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Category: Arts and social sciences

Ways that can help you stop feeling blue about finances in 2023

Ways that can help you stop feeling blue about finances in 2023

Jonquil Lowe is a senior lecturer in economics at the OU and specialises in personal finance. Here she provides some New Year tips for those likely to struggle in 2023 and for others who could ease their load. Stats show over a third of UK households, that’s 10.8 million, are struggling or in serious difficulties […]

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The clitoris – a brief history

The clitoris – a brief history

Helen King is an Open University Emerita Professor of classical studies – here she explores the history of the clitoris and shows just how much wasn’t known about it and how far science has come to understand it.   “What’s the difference between a bar and clitoris? Most men have no trouble finding a bar.” […]

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China’s increasing economic ties with the Gulf states are reducing the west’s sway in the Middle East

China’s increasing economic ties with the Gulf states are reducing the west’s sway in the Middle East

Dr Emilie Rutledge is an economist at The Open University who has held research and consulting positions in the Middle East for 12 years. Here she talks about the increasingly close relationship between China and the Gulf states. At the end of November 2022, UK prime minister Rishi Sunak announced that the “golden era” between […]

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Today’s winter wonderlands have roots in Jacobean and Georgian frost fairs

Today’s winter wonderlands have roots in Jacobean and Georgian frost fairs

Dr Clare Taylor is a senior lecturer in art history at the OU – here she gives an insight into the origins of winter wonderlands and tells us how they became so popular. Skating rinks, funfairs and booths serving hot food and drink spring up across many cities in December. But these festivities aren’t a […]

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Sunak’s first major foreign policy speech “worryingly divorced from reality”, says OU academic

An OU academic has criticised the Prime Minister’s foreign policy speech at London’s Guildhall delivered recently. Professor Jamie Gaskarth, Professor of foreign policy and international relations, says there was no mention of the economic crisis the UK is facing; no recognition that the aid budget has been gutted and that proposed increases in defence will […]

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Landmark exhibition on the history of Chinese communities in Britain opens at the British Library

Landmark exhibition on the history of Chinese communities in Britain opens at the British Library

A fascinating exhibition, co-curated by an OU academic, that celebrates 300 years of the history of Chinese communities living in Britain has opened at the British Library in London. Chinese and British runs until 23 April next year and was put together by Dr Alex Tickell, Senior Lecturer in English at the OU, and Dr Lucienne […]

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The good the bad and the ugly of the Autumn Statement

The good the bad and the ugly of the Autumn Statement

By Jonquil Lowe, Senior Economics lecturer, personal finance Leaks in the run-up to the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement primed us all to expect the worst, but his announcement was surprisingly upbeat. It included: Spending increases to protect public services Further help for all with energy costs, a repeat next year of targeted cost-of-living support And assurances […]

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OpenLearn marks UK Parliament Week with new ‘social change’ course

OpenLearn marks UK Parliament Week with new ‘social change’ course

If you want to know how to make political and social change then The Open University’s OpenLearn platform has the answer. In celebration of the annual UK Parliament Week, from 14-20 November, which the OU partners with, OpenLearn is highlighting a new course designed for the young and old titled: Introduction to making political and […]

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Rumour Has It… that Adele wants to take on a distance-learning degree

Rumour Has It… that Adele wants to take on a distance-learning degree

Singing superstar Adele caused a flurry of interest recently when she admitted she has dreams of studying for a distance-learning degree in English Literature when her Las Vegas residency show ends. Her comments fell in the run up to Lifelong Learning Week, which runs from today, 7 November, and is designed to celebrate and champion […]

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Academic opinion: So why is it that we like being scared?

Academic opinion: So why is it that we like being scared?

Philosophers have puzzled for years why we sit through films that make us scream in terror yet have us laughing moments later. With Hallowe’en just around the corner, Derek Matravers, Professor of Philosophy at The Open University, ponders why some people love the experience and seek out more while others hate it. So what kind […]

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