The Open University

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 […]

OU awarded £2.5 million to further success in planetary sciences

30 March 2020

The Open University (OU) has received £2.5 million from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) to fund research in planetary sciences, building on the university’s 50 years in space science. Scientists from the School of Physical Sciences have been awarded the grant to further their research in the origin and evolution of the Solar […]

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 […]

OU scientists make hand sanitiser to support frontline professionals in Milton Keynes

27 March 2020

The Open University (OU) is supporting local efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) by producing much-needed hand sanitiser for healthcare professionals in Milton Keynes. With the outbreak of COVID-19, there has been unprecedented demand for hand sanitiser from the public and across the healthcare landscape, which has caused a national shortage. Scientists from […]

Elderly mother and daughter use computer

How to use technology to combat social isolation in older people

26 March 2020

Shailey Minocha, Professor of Learning Technologies and Social Computing at The Open University, writes about how the use of technology and coping strategies can combat social isolation in people over 70. The world has changed since coronavirus (COVID-19) surfaced. Although the situation may be temporary, we realise that things will be different from now on. […]

Advice on supporting your child during self-isolation

25 March 2020

John Oates, Professor of Developmental Psychology at The Open University, writes about how to cope with children being at home during this period of self-isolation, with advice and helpful suggestions on supporting them through this difficult and confusing time. It probably came as a shock hearing that schools will be closing, on top of all […]

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 […]

Lift in visitors to OU’s one-stop-shop for free learning

23 March 2020

The Open University has seen a huge spike in visitors to its free online learning platform OpenLearn to access its health, wellbeing and educational content in a time of huge societal need. The popular online site is The Open University’s home of free learning, offering a chance for anyone to explore relevant topics, from teaching […]

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 […]

From supermarket worker to maths teacher – all thanks to the OU!

19 March 2020

Nicole Lam, who grew up in Hong Kong, had always dreamed of becoming a maths teacher, but without the right qualifications she believed there was little hope of ever achieving her ambition – until she found the OU. I never believed I could succeed in higher education and I left school at 16 after GCSE […]

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