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level 3: advanced icon
Nature & Environment
Effects of pollutants on the aquatic environment
Effects of pollutants on the aquatic environment is a free course. It begins with an introduction to water and goes on to briefly outline the major sources of water pollution (these being sewage works, manufacturing and industrial plants, the farming and animal husbandry sectors, landfill sites and urban surface water run-off). It considers ...
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level 2: intermediate icon
Nature & Environment
Climate change
Climate change is a key issue on today's social and political agenda. This free course explores the basic science that underpins climate change and global warming.
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Society, Politics & Law
Climate change's causes, effects and geographies of responsibility
The idea of climate change is increasingly well-known, but it can be hard to understand its effects in human terms. Professor David Humphreys describes how he experienced Climate Change first hand when working in Bangladesh for The Open University.
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Science, Maths & Technology
Golden Globe Ocean Race: The landscape above and below the sea
Antoine’s epic journey is taking him over vast mountain ranges and valleys hidden beneath the ocean and past lonely island outposts (see below). In this topic, we will look at what they are and how some of them are formed.
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Society, Politics & Law
How is Milton Keynes a ‘smart’ city?
What is a ‘smart city’, and how is smart rooted into Milton Keynes’ past and future?
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level 1: introductory icon
Nature & Environment
Life in the Palaeozoic
Fossils are a glimpse into the distant past and fascinate young and old alike. This free course, Life in the Palaeozoic, will introduce you to the explosion of evolution that took place during the Palaeozoic era. You will look at the many different types of creatures that existed at that time and how they managed to evolve to exist on land.
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level 2: intermediate icon
Nature & Environment
Animals at the extremes: the desert environment
Animal life has adapted to survive in the most unlikely and inhospitable habitats. This free course, Animals at the extremes: the desert environment, looks at the surprisingly diverse desert climates throughout the world and mammals, birds, lizards and amphibians that survive there. It splits these animals into three groups according to their ...
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Nature & Environment
Plastic planet
The discovery of plastic unleashed humanity's creativity, as we embraced the magic of this versatile product. But it was at a cost - has the material which made the 21st Century brought about an environmental catastrophe?
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Nature & Environment
Can we live harmoniously with wildlife?
In light of a man-eating tiger being killed in The Nilgiris District, India, we need to address human-animal and human-human conflict in our forests.
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Nature & Environment
What does climate change mean for Pakistan?
Pakistan will have to prepare for ever rising temperatures - and the threats that brings with it.
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Society, Politics & Law
My Interest in Cities is Really an Interest in the Way People Live
How do cities bring places, relationships and networks together, and what sorts of politics do they create?
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Science, Maths & Technology
Golden Globe Ocean Race: The power of the wind at sea and man’s use of this power over time
Antoine’s epic journey will take him to some of the roughest seas on his route at 40oS. Why is it so rough there?