Download case study (PDF document)

A new way of exploring the world’s problems – and mapping ways out of them – was the focus of an innovative public event staged by The Open University and the new economics foundation.

Interdependence Day was the first of a series of events and publications generated by the Social Sciences Faculty and its partners that offer “a chance to look at the world from a new angle”. The project seeks to refresh debates about global environmental change and globalization and to point to an interconnected bundle or policies, actions, technologies and cultural shifts that we need to draw on to cope with these pressing issues.

 “Nobody can look at issues like climate change, accelerating biodiversity loss, or the downsides of economic globalisation and deny that we’re living in an interdependent world ecologically, socially, economically,” said organiser Dr Joe Smith from the OU’s Geography Department.

“But our politics and culture are in denial with potentially catastrophic consequences. Interdependence Day and our other events give people a chance to look at the world afresh – throwing light on new thinking that has the power to connect politics and culture with the interdependent world we’re living in.”

“This project brings people from the research, media, campaigning and arts worlds, together with informed and interested members of the public – above all OU students - to work through the ways we can change the world for the better.”

Interdependence Day, held at the Royal Geographical Society in London on July 1, was subtitled “Making new maps for an island planet” and brought together a number of different disciplines. The event featured the “Doctor’s Surgery” which gave visitors the chance to make “appointments” with leading OU academics “to diagnose and prescribe solutions for the world’s problems”. A menu of workshops and installations explored these themes through art, poetry and performance.

Particular highlights included a session Save The World In Sixty Minutes, which the BBC Radio 4’s Material World recorded for broadcast. The

Dr Smith said it was time to take a new look at the issues. “Some of the environment and development debates feel quite tired, and fragmented and actually quite private to NGOs and the policy world.” he said. “This event opens them up and looks at them from a different point of view – we also want to breathe more cultural life into the debates.

“I think Interdependence Day brings a sense of hopefulness – we know we face challenges but by bringing together the best of the arguments for change we do have the capacity to respond.”

To find out more, visit the project website and to see what happened at Interdependence Day go to the OpenLearn website for audio, film, images and articles from the events.