Podcasts

The OpenSpace Research Centre seeks to disseminate and promote the work of its members and visitors to audiences within and beyond academia. The podcasts are grouped in themes that examine work being conducted in a research area (such as Urban research) and debates on a particular issue or location (such as Shanghai) with a perspective informed by spatial thinking. New podcast themes are being developed which will also feature additional resources and links to contemporary issues and events.

Ying Zhou on the impact of creative industries regeneration projects

Ying Zhou, architect and urban researcher, on the impact of creative industries regeneration projects in Shanghai.

Doreen Massey 4 - New Maps for an Island Planet

OU geographer Doreen Massey, architect and author of Hungry City, Carolyn Steel, and campaigner and writer Andrew Simms sketch out ways of navigating the complex challenges presented by global economic and ecological crises. Chaired by Quentin Cooper, and joined by poet Lemn Sissay, the panel were part of an event to launch ATLAS: Architecture, geography and change in an interdependent world, edited by Renata Tyszczuk, Joe Smith, Nigel Clark, Melissa Butcher (Black Dog, February 2012).

The production of the ATLAS was supported by the Frederick Soddy Trust which offers support for study which includes human geography: the social, economic and cultural life of specific regions within the United Kingdom, Ireland or elsewhere in the world.

ATLAS presents new work by the Open University OpenSpace Research Centre and its collaborators, including the University of Sheffield Department of Architecture. The panel discussion was followed by public 'doctors' surgeries', conversations in the company of a specialist to help diagnose the challenges we face. The event marked the fourth of the OU Open Space annual Doreen Massey Lectures and was co-organised by the Southbank Literary programme.

Purchase the ATLAS from Blackdog Publishing

Phil Crang on the relevance of cultural geography

Professor Phil Crang gave a seminar at the OpenSpace Research Centre on 27 March 2013. Prior to his talk, he spoke to Nadia Bartolini on the relevance and future of cultural geography.

Community Activism in an Age of Austerity

In this podcast, Dr Eleanor Jupp talks to two community activists, Christine and Karen, who live on the outskirts of Stoke-on-Trent. Both women have run community groups for over ten years in their neighbourhoods, aimed at improving the lives and life chances of residents in these disadvantaged areas.

Helen Yanacopulos discusses the BBC series 'Why Poverty?'

Dr Helen Yanacopulos was the academic consultant on BBC's 8-part series exploring poverty globally. In this interview, she talks about her experience in contributing to the series and how a spatial analysis helps us understand the causes of poverty.

For more information on the series and to discover facts and figures on poverty globally, please click on the links below:

Sara MacKian engages with the spiritual in everyday life

Dr Sara MacKian is a Senior Lecturer in Health and Wellbeing at the Open University. Following her OpenSpace seminar on 7 March 2012, Nadia Bartolini spoke to Sara about her views on how to consider and locate the spiritual in social science research. 

Doreen Massey talks about the Soundings project

Doreen Massey discusses how the Soundings project originated, the philosophical thinking and socio-political struggles that marked the last decades, and the geographical perspective that she brings to the debates.

Beatriz Jaguaribe talks about Rio de Janeiro

Nadia Bartolini interviewed Professor Beatriz Jaguaribe following her seminar at the OpenSpace Research Centre on 8 February 2012 where she discussed the imaginaries of Rio de Janeiro.

Marie Sander explores the lives of expatriate teenagers

Marie Sander, University of Heidelberg, explores the lives of expatriate teenagers relocated to Shanghai.

Silvia Lindtner takes us to the new high-tech hubs

Silvia Lindtner, University of California Irvine, takes us from 'World of Warcraft' to the new high-tech hubs of Shanghai.

Gerry Mooney on class and urban exclusion

Dr Gerry Mooney introduces his work on class and exclusion in cities.

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