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Guardian University guide and ranking: no open university??
I hope this hasn't been asked before...
the guardian university guide and ranking does not include the open university. the times equivalent neither, as far as I remember... why?
I fear that this really does not help with finding a job, especially abroad! ('OU? never heard. next.')
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/may/17/university-guide-201...
I hope this hasn't been asked before... the guardian university guide and ranking does not include the open university. the times equivalent neither, as far as I remember... why? I fear that this really does not help with finding a job, especially abroad! ('OU? never heard. next.') http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/may/17/university-guide-201...
The hackgate circus finally arrives at Westminster
The decline of the Murdoch Empire may crumble a little further from 2.30pm this afternoon when Rebekah Brooks (fresh from nine hours in police custody), James and Rupert Murdoch are summoned to answer questions from the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee whose own Chairman, Conservative MP John Whittingdale, became embroiled in the scandal engulfing News International over the weekend when the Independent on Sunday revealed he was the only one of Rebekah Brooks' 576 friends on Facebook who was an MP. But do not expect much truth to emerge.
The principal players are resigning in increasing numbers, some after police interrogation. The number of associated arrests has risen above 10. The News of the World is no more. Rupert Murdoch has closed his interest (for now) in extending his 39 per cent ownership of BSkyB. And, on the eve of the Committee hearing, two of the most senior police chiefs in the country tendered their resignations as the relationships between the Metropolitan Police and News International employees became tarnished further by allegations of corruption. Yesterday, rumours in the City suggested that Rupert Murdoch will shortly vacate position as Chair of BSkyB. The air is full of rumours, claim and counter claim. On the markets, Murdoch's Empire continues to be hard hit. Yesterday, shares in News Corporation dropped by 7.6 per cent to a two-year low in trading in Australia, and suffered a 4.3 per cent fall in New York.
The truth, should it ever emerge, will be left to the judicial inquiries and an already discredited police force investigation to unearth. The Parliamentarians, who, like the public, feel they have been lied to, will be keen to seek the truth. But I think we will struggle, at least for today. The Committee only has one hour we are told. An hour! What are they going to find out in an hour? We will have to wait, if indeed he can find the truth, for Lord Justice Leveson's judicial inquiry later this year. This afternoon's circus is simply the hors d'oeuvres, the starter before the main course.
But Sean Hoare, the whistleblowing News of the World reporter, who first accused Andy Coulson of encouraging reporters to hack into people's phones and who claimed hacking was endemic in the newspaper industry won't be around to see it. In a tragic twist to the Hackgate scandal he was found dead yesterday in his Watford home.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister David Cameron is cutting short his African visit to return to the country to catch up. The longer the daily diet of revelations and resignations lasts, the closer the Prime Minister will be to the flames. In all the scandal there is one vital question that so far has received little satisfactory explanation: why on earth did David Cameron appoint Andy Coulson to be his Communications Director in the first place? The Prime Minister's judgment is under scrutiny as never before.
Dick Skellington, July 19 2011
Cartoon by Catherine Pain
The decline of the Murdoch Empire may crumble a little further from 2.30pm this afternoon when Rebekah Brooks (fresh from nine hours in police custody), James and Rupert Murdoch are summoned to answer questions from the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee whose own Chairman, Conservative MP John Whittingdale, became embroiled in the scandal engulfing News International over the weekend ...
- Robyn Bateman's blog
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Clearing rubbish key to fighting dengue fever says OU's Dr Heller
Clearing rubbish from outside homes on the Maldives could have a dramatic effect on fighting Dengue Fever in the island nation says Open University lecturer Dr Tom Weller.
The disease, for which there is no vaccine, is carried by mosquitoes and as dengue haemorrhagic fever it can kill.
The Maldives in the Indian Ocean, is currently tackling an outbreak of Dengue Fever and eight Maldivians have died this year.
Avoiding being bitten and the eradication of mosquito breeding sites is currently the only preventative option and lakes and areas of stagnant water across the islands have been drained or treated.
But Dr Weller, Senior Lecturer in the OU’s Faculty of Health and Social Welfare, says community involvement in any eradication programme is key.
Writing in the Maldivian Minivan News Dr Weller, who has visited the islands as a medical volunteer for the Friends of Maldives NGO, said the strategy to prevent the spread of dengue fever is aimed at the mosquito itself, often relying on spraying chemicals and treating water storage.
When he was in the Maldives, Dr Heller said he noticed that outside almost every house there is a little collection of garbage.
“This includes plastic drink containers, tins, discarded tyres, containers and invariably a pile of half coconuts.
“These are ideal breeding sites for the mosquitoes that carry dengue fever. Unless each and every one of these piles is cleaned up, dengue fever will continue to be a problem throughout the Maldives in urban and rural areas.
Dr Heller said that without fully integrated community involvement, anti dengue fever strategy has failed almost everywhere in the world it has been tried.
“The mosquito will always find ways to outwit their human adversaries unless locally tailored eradication programmes are implemented,” he said.
Clearing rubbish from outside homes on the Maldives could have a dramatic effect on fighting Dengue Fever in the island nation says Open University lecturer Dr Tom Weller. The disease, for which there is no vaccine, is carried by mosquitoes and as dengue haemorrhagic fever it can kill. The Maldives in the Indian Ocean, is currently tackling an outbreak of Dengue Fever ...
