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Nature & Environment
Being Sustainable(ish)
Jen Gale explores the idea of leading a sustainable(ish) lifestyle.
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level 2: intermediate icon
Society, Politics & Law
Why are nonhuman animals victims of harm?
In this free course, Why are nonhuman animals victims of harm? you will investigate why nonhuman animals tend to be overlooked as victims of violence. The course explores some of the social processes and structures that victimise other animals, such as ‘livestock’ farming. The course also highlights some of the environmental harms related ...
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Nature & Environment
The unique relationship between the fig and the fig wasp
Figs and fig wasps depend on each other to reproduce and this is a fantastic example of co-evolution. Dr Philip Wheeler tells us their fascinating story in this article…
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Science, Maths & Technology
How the atmosphere sustains life on Earth
Why does the Earth’s atmosphere make it the perfect home for life? Professor Stephen Lewis explores...
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Nature & Environment
Traditional Ecological Knowledges: Learning from the past to inform the future
Many indigenous communities have used their environmental knowledge to manage their environment. This article explores Traditional Ecological Knowledges and how we can live more sustainably.
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Nature & Environment
Studying Mammals
Welcome to OpenLearn’s ‘Studying Mammals’ series. This collection of 10 free courses covers everything from the largest to the smallest of mammals, their eating habits and social interactions.
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Nature & Environment
Is the 2020 New Deal a Green New Deal?
Dr Vicky Johnson leads the economics line of study across a range of geography modules in relation to the environment at The Open University. She looks at whether the New Deal by the government to boost the economy is actually good for the environment.
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Nature & Environment
Embodied Carbon: Three reasons we should care
We all need to be reducing our carbon emissions, both individually and as a society, to help prevent worsening climate change. The science suggests that time is running out. PhD student Freya wise is investigating the impact of embodied carbon for reducing carbon from heritage buildings.
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Nature & Environment
In your garden: Birds and nesting boxes
Vicky Johnson explores why birds need nesting boxes and how you can create one to help the birds in your garden.
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Society, Politics & Law
A bird on the edge: the story of the chough and how it speaks for people
Dr Andy Morris looks at one of the less familiar members of the crow family - the chough. Is there a connection between this bird and Celtic speaking areas?
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level 2: intermediate icon
Science, Maths & Technology
Fire ecology
This course explores the role of fire as a natural disturbance in ecosystems. It introduces the concept of a fire regime and its influence on the type and distribution of organisms that occur in fire prone ecosystems. It also looks at some of the adaptations of plants that have evolved in these ecosystems and how animals either avoid or exploit ...
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level 1: introductory icon
Nature & Environment
Microbes – friend or foe?
Microbes often get a bad name. Whilst some of them do cause disease, others play vital roles in recycling nutrients in the soil to enable plants to grow, and in breaking down human waste. Without microbes, we would have no beer, no yoghurt, no coffee. That's quite impressive for something too small to see. This free course, Microbes friend or ...