Lancaster University Courses

Lancaster Castle and Northern English History: The View from the Stronghold

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This course takes an innovative approach to exploring history, focusing on Lancaster Castle as a microcosm of broader trends. This fascinating location provides a wealth of evidence from the remains of Roman forts to its life as a prison and visitor attraction.Our engaging educators respond to the castle and its surroundings in relation to their research interests, such as medieval Anglo-Scottish warfare, the witchcraft trials of the seventeenth century and the achievements of prison reformers.Join us to uncover this castle’s vital role in northern English history over many centuries.This course is designed for adult learners with an interest in castles,the history of the North West of England or British history in general.

Gender and Celebrity Culture: Global Media, Everyday Lives

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Understand more about gender, media and society by exploring celebrity cultureWhat makes a celebrity? Why are celebrities significant? How do celebrities connect to our construction of ourselves as gendered beings? Is ‘celebrity feminism’ good for gender equality? These are just some of the questions you’ll be answering on this course.Using celebrity case studies you will explore questions of media production, identity, visibility, activism and social and cultural change. You will also learn how feminist research has used celebrity culture to make sense of gendered, racial, classed and sexual identities.This course is for anyone interested in gender and celebrity culture, you don’t need any previous experience.

Radical Spirituality: the Early History of the Quakers

4.5

When you think of the Quakers, it might bring to mind porridge oats, or pacifism, or perhaps prison reform. But there is much much more to the Quakers than any of these things.Through this course, we will be finding out about what lies at the heart of Quaker beginnings, who its main characters were, and how in a few weeks during the summer of 1652 the Quaker movement was formed in the north of England.Explore exactly where the Quakers startedAlmost from nothing, the Quakers were to become the most successful sect of the 1650s and 1% of the population of England were to become Quakers. It was a radical spirituality which appealed to thousands of people, hungry for new ways of thinking.In this three week course, we will see how the events of 1652 unfolded and visit the key sites of Pendle Hill, Firbank Fell, and Swarthmoor Hall in the northwest of England. Each of these places marks a critical piece of the dramatic story of May and June 1652.Learn about key figures in the Quaker movementOn Pendle Hill, George Fox, who will come to lead the movement, has a vision of a ‘great people to be gathered’. He finds and recruits hundreds preaching on Firbank Fell a few weeks later. And in Ulverston he meets Margaret Fell - who, convinced of the Quaker message, becomes a co-leader of the group and allows her home, Swarthmoor Hall, to become the headquarters of the new Quaker movement. Through this course you’ll meet and get to know the major figures who contributed to the Quaker movement.Understand how the Quakers changed the face of EnglandEach week contains films, some accompanying readings of George Fox’s journal, a focus on a key text from the period to help us better understand the experience and message of early Quakerism, and some reflection exercises and quizzes.Together, we will explore the beginnings of Quakerism and this critical piece of religious history of a group who gathered around a radical and outspoken spiritual message that was to change the face of 1650s England, and has since remained a distinctive part of the religious landscape.By the end of the course, you will be able understand the beginnings of the Quaker movement and explain its key ideas and radical nature; and be able to reflect on the consequences of Quaker spirituality.There are no special requirements to take this course, but an interest in religion or history or both, might be beneficial.

Influenza: How the Flu Spreads and Evolves

5

Understand influenza past to present.Since 1918, our understanding of the influenza virus has come a long way. We can now trace how the pandemics of the last hundred years originated and model the evolution of the virus from year to year, aiding vaccine design.On this course you will explore everything from the history of influenza to modern laboratory diagnostics and vaccination. You will go inside the laboratory as well as contributing your own experiences of flu. Together we can build a greater understanding of flu, and work to help prevent its spread.Please note this course runs without facilitation.The course is suitable for anyone with a general interest in health and disease - from school students to health professionals.Derek and his team won’t be available to answer questions or respond to your comments during this course.However, we strongly encourage you to interact and support each other by posting your thoughts and comments and sharing your knowledge with other participants.We hope that you will enjoy this course.