Berlusconi hangs on but will his allies maintain their support?
Weakened by recent political defeats, Silvio Berlusconi's future as Italian prime minister depends on the secessionist Northern League, writes Dick Skellington.
If a week is a long time in British politics, it must seem like an age in Italy. Having advised his electorate to boycott the June referendum – widely seen as a mandate for his continued legitimacy in office – Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi received a very bloody nose as the Italian people rejected his ideas on four government plans, including nuclear power and ministerial immunity from prosecution (see Society Matters 21 June postcard from Sardinia), with a turn-out far above anything seen in Italy in modern times.
One week later, Berlusconi won a vote of confidence in the Italian parliament, retaining the support of the influential Northern League (NL) by 317 votes to 293, and members of his own People of Freedom party gave a huge sigh of relief (it's the first time he has obtained an outright majority since the summer of 2010). Berlusconi is now going cap in hand to the small, secessionist Northern League, a party ferociously anti-immigration in stance, about as right to the far right as you can get in European politics.
So, despite a crippled and ailing economy, a series of electoral defeats in Italy's urban mayoral elections, a referendum rebuke, criminal charges of sex with an under-aged prostitute, plus the minor inconvenience of impending court appearances for corruption, remarkably Berlusconi remains in power, albeit with a grip that hangs by a thread. In Britain. with such a record, he would have had to resign (well one would have hoped so).
'despite an ailing economy, electoral defeats, criminal charges and impending court appearances for corruption, Berlusconi remains in power'
What do the NL want in return for keeping Berlusconi in power until 2013? Its leader, Umberto Bossi, told the NL's annual rally in June. "Dear Berlusconi," Bossi barked into the microphone, "your leadership is at risk in the next elections if you don't make some changes."
Bossi wants Berlusconi to decentralize government, move some ministries to the north, end Italy's role in the NATO attacks against Libya and cut taxes if he wants to last until election time in 2013. But on at least one of these Berlusconi cannot deliver, since the country is struggling with a public debt running at 120 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti will lay out an interim budget with the goal of reducing debt, not offering the tax breaks the League wants in exchange for backing the government. Since the speech Italy's President, Giorgio Napolitano, has stood firm by Italy's involvement in the NATO alliance's high- risk Libyan military strategy.
At the end of June, Berlusconi's popularity rating dipped below 30 per cent. Social tensions seem just below the surface. Already police and teachers have clashed in Rome, and Italy may be heading for a summer of discontent. It is expected that Berlusconi's government will change the income tax system to try and satisfy an increasingly critical electorate, but in the present volatile political context, he may be forced to act sooner, especially if the economic trends do worsen.
There are risks here for the NL too. While it has the votes to keep Berlusconi in power, it also risks losing its supporters if it stays aligned to Berlusconi for too long. But it could risk losing its root and branch support if none of its demands are met.
Meanwhile, however precariously, Berlusconi hangs on.
Dick Skellington 5 July 2011
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BBC: Italy's Northern League reviews support for Berlusconi
Cartoon by Gary Edwards
Weakened by recent political defeats, Silvio Berlusconi's future as Italian prime minister depends on the secessionist Northern League, writes Dick Skellington. If a week is a long time in British politics, it must seem like an age in Italy. Having advised his electorate to boycott the June referendum – widely seen as a mandate for his continued legitimacy in office ...
- Yvonne Cook's blog
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Italians give Berlusconi a bloody nose: a postcard from Sardinia
Dick Skellington is in Alghero, Sardinia. He reports on how the island responded to the Italian referendum on June 12-13...
There was much dancing in the civic square of Alghero a week last Sunday evening and yet the outcome of Berlusconi's referendum was still not known. Why the premature celebrations I wondered?
The chanting and singing was a spontaneous response by the people following the news that the referendum was indeed quorate: it exceeded the 50 per cent specified to be valid under the Italian constitution. Berlusconi, who had long lost the hearts of minds of the Sardinian people, had strongly advised them to boycott the referendum. The result? A turnout across Italy of 57 per cent, 60 per cent on the island itself. Once quorate the outcome was predictable. The people gave him a bloody nose, of the kind no cosmetic surgery could repair.
Across cyberspace disenchanted Italians, mostly younger people out of work and without a home of their own, texted and emailed, blogged and twittered, in a successful campaign to raise the turn-out Berlusconi sought to exclude. The Church too turned out to vote against Berlusconi's proposals. Pope Benedict XVI demanded the Italians seek a new way of life, one which embraced 'the legacy of God's creation' in the light of the March tsunami in Japan.
Over 94 per cent of Italian voters declared that the nuclear power industry, terminated after Chernobyl in 1986, would not be revived following the Fukushima disaster. In Sardinia 98.4 per cent voted against. In the historic old Catalan walled town of Alghero of 20,309 who voted, only 376 said yes to a resumption of nuclear production. In a second vote, over 98 per cent of Italian voters decided it was legal for ministers to no longer be immune from prosecution, though Berlusconi continues to fail to appear in court, claiming he is involved in political duties. The Italian public also rejected Berlusconi proposals to privatise the water supply. On this issue the Church decreed water was a human right and should not be subjected to market forces.
