The Open University

Triple gold for powerful Grenfell Tower film

1 May 2020

A film about the Grenfell Tower tragedy, created by Dr David Scott, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, in conjunction with Hamlett Films, has won not one but three awards. The film was awarded gold in the educational category at the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards just announced in May 2020. It follows earlier success […]

Surge in visitors to OU’s online counselling advice course

29 April 2020

Academics at the OU have received overwhelming support for their expertise in providing assistance to counsellors needing to move their services online in the current lockdown. Counselling of all kinds, dealing with mental health, abuse, anxiety, bereavement and relationship advice among other things, has been quickly moved to digital platforms to permit continuity for clients. […]

Acting together in isolation: the “paradox” of life in the pandemic

15 April 2020

Dr Cristina Chimisso considers the constraints placed on all of us across the world to live in isolation and confinement and keep a social distance, yet the paradox philosophically of needing to act together. She draws on the writings of Hannah Arendt in discussing what it might mean today to ‘act in concert’ and the […]

Lockdown lessons from the history of solitude

9 April 2020

David Vincent, Professor of History at The Open University writes for The Conversation about this history of solitude. When the poet John Donne was struck down by a sudden infection in 1623 he immediately found himself alone – even his doctors deserted him. The experience, which only lasted a week, was intolerable. He later wrote: […]

Music in a virtual fashion is just as ‘good for the soul’

31 March 2020

As the pandemic controls mean a necessary shutdown of live music events, artists and venues around the world have been finding alternative, virtual ways to entertain and uplift their audiences. Which is hugely positive, says Dr Rosemary Golding, Senior Lecturer in Music, because music is important for our wellbeing. Residents around the world, including Italy, […]

Love in a time of Covid-19: families and couple relationships

30 March 2020

The necessary restrictions imposed during the Coronavirus pandemic are likely to put pressure on our relationships and family life. Professor Jacqui Gabb, who has researched and written extensively on relationships, discusses some of the issues and offers practical thoughts on what is important. Professor Gabb is co-author of Enduring Love. Her research centres on intimacy […]

Why misogyny and hate crime reforms need more than slick campaigns

27 March 2020

Wolf-whistling, catcalling and groping make up just some of the intimidating behaviour that women experience every day from men. But there is an attempt underway in the UK parliament that seeks to protect women from this kind of “acceptable” misogyny. On March 9, Wera Hobhouse, the MP for Bath in south-west England, presented her Hate […]

Pregnant woman, holding in hands bouquet of daisy. Image credit: Thinkstock

Perinatal anxiety: one in five women experience it – but many still suffer alone before or after childbirth

24 March 2020

Becoming a parent is usually celebrated as a happy time. But it can often be stressful and overwhelming, too. While some anxiety at this time is normal, around one in five women may experience something called perinatal anxiety during their pregnancy through the first year after giving birth. This condition is characterised by high levels […]

Alone together – Mothering Sunday in the times of COVID-19

22 March 2020

In this piece psychology academics, including The Open University’s Dr Lisa Lazard and Dr Rose Capdevila look at how despite the social isolation brought about by the coronavirus, there are positive ways that people can think about connecting on social media with their mothers and loved ones on Mothering Sunday but also some of the […]

How to spot a conspiracy theory when you see one

16 March 2020

Dr Jovan Byford, Head of Discipline & Senior Lecturer in Psychology at The Open University writes for The Conversation about spotting a conspiracy theory. Anyone who engages critically with the phenomenon of conspiracy theories soon encounters a conundrum. Actual conspiracies occur quite regularly. Political assassinations, scandals and cover-ups, terrorist attacks and a lot of everyday […]

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Category: Arts and social sciences