Soils: Introducing the World Beneath Our Feet

4.7

Explore cutting-edge research into soil science with Lancaster UniversitySoils are a complex environment, teeming with life and supporting our most fundamental environmental processes.On this four-week course, you’ll learn from groundbreaking research taking place at Lancaster University to understand the basics of soil science. You’ll also have the opportunity to get your hands dirty with practical experience in assessing soil properties and conditions.This knowledge will help you understand why soil is so important and what we can do to protect our soils from the many threats they face.Explore soil properties and what lives below the groundThere are more living things in one teaspoon of soil than there are people on the planet.This course will help you discover the variety of life in the soil, including invertebrates, microbes, and fungi to understand the complex system beneath our feet.Understand the importance of soil securityWith a firm grasp of what soil is, you’ll explore the relationship between soils and the rise and fall of different civilisations.This understanding will help you delve further into the importance of soil and how we can ensure its security.Explore soil erosion, contamination, and other threatsFinally, you’ll learn about how and why soils are under threat at both a local and global scale.Exploring issues such as climate change, air pollution, and invasive species, you’ll understand why we need to be doing more to protect our soils. With this knowledge, you’ll be inspired to take action for soil protection.This course is designed for anyone interested in soils, biology, geography, and environmental science. No prior knowledge is required.We are delighted the course has been popular with many different learners aged 18 – 75.

Ebola: Symptoms, History and Origins

4.8

In December 2013, the largest outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) that the world has ever seen, began in West Africa - a region of the continent that has historically been free of it.The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated this situation as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), and the outbreak has been covered extensively in the global media.Go behind the headlines on EbolaIn this free online course, we’ll learn more about the virus that causes Ebola and the symptoms of the disease. We’ll also be tracing the current outbreak from its early cases to the most recent infections.Over two weeks, we’ll consider what can be done to stop the spread of the virus and how we can treat those infected, in terms of general care, drugs and vaccines.We’ll also learn about the genetic structure of the virus, looking at some of its proteins; where it came from and where it may reside between outbreaks; and its evolutionary history.Learn through practical sessions and discussionsThere will be practical sessions, using free software to do your own analysis on the virus, as well as discussions with guest academics: Thomas Keegan of Lancaster Medical School on aspects of epidemiology; and James Fraser of Lancaster Environment Centre on anthropology relevant to the outbreak.You’ll have the opportunity to test the knowledge you acquire about Ebola with quizzes at the end of each week.Dr Derek Gatherer has written about 2014’s Ebola outbreak on the FutureLearn blog, explaining where it came from and what it’s taught us.Photo by ©EC/ECHO.This course is designed for those who want to understand the background to Ebola. You might have a general interest in science or medicine, or be planning to study (or currently studying) these subjects at university.If you’re a healthcare professional and want to look at the science behind Ebola in more depth, join the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine’s course: Ebola in Context: Understanding Transmission, Response and Control.

Corpus Linguistics: Method, Analysis, Interpretation

4.2

Learn how to build and query corpora in this practical courseOn this course, you’ll get a practical introduction to corpus linguistics, an extremely versatile methodology of language analysis using computers.Over eight weeks, you’ll build the skills necessary to collect and analyse large digital collections of text (corpora).You’ll be introduced to a number of topics demonstrating the use of corpora in areas as diverse as discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, and language learning and teaching.This course is designed for anyone with an interest in the study of language.

Shakespeare's Language: Revealing Meanings and Exploring Myths

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Debunk and discover common myths surrounding the language of William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare is a global phenomenon, yet there is actually relatively little work specifically devoted to his language, and even less deploying the latest techniques from linguistics.On this course, you will explore Shakespeare’s language and, more generally, the language of his time.Over four weeks, you will be introduced to “big data” corpus methods (methods that use computers to explore large volumes of language data) which you can use for your own investigations, and will explore how words and meanings pattern across plays, characters, and more.Along the way, you will find out why various beliefs about Shakespeare’s life and language–like that he coined an extraordinary number of new words–are actually myths.This course will be actively facilitated between the 12th July and 8th August.This course is for anyone interested in Shakespeare, language, and corpus linguistics. This includes English or literature teachers and students.To fully engage with this course, you will need to sign up to use an external tool called CQPWeb provided by Lancaster University. Details of how to do this will be provided during the course.