Anti-nuclear campaigners say Japan's Fukushima disaster in March helped sway public opinion against nuclear power, which Italians rejected in a referendum after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. Italy, like Japan, is prone to earthquakes but despite the government insisting nuclear power was needed to supply about 20 per cent of Italian electricity by 2020, the electorate delivered a resounding no to Berlusconi's regime. It seems, at last, as if his magic has gone.
Germany and Switzerland have both recently announced that they will phase out nuclear power in the coming decades (see Oil Sawtell's post on this site at: http://www8.open.ac.uk/platform/blogs/society-matters/atomkraft-nein-danke-3). In Britain, Cameron's coalition Government recently reaffirmed Britain's commitment, but following the Fukushima disaster, there remains much public disquiet even in Britain about the wisdom and sustainability of the nuclear option. It is a shame such an important issue is not open to a referendum in Britain: it should be.
Berlusconi still has a majority in the Italian parliament but it one totally dependent on Northern League support.They are now questioning whether their alliance with Berlusconi's party is damaging them, and the country. Some may decide it is time to break away. On Wednesday 22 June Berlusconi faces a vote of confidence in the Italian Parliament.
His government further damaged this week by news that the country's credit rating was put under review amid anxieties about government policies to reduce Italy's national debt as economic growth stagnates, and as a result of recent electoral disasters. Weakening electoral support is damaging the country's national economy and international status.
Italians, in endorsing the power of previous much maligned referenda. may be about to embark on a new political future, as the new media and people power begin a new era in Italian politics. But it may be the political elite among the right wing Italian power base that ultimately decides whether to end what remains of Berlusconi's crumbling dynasty.
Time will tell, but here in Sardinia, there is real a sense that the worm has turned.
Dick Skellington, 21 June 2011
Pictured: Referendum posters in Alghero, Sardinia, by Dick Skellington
Dick Skellington is in Alghero, Sardinia. He reports on how the island responded to the Italian referendum on June 12-13... There was much dancing in the civic square of Alghero a week last Sunday evening and yet the outcome of Berlusconi's referendum was still not known. Why the premature celebrations I wondered? The chanting and singing was a spontaneous response by the people ...
- Robyn Bateman's blog
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AtomKraft? Nein Danke!
Following Germany's decision to withdraw from nuclear power production, will the country lead Europe towards a new green future? asks OU student Oli Sawtell.
With the news that the German government is pursuing the ultimate in green agendas and abolishing nuclear power on their soil by 2022, I can only look in wonder at how hawkish the Greens have become in my other-fatherland of Germany. It cannot be overestimated how profound this change will be for energy production in what is the leading state within the European Union.
Already debates are raging about whether this will mean a shift to fossil fuels or massive investment into renewable energy sources such as wind, tidal and solar. But most pundits fail to see the profound effect it could have on the European model of energy use.
One thing that Europe boasts, which most people never reflect upon, is the very broad weather variation that we as Europeans enjoy. In Spain the sun shines more frequently and as a result solar generation of energy on an industrial scale is quite possible (as for example at Andasol 1, Solar Tres and PS20). Similarly, off the coast of Britain there are vast areas of the North Sea that could be given over to wind and tidal energy production, and with the possibility of Scotland becoming independent from the United Kingdom, this becomes increasingly likely.
Most profoundly we could see investment from Germany in these energy production types which could pave the way for a German-dominated energy production grid. Whereas today we increasingly have to rely on the consumption of imported gas and oil from Russia and the east, state investment into renewable energy could enable Europe to become self-sufficient in green energy production, and as time goes on and people are focused, the energy output from these cleaner energy sources would become more effective and efficient.
This could lead to a new green Europe where neither the coal furnace nor the nuclear spectre can cast their shadow over the world. The German government's decision, then, is not just a victory for common sense following Chernobyl and Fukishima, but also a victory for our children and their children. The first step towards a non-polluting energy infrastructure just got one huge stab in the arm with a vial filled with German adrenalin.
Oli Sawtell 2 June 2011
Oli Sawtell is studying for a BA (Hons) in History with the Open University. He lives in MIlton Keynes and works as a bureau project manager for a global data capture firm.
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Image: Thinkstock
Following Germany's decision to withdraw from nuclear power production, will the country lead Europe towards a new green future? asks OU student Oli Sawtell. With the news that the German government is pursuing the ultimate in green agendas and abolishing nuclear power on their soil by 2022, I can only look in wonder at how hawkish the Greens have become in my ...
- Robyn Bateman's blog
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School ban on hugging "misguided"
A secondary school in Croydon has apparently banned pupils from physical contact with one another, including hugging, high fives and shaking hands. The schools says reduces bullying and fighting, but Dr Mary Jane Kehily, OU senior lecturer in Childhood and Youth Studies, disagrees.
As a tactic to reduce violence, banning physical contact is "hopelessly misguided" says Dr Kehily. "If you increase regulation, that also increases the potential for trangression. Young people are very creative about transgressing adult boundaries."
So if having rules means chidren are more likely to break them, is there nothing schools can do to combat bullying? "Any initiative has to be done in consultation with the young people who are going to be on the receiving end of it. The most effective form of regulation is the peer group."
