The Open University

Madwoman by Chelsea Bieker: a tumultuous examination of the impact of domestic abuse on motherhood

6 September 2024

Sally O’Reilly is an Honorary Associate in Creating Writing at The Open University and here she gives her review of a new book just out by US writer Chelsea Bieker on Madwoman – about the long-term effect of domestic abuse on motherhood. Clove is a young woman with a seemingly good life. She has an […]

The UK’s suspension of some arms exports to Israel was highly political – here’s how to understand it

5 September 2024

Jamie Gaskarth, Professor of Foreign Policy and International Relations at The Open University explains the politics behind the UK’s suspension of the arms export licence. The UK government has announced it is suspending 30 arms export licences to Israel for military equipment used in operations in Gaza. The rationale for this decision was “the clear […]

Zelensky: BBC programme charts his journey from comedian to president at war

3 September 2024

A new OU/BBC three-part programme charting the journey of President Zelensky from young actor and entertainer to one of the most recognisable leaders on the planet airs on Wednesday 4 September. In the first episode of The Zelensky Story, being aired at 9pm on BBC Two, we see how the former comic actor went from […]

A more varied diet would help the world’s economy as well as its health

20 August 2024

The Open University’s Professor of Environment and Development Shonil Bhagwat and Emmanuel Junior Zuza, Senior Lecturer, from the Royal Agricultural University, reveal their research on how the health and wealth of the world’s economy could change for the better with a more varied diet. More than 75% of the food consumed in the world today […]

Five books with musical backdrops if you are inspired by the BBC Proms season

15 August 2024

Are you enriched by the Proms season? Check out the five book choices of The Open University’s Dr Joanne Reardon, Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing. These tales feature the melodious golden threads of music and musical instruments as varied as the BBC Proms itself. From classical and opera to jazz and folk, these intensely human […]

Worried about someone you know becoming extreme in their political views? Academic research is here to help

14 August 2024

In the wake of rioting far-right activists causing mayhem throughout the UK, The Open University is sharing research that could help someone worried about a family member or loved one participating in similar future events. The findings can help assess if someone has extreme views and is the result of an OU psychology team currently […]

Every-day extremism – the impact of small negative comments: academic opinion

10 August 2024

An Open University academic who researches extremism ideologies plays a key role in a short film on the BBC’s Morning Live programme that features every-day extremism. It’s part of a series of six films made in partnership with The Open University and the BBC. Professor Kesi Mahendran (pictured) is a Professor of Social and Political Psychology at […]

The Open University picks up two prestigious teaching awards

8 August 2024

The Open University is celebrating after discovering it has won two prestigious teaching awards run by Advance HE – one being an individual award and the other a team success. Advance HE is a member-led charity that works in collaboration with partners across the globe to improve higher education for staff, students and society. It has […]

OU historian provides timely expertise to Channel 4’s Britain Behind Bars

1 August 2024

The Open University’s Head of History Rosalind Crone recently shared her many years of research into prison history to help make Channel 4’s Britain Behind Bars: A Secret History. The series airing on Sunday evenings at 9pm on Channel 4, and available to watch in full on My4, follows barrister and TV personality Rob Rinder’s […]

Changing your mind and the relevance of ‘confirmation bias’

10 July 2024

An Open University academic is behind a short film on the BBC’s Morning Live programme that featured a fascinating experiment before the General Election on ‘changing your mind’. Dr Jim Turner, Senior Lecturer in Forensic Psychology at the OU, is one of a team of OU academics who has inspired one of six short films […]

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