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Category: Arts and social sciences

Five poetry books to inspire your winter wanderings

Five poetry books to inspire your winter wanderings

Whether you love poetry or are new to it, dip into the collections suggested by Dr Wanda O’Connor, Lecturer and Staff Tutor in Creative Writing at The Open University. These books can help us explore the way we live and respond to nature, enhancing our walks and rest stops along the way. As poet Philip […]

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An OU/BBC Radio series examines how the UK’s major issues could be rethought

An OU/BBC Radio series examines how the UK’s major issues could be rethought

A new Open University/BBC radio series called Rethink examines the emerging issues in society, economics, technology and politics in relation to the UK’s standing in the world. Simon Usherwood, Professor of Politics and International Studies at the OU, is a consultant to the programme makers who show how we might approach those issues differently. The […]

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Times journalists deemed ‘legitimate military targets’ – how Russia muzzles criticism at home and abroad

Times journalists deemed ‘legitimate military targets’ – how Russia muzzles criticism at home and abroad

The Open University’s Senior lecturer in Politics and International Studies Precious Chatterje-Doody, who specialises in Russian information and disinformation, gives her take on the latest words of Russia’s former president and current deputy head of its security council, Dmitry Medvedev. It was Medvedev who declared recently that the editors of the Times newspaper in the […]

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Young woman wearing shorts and a summer top, standing in front of a waterfall.

‘With the OU, it’s possible to say yes to everything’

Megan, 26, from California, decided to take a different route into higher education to her peers, which enabled her to travel the world and work as a teacher, all whilst studying. Having just graduated from her BA (Honours) in International Studies, Megan is ready to embrace a new career in social justice. “At 18, I […]

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Women at work (Photo: Social Cut, Unsplash)

Early pregnancy endings are an overlooked workplace issue – here’s how that could change

Jo Brewis, Professor of People and Organisations, The Open University; Ilaria Boncori, University of Essex, and Julie Davies, UCL In the UK, early pregnancy endings are defined as pregnancies that end before 24 weeks’ gestation. These include miscarriages, abortions (sometimes called terminations), ectopic pregnancies where an embryo implants outside of the womb, and molar pregnancies […]

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Researchers pave the way for the toy and film industry to become more sustainable

Researchers pave the way for the toy and film industry to become more sustainable

Millions of children will delight in ripping open their presents under the tree later this month, oblivious of the carbon emissions that toys might notch up in the production and end-of-life process. While Dr Rebecca Harrison, Senior Lecturer in Film and Media at The Open University, doesn’t plan on ruining the festive moment, she recently […]

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Dr Keely Duddin and Dr Kendall Wright

The OU celebrates 10 years of policing research

Topical issues for police forces up and down the country lie at the heart of The Open University’s Centre of Policing Research and Learning (CPRL), which has just marked its 10th anniversary. Researching innovations in face recognition and improvements to help interviewing of child witnesses – through novel gaming techniques – are just two of […]

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Art for a better world

Art for a better world

A collaboration between The Open University, Kings College London and a Philippine cartoon collective called Pitik Bulag recently resulted in an art exhibition in London’s Vauxhall showing the power of art and how it might influence society and politics. It was staged at The Foundry Social Justice and Human Rights Centre in Oval way and […]

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Michael wearing graduation gown and blue glasses, looking at the camera with a background of plant leaves.

‘The OU gives you the tools to embrace who you are, and how you connect with the world’

When celebrated historian and Arts and Humanities graduate Michael, 72, received an invitation from The Open University (OU) to become an honorary graduate, he was so stunned he thought it was a prank! Now a proud Doctor of the University he regards as one of the “greatest British institutions”, Michael describes what the OU means […]

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Young woman with shoulder-length hair, dressed in graduation robes

‘An OU degree is proof you can achieve if you’re brave enough to invest the time and care into yourself’

Alex, 28, from Lincolnshire, has just graduated with a BSc (Honours) in Psychology with Counselling from The Open University (OU). Having struggled at school, she never thought she would continue studying. But now, with her degree, Alex has an exciting future ahead with plans of progressing in the care industry and starting her own business. […]

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