Dr Kehily argues that a touching ban has all the hallmarks of a moral panic – an over-the-top response to an exaggerated fear, a phenomenon well-known to social scientists. "Every now and then there is a moral panic about the kind of contact children have with other people, usually motivated by safety or sexuality. You get things like banning conkers in schools or stopping male teachers attending to girls who have fallen over in the playground. Parents are fearful too.
"What particularly strikes me with this is the focus on the negative aspects of physical contact. We are probably more tactile and in touch with our bodies in childhood than at any other point in our lives. Children at play bumping into one another and touching one another all the time, and that sensory experience is an essential part of childhood. If the headmaster at that school had spent half an hour just watching children in a playground, he would have seen this."
Dr Mary Jane Kehily has a particular interest in youth cultures, school-based cultures and the everyday experiences of children and young people. She is a member of the academic team working on U212 Childhood and KE308 Youth: perspectives and practice. Her research project Childhood in Crisis looks at how moral panics and social anxiety impact on children and parenting.
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A secondary school in Croydon has apparently banned pupils from physical contact with one another, including hugging, high fives and shaking hands. The schools says reduces bullying and fighting, but Dr Mary Jane Kehily, OU senior lecturer in Childhood and Youth Studies, disagrees. As a tactic to reduce violence, banning physical contact is "hopelessly ...
OU team plan to sail boat on Saturn's largest moon
An Open University team led by Professor John Zarnecki is seeking Nasa's backing for a mission to sail a robot boat on lakes of Saturn's moon Titan.
Read more about the proposal at the Guardian's website
An Open University team led by Professor John Zarnecki is seeking Nasa's backing for a mission to sail a robot boat on lakes of Saturn's moon Titan. Read more about the proposal at the Guardian's website 2.833335 Average: 2.8 (6 votes)
Expert comment on Sony's PlayStation Network data theft
A recent security breach of the hugely popular PlayStation Network (PSN) has led to the admission by Sony that 77 million users' details, including credit card details, may have been stolen.
Senior Lecturer in Computing at the OU Blaine Price provides expert comment about online security at the following BBC news story.
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- More details on the story from the BBC
- Anyone into gaming fancy helping an OU PhD student with her research?
- OU module: Information security management (M886)
- OU module: Computer forensics and investigations (M889)
A recent security breach of the hugely popular PlayStation Network (PSN) has led to the admission by Sony that 77 million users' details, including credit card details, may have been stolen. Senior Lecturer in Computing at the OU Blaine Price provides expert comment about online security at the following BBC news story. Useful links More details on the story ...
OU volcanologist comments on latest earthquake and tsunami warning in Japan
Dr David Rothery, Lecturer in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at The Open University, has commented on the latest earthquake and tsunami to hit north-eastern Japan. He said: "The magnitude 7 (variously quoted as magintude 7.4 and 7.1) off the coast of Japan is the largest aftershock we’ve seen following the magnitude 9.0 quake on 11 March.
"It was caused by a continuation of the same process, namely the Pacific plate being forced (subducted) below Japan, as stress transfer occurs along the currently-displacing region of the subduction zone. Fortunately, at a source depth of nearly 50 kilometres the ground (and sea-water) displacement is less than would have been caused by a shallower quake of the same magnitude."
Dr David Rothery, Lecturer in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at The Open University, has commented on the latest earthquake and tsunami to hit north-eastern Japan. He said: "The magnitude 7 (variously quoted as magintude 7.4 and 7.1) off the coast of Japan is the largest aftershock we’ve seen following the magnitude 9.0 quake on 11 March. ...
Support for students with Asperger syndrome
There are currently more than 10,000 disabled students registered at the OU. The term ‘disability’ covers a broad range of impairments and chronic health conditions, including mobility, mental health, unseen disabilities such as heart disease, chronic pain and fatigue, and diabetes.
Asperger syndrome, which is considered the higher functioning end of the autistic spectrum, is a particular area of interest of the OU, which promotes awareness and understanding of the disability through academic excellence. The science course Understanding the autism spectrum (SK124) launched in 2009 and has proved popular with students on the autism spectrum, as well as parents of children with autism and other support groups. Significant research projects into the field are also conducted by many academics at the OU.
“Students with Asperger syndrome are able to access a range of support during their studies with the OU, and the Disabilities and Additional Requirements teams in the regions and nations can offer advice, either before making the decision to enrol or during their study,” explains Jane Swindells, Specific Learning Difficulties Adviser at the OU.
“Students with Asperger syndrome can’t be pigeonholed in terms of what their needs are – each student is different.”
People with Asperger syndrome can have difficulty with social settings and contexts where there is a lack of clear instruction or structure. This is particularly significant in respect of students with autism who attend traditional universities, as one former
OU student explains. “I wasn’t used to the freedom that you get at university. I really thrive on structure and routine, and university wasn’t anything to do with that. I only lasted about six weeks.”
Choosing to study with the OU means students work in their preferred environment, avoiding the challenges and confusing social environment of campus-based universities. Additional arrangements can also be made when taking examinations, which might include additional time, rest breaks, and the opportunity to sit an exam at home. OU tutors also try to ensure that the language they use is clear and precise, aware that some language choices may confuse.
