Society’s biggest challenges explored by third annual SSGS magazine

We are living through events which will loom as large in history books as they do in today’s news cycles. The pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the climate crisis – to name a few – pose huge new challenges for society. These are the issues explored by world-leading researchers in The Open University’s new Social Sciences and Global Studies (SSGS) Magazine, a defining annual publication for the School now in its third year.  

The digital magazine, published on the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) website today, 26 September, showcases some of the most up-to-date teaching and research taking place across SSGS and delves into everything from the cost-of-living crisis to space ethics, via the science of long-term love and decolonising religious studies.  

Dan Taylor, Lecturer in Social and Political Thought, who took on the role of guest editor of the magazine for 2022-23, commented on the epic task of addressing some of the questions that keep people awake at night: 

“The social sciences have a special place in helping us understand these global challenges. People around the world are asking new questions about the present and the future. We all want to know where we are going.  

“While we cannot guarantee the answers, the new magazine explores some fresh thinking and new approaches to global challenges, and showcases the brilliant work taking place across the School by our academics, Associate Lecturers, and students.  

“As a modern research university it is our role to take complex, sometimes thorny social issues, and break them down into bite sizes. That’s what we strived to achieve with this new edition of the magazine.” 

The magazine, and past editions are available to read online.