William Wordsworth: Poetry, People, and Place

4.8

Delve into the collection of William Wordsworth poemsOn this four-week course, you’ll explore the writing process of one of the greatest poets in the English language, William Wordsworth, and the Lake District landscape that inspired him.Through readings and discussions focusing on Grasmere in the heart of the Lake District, you’ll discover why this location was so important for the poet.You’ll have full access to Wordsworth’s manuscripts to help you develop an understanding of how he created his poems. You’ll also have the opportunity to discuss literary issues with other learners.Unpack Wordsworth’s greatest works including “I wandered lonely as a cloud”You’ll study how Wordsworth created and revised some of his greatest works, including “I wandered lonely as a cloud” (perhaps better known as “Daffodils”) and The Prelude (his autobiographical masterpiece). You’ll draw on the magnificent collection of manuscripts held by the Wordsworth Trust in the museum next to his home.Through this exploration, you’ll discuss the ideas of home and community, and how they interconnect with creativity.Develop close reading skills from the experts at Lancaster UniversityYou’ll be guided by a literature professor from Lancaster University, focussing on a particular poem or collection each week. You’ll also look at the letters and journals of William’s sister, Dorothy, to compare their writing.This collaborative online course between Lancaster University and the Wordsworth Trust will help you develop skills of close reading as you discover a new appreciation and understanding of William Wordsworth.This course is designed for anyone interested in poetry and the process of writing.You don’t need to have read Wordsworth before as this course gives you an enjoyable introduction to his works. If you’re already familiar with his poetry, your understanding will be enhanced through this unique opportunity to study it where it was written.

Improving Palliative Care in Care Homes for Older People

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Enhance your personal or professional interest in palliative care in care homesIn most countries, the population of older people is rising. Some older people spend their final phase of life in a care home, nursing home, or long-term care facility. It’s important the staff in care homes know how to provide skilled and compassionate care.On this course, you will learn how care homes in six European countries can be improved using the research from a project called ‘PACE, Palliative Care for Older People’, funded by the European Commission. Using the PACE Steps to Success programme, you will learn how to improve palliative care in care homes for both residents and staff.This course is for staff working in care homes in either a management or caregiving role. This includes staff and volunteers that deliver services in care homes. This course is also ideal for older people and their families wanting to learn more about care homes.

Humphry Davy: Laughing Gas, Literature, and the Lamp

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##Before culture was divided into the sciences and the arts there was a chemist who was also a poet. Sir Humphry Davy (1778-1829) is one of the best known men of science of the nineteenth century: he was the first person to inhale nitrous oxide; he isolated nine chemical elements; and he invented the miners’ safety lamp known as the Davy lamp. This course will consider Davy’s life and career using manuscript sources held at the Royal Institution of Great Britain. We will read Davy’s letters, his poetry and even recreate some of his most famous experiments!This course is open to anyone with an interest in history, particularly the history of science and medicine, or with an interest in poetry. No prior knowledge of Humphry Davy’s life and times is required.

Global Food Security: Addressing the Challenge

5

In this course, we introduce the issue of food security and explore some of the different ways in which it has been described both in research and in practice and consider key concerns for the future.Our central concern is ‘How we will feed an extra two billion people by the middle of this century?’ Focussing both on UK agriculture and on food supply chains in other parts of the world, we will examine how food has shaped our environmental and social landscapes. We will see that, while everyone would agree that food security is ‘a good thing’, ideas about what it means in practice and how it should be achieved vary tremendously.Proposed developments to address global food insecurity range from technological inventions in the efficacy of large-scale agriculture through social and cultural innovations in local food production and consumption. You’ll be exploring a number of topics that address many issues including:Is food security really just about food?Should we have concerns about health, social justice, environmental degradation and cultural diversity?What is the role of technology and innovation in promoting food security?And much more.In the final week we explore the big picture by considering food systems and food chains as a whole. Using examples from some of the case studies that we’ve explored, we consider the relationships between production and consumption and question whether particular kinds of agriculture are linked to particular diets and patterns of consumption.We will explore the role of the retailer and the consumer in more detail as we ask what it means to enjoy a safe, healthy, sustainable diet. We also consider the issue of food poverty and how this fits within the food security debate.You can use the hashtag #FLfoodsecurity to join and contribute to Twitter conversations about this course.Professor Bill Davies has written a blog post about the course in which he argues that we need a new “Green Revolution” if we’re going to feed the world’s growing population.There are no requirements for this course except an interest in global food security

Palliative Care: Making it Work

5

Got a personal or professional interest in palliative care?The modern day palliative care movement aims to help people live well in their last year of life and ultimately realise a good death. However, every day more than 150,000 people die across the world and only a small minority receive palliative care services.We introduce the concept, how it can be integrated with other types of care and look at examples of this being done well. Drawing on research from EU funded project InSup-C, we learn how integrated palliative care is managed across five European countries. The International Observatory on End of Life Care coordinate the programme.This free online course is for staff working in palliative care whether as part of their general role in hospices, hospital teams, care homes, community teams, third party organisations as well as those with an interest in palliative care such as patients and family caregivers.