“People with Asperger syndrome can find it difficult to understand abstract concepts and tend to take jokes and metaphors literally,” explains Jane. “For example, saying ‘I’ll catch up with you later’ could cause anxiety, as the detail isn’t specific enough. It’s much better to state a time.”
The OU responds positively to any student disclosing a disability. The first thing the OU will do is to invite the student to discuss any impact that their disability may have on their study and explore the ways in which the OU can provide additional support. Appropriate support may include accessing the Disabled Students’ Allowance, setting up additional arrangements for examinations or providing additional support at residential schools. For example, the same student who reflected on his short stay at a campus-based university attended a residential school accompanied by a family member who was able to provide non-intrusive support and reassurance to enable him to benefit from the experience.
For information about, or to apply for, the Disabled Students’ Allowance, contact the DSA Office on 01908 654136; textphone +44(0)1908 659955; fax +44(0)1908 659956, or email DSA-Queries@open.ac.uk
The OU DSA office does not handle applications from students in Scotland; they are dealt with by the Student Awards Agency
for Scotland (SAAS). Email scotland@open.ac.uk
If you are not eligible for a DSA, contact the Financial Support Office on +44(0)1908 653411 for more information about other financial support you may be able to apply for.
There are currently more than 10,000 disabled students registered at the OU. The term ‘disability’ covers a broad range of impairments and chronic health conditions, including mobility, mental health, unseen disabilities such as heart disease, chronic pain and fatigue, and diabetes. Asperger syndrome, which is considered the higher functioning end of the autistic spectrum, is a ...
Understanding autism
When the OU launched Understanding the autism spectrum (SK124) in 2009, its target was 400 students – in fact the module attracted 1,100. Although it’s reckoned one child in a hundred has some form of autism, this complex condition is still surrounded
by confusion and myths.
“There is a massive amount of information out there about autism, but not all is reliable,” says Module Chair Dr Ilona Roth, a psychologist and one of a growing cluster of autism researchers at the OU.
“With this module we wanted to provide an authoritative introductory guide, which deals even-handedly with different approaches to explaining and working with autism.
“We also wanted to give students tools for evaluating information, not just in module material but from other sources. So that, for instance, they can think for themselves about whether a particular treatment has a sound evidence base.”
Autism can be a confusing condition. Symptoms often vary from one individual to another (hence the term autism spectrum), and there is no single, simple test to detect it. Instead, it’s diagnosed on the basis of psychological characteristics which are known as the ‘triad of impairments’ or ‘triad of difficulties’. The first is difficulties with communication, which can range from quite subtle problems to no language at all. The second is problems with social interactions: making friends and understanding norms of behaviour. The third is a tendency to focus on a narrow range of activities and interests and repeat them – for example, playing with the same toy, or always taking the same route.
But it is important not to think of autism just in terms of impairments, Ilona says. Abilities vary tremendously. “There are a very small group with exceptional gifts – the ‘savant’ syndrome. Beyond that there are significant numbers of people across the autistic spectrum who have quite well developed skills in certain areas – such as kids who can do a jigsaw upside down, without having seen the picture on the box.”
SK124 considers the psychology and biology, as well as social and educational issues, and the impact of autism on family life. Parents whose child has been diagnosed with autism face complex decisions, says Ilona. “It is not ‘one size fits all’. Should they try to get their child into a specialist school, or will they do best in the mainstream, perhaps with a bit of extra support?”
As well as people affected by autism and their family members, SK124 is ideal for those students, particularly in psychology, and in health, biological and social sciences, who want to know more about autism and what it tells us about the human mind and brain. It also equips them with useful generic skills for assessing scientific research.
“It’s a very interactive module,” says Ilona. “One of the most popular online features is a 3D revolving brain which comes apart so you can learn about the structure and the function of the brain, and how it is involved in autism.”
The SK124 team also had unprecedented access to film in a school for children on the autism spectrum and DVD is one of many resources in this module: “The student forums have also been very lively,” says Illona. “We have a chat forum where people are exchanging information and it’s been wonderful to see parents and people on the spectrum offering advice and mutual support.”
When the OU launched Understanding the autism spectrum (SK124) in 2009, its target was 400 students – in fact the module attracted 1,100. Although it’s reckoned one child in a hundred has some form of autism, this complex condition is still surrounded by confusion and myths. “There is a massive amount of information out there about autism, but not all is reliable,” ...
MP proposes move to limit alcohol marketing
Open University Professor of Social Marketing Gerard Hastings, also director of the Institute for Social Marketing and Centre for Tobacco Control Research at Stirling University, has welcomed the move by MP Dr Sarah Wollaston to put forward a private members bill to limit the advertising exposure of alcohol to children.
“There’s now a steady stream of evidence showing that the increasing consumption of alcohol advertising is associated with a greater number of people drinking from a young age," said Gerard.
“Recent research has painted a powerful picture of young people being inundated with messages that depict drinking as normal, fun and something we should be doing all the time, which is an unhelpful norm.
“But this is not a proposed ban on alcohol advertising; it’s simply aiming to reduce vast swathes of it to protect children and young people, and also to make it more factual so that consumers can make informed decisions.
