Research Projects

Our research has been recognized by numerous grants from funders including the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the British Academy, the Economic and Social Research Council, the European Commission, and the Leverhulme Trust. Here highlights a selection of the recent and ongoing research projects. More projects are available from our School and Discipline research pages. 

AstrobiologyOU

A £6.7m investment from Research England in OU’s Astrobiology research group has enabled transdisciplinary collaborations at the OU and FASS academics from the School of Social Sciences and Global Studies are participating in the International Development and Inclusive Innovation workstream.

Children Caring on the Move

The Children Caring on the Move (CCoM) project explores separated child migrants’ experiences of care, and caring for others, as they navigate the complexities of the immigration-welfare nexus in England. The project sits against the backdrop of rising numbers of children who have been separated from primary carers during migration and conflicting state rhetoric: protecting children on the one hand and immigration control on the other.

COVID Chronicles from the Margins

A living archive of extraordinary times. The pandemic has created new problems and opportunities for migrants as explored in COVID Chronicles from the Margins where asylum-seekers, refugees, undocumented, black and minority ethnic groups represent their experiences – of deepening inequalities and striking solidarities.

Decolonising Education for Peace in Africa (DEPA)

An AHRC-funded project which brings together academics, NGOs, and disadvantaged communities to understand and embed local community knowledges and values (including those central to peace) in teaching materials that support those most affected by conflict.

Enduring Love?

The Enduring Love? project is a mixed methods study on long-term adult couple relationships. The findings will add an important dimension to understandings of personal and family lives in contemporary society.

Inclusive Societies: Migration for Inclusive African Growth

Migration for Inclusive African Growth (MIAG) is a multi-country interdisciplinary study looking at alternative migration flows to, and within Africa to examine the contribution of migrants to more sustainable and inclusive growth on the continent.
The project is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) under the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) – Inclusive Societies Initiative.

Innovation for Cancer Care in Africa

Innovation for Cancer Care in Africa (ICCA) is an East Africa-India-UK research collaboration led by The Open University, investigating ways to link innovation in the industrial and health sectors to improve access to cancer care in Kenya and Tanzania.
The support of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) (UK) is gratefully acknowledged. ICCA is funded by the ESRC under the Global Challenges Research Fund Inclusive Societies initiative.

Moving MarketPlaces

A collaborative international project funded by the Humanities in the European Research Area. This project looks at street markets in 8 cities and towns in the UK, Netherlands, Switzerland and Spain, to investigate the mobilities of market traders and market places as public spaces of inclusion, innovation and diverse cultural practices.

Re-orienting development: The dynamics and effects of Chinese infrastructure investment in Europe (REDEFINE)

REDEFINE will examine what China’s rise means for how we understand global development and, specifically, Europe’s place in it. By better understanding how investment deals operate, REDEFINE will connect Chinese and European government and corporate actors in order to influence their strategies and practices.

Women’s Musical Leadership Online Network

This is an AHRC-funded research network which explores women’s musical leadership in the contemporary music industries and within music education and aims to interrogate the role which mentorship plays in developing women’s leadership potential.

Recently completed projects

Cultural History of Glasgow Research Network

Dreaming Romantic Europe (DREAM)

Heritage in War

Open Perinatal Anxiety and Worry Support (Open PAWS)

Picturing Climate

Reading Europe Advanced Data Investigation Tool (READ-IT)