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

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

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 […]

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

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

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 […]

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

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

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 […]

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

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

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 […]

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

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

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 […]

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Three steps to talking to a loved one at risk of being radicalised into rioting

Three steps to talking to a loved one at risk of being radicalised into rioting

Psychologist and Post-Doctorial Researcher Dr Anthony English says there are ways you can identify if someone is at risk of being radicalised into rioting and three steps you can take that may help them think again. For some, the shocking scenes of violence which have erupted across dozens of locations in England and Northern Ireland […]

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How a person’s accent might influence court cases

How a person’s accent might influence court cases

An Open University academic has conducted an intriguing test for the BBC’s Morning Live programme on how the accents of people in a courtroom might influence judges and juries. Lara Frumkin is a Professor of Psychology at the OU and conducted the test in a short film, one of six OU/BBC films made in co-production […]

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

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

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 […]

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

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

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 […]

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Thirteen brain-health ‘hacks’ to increase happiness

Thirteen brain-health ‘hacks’ to increase happiness

An Open University academic has provided 13 brain-health hacks to help us improve our happiness and has revealed all in a short film from a series of specials produced in partnership with the BBC for the This Morning Live show on BBC One. Dr Sinead Eccles is a Staff Tutor in Psychology at the OU […]

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