“We know there are serious health issues attached to drinking so we want to change behaviour in society. People should be able to choose not to drink without being made to feel as though they have to excuse themselves.”
Useful links
- BBC News online report
- A report authored by two OU academics calls for a total ban on alcohol advertising
Open University Professor of Social Marketing Gerard Hastings, also director of the Institute for Social Marketing and Centre for Tobacco Control Research at Stirling University, has welcomed the move by MP Dr Sarah Wollaston to put forward a private members bill to limit the advertising exposure of alcohol to children. “There’s now a steady stream of evidence showing that the ...
North-east Burma hit by earthquake
North-east Burma has been hit a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, close to the borders with Laos and Thailand. "In such a remote area, landslides probably represent the greatest hazard," says Dr Dave Rothery, of the Volcano Dynamics Group at The Open University.
"The magnitude 7.0 earthquake on Thursday 24 April (13:15 GMT; also reported as magnitude 6.8) followed by a magnitude 4.8 aftershock (14:24 GMT) in Myanmar (Burma) was at a shallow depth of about 10km," he says.
"The large magnitude and shallow depth make such a quake capable of causing substantial damage. However, in such a remote and undeveloped region (near the borders with Laos and Thailand), landslides probably represent the greatest hazard to life.
"The earthquake was caused by sideways slip along one of the many faults that allow the highlands of southeast Asia to slide southeastwards away from the collision zone where India is crashing northwards into Asia.
"On 12 May 2008 movement on a thrust fault associated with the same large-scale process caused a magnitude 7.9 earthquake in China’s Sichuan province that took nearly 90,000 lives in an around the city of Chengdu."
There have since been aftershocks measuring 5.4 at 15:55 GMT on 24 April and 5.0 at 00:23 GMT today.
The BBC reports the loss of around 50 lives. Read more here.
North-east Burma has been hit a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, close to the borders with Laos and Thailand. "In such a remote area, landslides probably represent the greatest hazard," says Dr Dave Rothery, of the Volcano Dynamics Group at The Open University. "The magnitude 7.0 earthquake on Thursday 24 April (13:15 GMT; also reported as magnitude 6.8) followed by a magnitude 4.8 ...
The psychology of Japan's disaster
Dr James Thompson is a senior lecturer in psychology at University College London and specialises in trauma following disasters. He says Japan's response to the earthquake, tsunami and now nuclear threat could be seen as "the ultimate psychological experiment".
Dr James Thompson is a senior lecturer in psychology at University College London and specialises in trauma following disasters. He says Japan's response to the earthquake, tsunami and now nuclear threat could be seen as "the ultimate psychological experiment". Watch the video interview here 3 Average: 3 (3 votes)
New justice report
A report released Tuesday 8 March by the independent think-tank, Independent Academic Research Studies (IARS), has identified some key areas for improvement for restorative justice – the area which focuses on the needs of victims and offenders, and encourages dialogue between both parties.
‘Drawing together research, policy and practice for restorative justice’ is the result of a joint seminar held in partnership with the International Centre for Comparative Criminological Research (ICCCR) at The Open University and argues that there is a need for a thorough cost-benefit analysis in order for restorative justice to be seen as a more cost-effective approach to crime than imprisonment and penal punishment.
The report also argues that the academic and research agenda on restorative justice is too narrow and there is a tendency to focus on matters of immediate policy and practical relevance. This can result in the political and cultural issues of restorative justice being a secondary focus, it says.
Dr Theo Gavrielides, author of the report and Visiting Senior Research Fellow at ICCCR, said: "This is the first of a series of seminars that aim to encourage a dialogue and consensus amongst practitioners, researchers and policy makers in the restorative justice movement. There is clear evidence of a relationship breakdown and at this critical point in time for restorative justice bridges must be built if the practice is to be rolled out".
The seminar brought together practitioners, researchers and policy makers in restorative justice to discuss gaps that they experienced in their effort to work together. It was attended by 45 experts in the restorative justice field including representatives from the Home Office, Ministry of Justice, Youth Justice Board, academia and practice.
Useful links
- Download the report
- London youth justice campaign
- BA/BSc (Honours) Social Policy and Criminology (B57) and related OU courses
- Law courses and qualifications at the OU
A report released Tuesday 8 March by the independent think-tank, Independent Academic Research Studies (IARS), has identified some key areas for improvement for restorative justice – the area which focuses on the needs of victims and offenders, and encourages dialogue between both parties. ‘Drawing together research, policy and practice for restorative justice’ is the result ...
Tsunami alert: OU graduate and disaster telecommunications expert on mass-scale notification
How do you warn people that a natural disaster is on its way? Japanese who carry phones serviced by country's dominant mobile phone carrier can opt to have alerts about earthquakes pushed straight to their mobile phones, but this isn’t yet the case for tsunamis.
