The Open University

New research says Britons more likely to help refugees from Ukraine rather than those from Syria or Somalia

18 September 2023

An Open University academic’s report suggests Ukrainians are considered less of a threat That Somalis and Syrians are seen as ‘culturally distant’ And that the results could also be due to skin colour and religious differences Britons are much more likely to help Ukrainian refugees over others from Syria or Somalia says a research project […]

Let the force be with you… environmentally

13 September 2023

New research from The Open University aims to promote better sustainability among makers of the film industry’s props, costume and the replica market Academics have developed a calculator tool so people in the industry can make carbon-emission comparisons about which materials and methods are the most sustainable to use Case study showed a Star Wars […]

New report: raw deal for caregivers in Gateshead needs reform

8 September 2023

A new report published by The Open University has highlighted how the weekly Carers Allowance of £76.75 is worth just 77p per hour to a carer looking after a loved one in Gateshead for up to 100 hours a week. It reveals a list of recommendations for decision makers to ensure unpaid carers are not […]

OU academic says being wrapped again in the fabric of the Horizon Project is great news but it won’t be all warm and cosy… yet

8 September 2023

Professor in Politics and International Studies Simon Usherwood welcomes the deal but says it’s definitely not the same one we had before British researchers might find it hard to play the same leading role they’re used to since their positions in developing new projects have been filled by others Experts here do not enjoy the […]

New analysis suggests Trump’s January 6th speech did “enable violence” at Capitol Hill

24 August 2023

New academic research led by The Open University and the University of St Andrews suggests Donald Trump’s January 6th speech served as a ‘warrant’ for the violence that occurred afterwards when crowds stormed the Capitol building. Psychologists in the research team, including academics from Canterbury Christ Church University and The University of Queensland in Australia, […]

Could ‘Bidenomics’ be the white knight to save UK Plc?

17 August 2023

Our economy is broken in many places and it’s not behaving the way it should but it’s not beyond repair – we need more investment, in traditional industries as well as new tech, and a British ‘Bidenomics’ could be the answer. That’s the verdict of Alan Shipman, Senior Lecturer in economics at The Open University, […]

Victorian science-fiction writer’s indelible link with NASA and New Year’s Eve

3 August 2023

From New Year’s Eve to NASA rockets the ‘countdown’ is common language today but it was an overlooked late 19th Century science fiction writer who first introduced it. Academic Adam Baldwin from The Open University (OU) says the ‘countdown’ is normally credited to film maker Fritz Lang in his 1926 film The Girl in the […]

New OU / BBC programme explores how we can make our cars and heating greener

21 July 2023

Tuesday 25th July sees the first of two brand new programmes from The Open University (OU) and BBC titled What They Really Mean For You, beginning on BBC One at 20:00, presented by BBC’s Climate Editor, Justin Rowlatt. The first episode, Electric Cars: What They Really Mean For You, investigates people’s frustrations with electric cars […]

Helping savers could be the key to bursting the inflationary bubble

11 July 2023

For four decades Jonquil Lowe, Senior Lecturer in Economics and Personal Finance at The Open University, has scrutinised the performance of our economy under successive governments. Now she sets out with crystal-clear clarity, that if the banks help savers we all might benefit. We’re in a monetary quagmire. Mortgage holders are already struggling with higher […]

Celia shaking hands on stage while crossing the stage at the Poole graduation ceremony.

‘I loved the OU so much I came back 50 years later’

4 July 2023

Celia, 77 from Bristol returned to study with The Open University (OU) after nearly 50 years, as a way of keeping her mind active during retirement. No matter your age, Celia’s story shows that it’s never too late to learn. Pioneer student Celia was part of the first cohort of students to study with the […]

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Category: Arts and social sciences