Gary Younge is one of the headliners at a four-day hybrid festival staged at the OU to give voice to research into real-life global challenges and social justice to aid change.
The former Guardian columnist, who is also a Professor of sociology at the University of Manchester, has made several radio and TV documentaries on subjects ranging from gay marriage to Brexit.
On 21 June he is to talk about the Black Lives Matter movement at a research festival staged by the Centre for Global Challenges and Social Justice, which is celebrating its first year of existence, and which begins on Wednesday 14 June.
keynote speakers
Gary, who was shortlisted for The Orwell prize For Journalism in January 2023, will tell of how an absence of long-standing institutions to nurture the Black Lives Matter movement has prevented it from gathering lasting momentum.
Another keynote speaker includes Youngsook Choi, who is an artist and researcher with a PhD in human geography.
She introduces the concept of grief in terms of a lack of understanding in how nature and surrounding communities suffer at the hands of environmental degradation and, in some cases, environmental breakdown that forces people to leave their homes.
Real-life problems globally
The Centre was set up to undertake valuable research into urgent real-life problems at home and abroad.
Some of the projects researchers are working on include the social effects of: the covid pandemic on certain vulnerable sectors of society; Chinese investment in Europe and climate change.
Researchers collaborate widely with policy makers, communities and artists, for example contributing to the Milton Keynes International Festival.
The centre sits within the OU’s School for Social Sciences and Global Studies and this festival brings together academics and others interested in social justice.
Umut Erel, Professor of Sociology at the OU, who is the director of the centre, said:
“Our research is driven by the desire to address important real-life challenges and to do this we work together with academics across disciplines and with professionals, policy makers, artists and activists outside academia.”
To attend the festival, being run from the Milton Keynes campus and online, sign up to see Gary via the CGCSJ page and Eventbrite.
Picture: Shutterstock