OU graduate Mark Wood BSc (open) has been studying warning systems for tsunamis, earthquakes and other disasters as a member of the UN think tank The Working Group on Emergency Telecommunications (WGET) for 10 years. He has previously served as a UN disaster telecommunications co-coordinator and senior lecturer in mobile network design. Following the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan, he explains how communicating to a nation in danger is possible…
“A typical phone system is designed to be able to serve about 10 per cent of its customers at any one time. To build a system capable of serving all of them at once would be possible but not economical. Since telecommunications is de-regulated and privatised, the bottom line is always the most important driver, and so systems such as mobile phones, the internet and websites are built only with enough capacity to serve the typical ‘most busy business day’ case.
“If you tried to use SMS or email to warn everyone in London of a disaster, the result would be to crash the networks, and it could take hours for them to recover, just at the moment when they are needed more than ever before. In the case of a tsunami, you need to warn millions or hundreds of millions of people within a few seconds, and do so even if all lines are busy, so how do we do that? That is the challenge I was set by the UN 14 years ago.
Mass-scale notification
“My research showed that mass scale SMS texting was going to be very dangerous to the networks, as it would put a heavy strain on the signaling network which would create a Tsunami of load and bring the networks control system down. Many disasters since then, and the official London 7/7 enquiry, have showed this to be so.
“But when mobile phones were first invented, the engineers knew this, so they also included a system for sending the same text message to everyone at once, a system called Cell Broadcast. Cell Broadcast is still installed in all base stations and all phones, so it would cost almost nothing to install. It works during disasters because it uses control channels to send the same message once to everyone and not a separate copy to everyone, one-by-one. Also, it cannot easily be hacked by unauthorised users; a secure system controls who has access to it and what they can say and where.
“Many countries who have studied this, such as Holland, South Korea, Japan, USA and Sri Lanka, have discovered that it works, and that it would be ideal for public warnings. So why is it not commonplace?
"Cell Broadcast is not commonplace because it has never been commercially viable. SMS messages are generally acknowledged by industry experts as a very profitable service for the wireless industry. This is so in part because both the sender and receiver of an SMS message can be identified for billing purposes. Unlike SMS text messages, billing records cannot be created for Cell Broadcast message recipients. Also, while the sender of a Cell Broadcast message can be identified, there is no technology in place to document which handsets have actually received any given message. Because SMS systems are offered by almost all mobile network companies, many emergency notification companies have up until now only been able to offer SMS solutions to government as a solution for mass scale notification. However all experience shows that this is a disappointment at the best of times, and a colossal shoot-in-the-foot disaster at the worst case.
“I became an engineer because I believe that our technology should be our servant and not our master. I think the use of Cell Broadcast for emergency messaging can serve humanity by efficiently delivering timely, life-saving messages to millions or billions of our world’s citizens.”
Useful links
- Study with the OU - Volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis
- OU expert on Japan's nuclear power plant crisis
How do you warn people that a natural disaster is on its way? Japanese who carry phones serviced by country's dominant mobile phone carrier can opt to have alerts about earthquakes pushed straight to their mobile phones, but this isn’t yet the case for tsunamis. OU graduate Mark Wood BSc (open) has been studying warning systems for tsunamis, earthquakes and other ...
Olympics 2012 tickets on sale! But what will it really cost you?
Tuesday 15 March is the date when you can submit your application for tickets to the Olympic Games in London between July and August 2012. The cost of tickets starts from £20 for the earlier rounds of events. But what are the hidden costs? Travel, accommodation, refreshments, journey time?
Using six profiles of potential Platform users and making some assumptions on their lifestyle and preferences, we estimated how much a trip to the Olympics in London might cost them…
Zac... combining sport and friends
Zac is 19, lives in Bristol with his mum and dad and works full-time in a computer store. He's single and working towards a computing degree with the OU. Zac is combining a day at the Olympics with catching up with friends in London which means no accommodation costs.
Event: Athletics (preliminary rounds)
Ticket price: £20
Travel: National Express £40 (open return)
Oyster card for travel in London: weekend £20
Time in London: Two nights in London staying with friends (free)
Spending money: £100
Total cost: £180
Lucy... a trip with the kids
Lucy, 32, from Cardiff, is a part-time shop assistant and single mum with two young children. She's studying an Openings courses and hopes one day to become a teaching assistant. If Lucy wanted to leave the children at home she would need to arrange childcare, adding to her costs, so she's going to take the kids along too.
Event: Gymnastics and swimming
Ticket price: £20 per ticket (x 6 £120 total)
Travel: Train: off-peak day travel card with family and friends railcard, £80
Time in London: One day
Spending money: £60
Total cost: £260
Rob... a family holiday
Rob, 43, from Leeds, is a human resources middle manager, married with three teenage children. Rob is working towards his MBA with the OU in a bid to further his career. He needs a break and some family time so has decided to take a few days out for a holiday while attending the Olympics with his sports-mad kids.
Attending with: Wife and three children
Event: Athletics, football, horse jumping
Ticket price: £20 per person per event x 5, £300
Travel: Driving - 30p per mile (return trip 400 miles) £120. Tube/bus - £25 per day (£75 for whole trip)
Time in London: Three days. Rent a house in East London, £400 via Cottages4you you with 10 per cent OU discount
Spending money: £400 – dinners, self catering, refreshments, snacks
Total cost: £1,295
Nick... a birthday treat from his wife
Nick, 51, from Sunderland, was recently made redundant. he's married, has one grwon up child and did an OU maths degree 10 years ago for interest. It’s been a tough few months for Nick as he's trying to seek out a new career so his wife has decided to surprise him with tickets to the Olympics for his birthday.
