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The first 25 years: OU Renewable Energy Education
Nature & Environment

The first 25 years: OU Renewable Energy Education

...Research Unit (EERU) at the OU was formed in 1985 by a merger of ATG (Alternative Technology Group) and ERG (Energy Research Group). EERU’s remit included wind, solar, energy in buildings, transport, biofuels, and other renewables. In my case I had been investigating wind, renewables and low energy buildings since 1972, and joined ATG in 1979, mainly researching...
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Article 5 mins
A very brief history of AI
Digital & Computing

A very brief history of AI

...research into artificial intelligence (AI). The idea of ‘thinking machines’ had long been a staple of science fiction, but serious research into the topic began in the mid-1940s, even before the invention of the digital computer. The term ‘artificial intelligence’ was created by the American mathematician John McCarthy, who in 1955 invited interested fellow...
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Article 5 mins
What makes it hard for migrants to learn the language of their new home?
Languages

What makes it hard for migrants to learn the language of their new home?

...children and adults is judged by different yardsticks, fluency will seem different for different people and different contexts. To be ‘fluent’ while shopping is different from being ‘fluent’ when undertaking university studies; to be ‘fluent’ as a supermarket check-out operator is different from being ‘fluent’ as a university student. Overall, the key...
View article What makes it hard for migrants to learn the language of their new home?
Article 5 mins
English: skills for learning Badge icon
Education & Development

English: skills for learning

...research essays. In order to do this, you will need to be able to read the most appropriate sources and use some of the theories and information they contain in your essays. You will learn to do this during the first two weeks of this course. This week you start by looking at the different texts that university students read. You will then learn to follow an active...
View course English: skills for learning
Level 1: Introductory 24 hrs
Introducing the psychology of our relationships with fictional villains
Health, Sports & Psychology

Introducing the psychology of our relationships with fictional villains

...Research Centre for supporting the development of this course, Hannah Parish for her expertise and kind help, Andrew Rix for his filming expertise, and Lin Anderson, Gordon Brown, Val McDermid, Sir Ian Rankin and Craig Robertson for their time and insights into the creative process. Except for third party materials and otherwise stated (see terms and conditions), this...
View course Introducing the psychology of our relationships with fictional villains
Level 1: Introductory 12 hrs
How do I pitch an idea to a science editor?
Science, Maths & Technology

How do I pitch an idea to a science editor?

...researching their outlet to communicating with them in a professional way. In this practical guide, we have compiled advice from six different science editors with extensive experience in commissioning pieces for a number of different outlets including Science, BBC Focus Magazine, New Scientist, the Mail and Guardian and SciDev.Net. Following the advice in this guide will...
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Article 5 mins
Social problems: Who makes them?
Society, Politics & Law

Social problems: Who makes them?

...children and divorce were being discussed as social problems, but others on the list did not attract much attention. There are two possible explanations for such differences. One is that social problems change. If in the late nineteenth century there were no homeless people, then we would not expect homelessness to have been discussed as a social problem. The second...
View course Social problems: Who makes them?
Level 2: Intermediate 20 hrs
Why challenging sexual violence takes more than just a starring role at The Oscars
Society, Politics & Law

Why challenging sexual violence takes more than just a starring role at The Oscars

...Research has demonstrated that survivors that come forward to report sexual violence struggle to be seen as credible victims of crime by police officers. Reporting sexual violence is particularly challenging for communities who are targets of state harassment, including poor and working-class black and minority ethnic, queer, transgender and non-binary groups and sex...
View article Why challenging sexual violence takes more than just a starring role at The Oscars
Article 5 mins