weddings? - ABC listen Recently, 600 couples from the South American nation of Paraguay were married simultaneously in a gym. Is this a genius way to get around the financial strain of throwing a wedding? Or is it somehow ...

My latest on ABC Life Matters
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Social Studies: Why are young adults lonelier than older people? - ABC listen If you're a fan of 90s sitcoms, you'll know that the friendship depicted in the sitcom Friends isn't necessarily representative of real life. People in their mid to late-twenties, seemingly working ve...

For your weekend (footy long weekend in Victoria) listening - here is my latest as resident sociologist on ABC Life Matters:
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

The reasons "brainrot" might not be truly unproductive - ABC listen Ballerina Cappuccina, Chimpanzini Bananini, Bombardiro Crocodilo ... do these names mean anything to you? If you know what I'm talking about, you've probably got a tween in your household because the...

My latest on ABC Life Matters

www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Celebrate Social Sciences Week Every September Social Sciences Week celebrates and showcases the diverse range of social sciences disciplines and research in Australia.

Happy Social Sciences Week to all who celebrate.

Get along to an event if you can.

socialsciencesweek.org.au

The relevance of beauty pageants in 2025 - ABC listen This week, Miss Universe Australia was crowned - 21-year-old Lexie Brant will represent us in Thailand in November. Lexie admits there's a stigma around pageants, and she prefers to call the Miss Uni...

My latest on ABC Life Matters
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Why we're being targetted by the "Gen Z stare" - ABC listen When you were a kid, your parents probably told you "don't stare, it's rude!" But, if you've been on social media the last couple of weeks ... it seems that life lesson might be getting left behind. ...

My latest on Life Matters
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

The declining rate of cousins Fewer children being born means those that are grow up with fewer cousins. Sociologist Dan Woodman joins Emile Donovan to explain this little-discussed shift in our family structures.

Was invited on to the Nights program on Radio New Zealand this week to chat with Emile Donovan about the shrinking number of cousins people have now compared to previous generations.
www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...