Event: Boxing
Ticket price: £30 for semi final (£60 in total). Wife’s birthday treat for him
Travel: Driving at 30 per mile (600 miles return) £180. Nick's brother is a taxi driver in London and has offered free taxi rides to and from the event when they get to London
Time in London: Two days, staying with Nick’s brother.
Spending money: £50
Total cost: £290
Josie... a mini getaway
Josie, 68, is from Edinburgh, separated from her husband and has grown up children and grandchildren living in Australia. She studied as a teacher as part of the OU's first intake but has now retired and lives alone. She's an active member of her own local community and the wider OU community and studies the odd OU course for interest.
She saw advertised on the Platform noticeboard the opportunity to stay with an OU alumni in London and thought she would combine the visit with a chance to see the Olympics.
Event: Tennis, fencing, hockey
Ticket price: £100 total
Travel: National Express £40 return (nine hour journey), Oyster card £25
Time in London: Five days, stay with OU student/alumni for £100
Spending money: £100
Total cost: £365
Karen... a chance to visit friends and family
Karen, 47, is single, from Belgium and a marketing professional. She has an OU degree and was an OUSA activist and has just signed up for L197 beginner's Chinese. A keen sportswoman she can’t wait to watch the Olympics and will visit family and friends while in London too.
Event: tennis, fencing, hockey
Ticket price: £400 total
Travel: Flight, £200 return with KLM, Oyster card for travel around London £25
Time in London: Five days, hotel 3* £125 per night (£500 total)
Spending money: £200
Total cost £1,325
* Please note that prices are approximate and that travel costs are based on March 2011 prices - these are likely to be much higher nearer the time.
With some tickets costing up to hundreds of pounds to see events finals and a likely increase in accommodation costs due to demand, in the current economic climate will you make the journey to see the Games? How much do you think it will cost you?
Useful links
- London 2012 Olympics: interactive competition schedule
- Buy your tickets for the Olympics
- E112: Introduction to sport, fitness and management
- NEW! EXF223: Science and theory into practice: exercise instruction
- Sport & Fitness at the OU: more courses
Tuesday 15 March is the date when you can submit your application for tickets to the Olympic Games in London between July and August 2012. The cost of tickets starts from £20 for the earlier rounds of events. But what are the hidden costs? Travel, accommodation, refreshments, journey time? Using six profiles of potential Platform users and making some assumptions on their lifestyle and ...
What's next for actress and OU graduate Romola Garai?
From an unflinching portrayal of the life of a Victorian prostitute in The Crimson Petal to a comically dreadful wife in the film adaptation of One Day, OU graduate Romola Garai is set for stardom...
Read the full interview with actress and Open University graduate Romola Garai in The Observer - in which she talks about graduating from the OU in 2010 with a first in English Literature.
You can also watch Platform's video interview with Romola after her graduation at The Barbican, London, last year.
From an unflinching portrayal of the life of a Victorian prostitute in The Crimson Petal to a comically dreadful wife in the film adaptation of One Day, OU graduate Romola Garai is set for stardom... Read the full interview with actress and Open University graduate Romola Garai in The Observer - in which she talks about graduating from the OU in 2010 with a first in ...
OU expert on Japan's nuclear power plant crisis
As the world waits to gauge the full impact of the large earthquake that struck Japan on Friday 11 March, many of the headlines have focussed on the emergency situation at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
The incident has led to the precautionary evacuation of more than 150,000 residents living within a 20-km radius of the Fukushima plant.
“The plant will have been designed to withstand earthquakes in terms of both structure and safety devices,” says Professor Mike Fitzpatrick at the OU, whose research interests are in the areas of nuclear structural materials and residual stress analysis.
“The fact that the plant experienced a major explosion following the earthquake, during the operation to cool the core, shows just how robust the main pressure vessel containment system is.
“Once the reactor was shut down, it was still necessary to remove residual heat from the core. The failure of the cooling pumps meant that this was not happening effectively, hence there was an increase in temperature and pressure.
"Venting steam from the core, which was initially proposed, would release some radioactivity but would not cause long-term contamination. What must be avoided is the release of parts of the fuel assemblies, which is what happened at Chernobyl, although the sequence of events was very different there, with a lack of coolant whilst the reactor was generating power.
"The reactors that are being proposed for construction in the UK are much more advanced in terms of design and safety systems, and can cool passively following a shutdown which makes them inherently safer.”
At the time of writing borated sea water was being pumped into the stricken reactors to provide cooling and also to minimize further nuclear reaction in the core.
Useful links
- The World Nuclear Association on nuclear power plants and earthquakes
- OU course Structural integrity: designing against failure (T357)
- OU graduate and disaster telecommunications expert on mass-scale notification
- OU academics talk to OpenLearn about the Fukushima incident
As the world waits to gauge the full impact of the large earthquake that struck Japan on Friday 11 March, many of the headlines have focussed on the emergency situation at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The incident has led to the precautionary evacuation of more than 150,000 residents living within a 20-km radius of the Fukushima plant. “The plant will have been designed to ...
