OU Research image of the year

In late 2024, The Open University (OU) put a call out for academics and researchers to send in an image that encapsulates their research and its impact on the world. We will be sharing one of the 12 selected images each month of 2025.

The 11 academics and researchers with selected monthly images are, Dr Philip Seargeant, Dr Precious Chatterje-Doody and Dr Paul-Francois Tremlett (joint), Dr Dan Taylor, John Morgan, Claude Nsobya, Carys Jennings, Dr Angeliki Lymberopoulou, Annie Lennox, Dr Sara Calvo Martinez, Professor Natalia Szablewska, Professor Katerina Alexiou. Congratulations to all those selected!

As part of the campaign the panel selected a research image of the year which they felt not only encapsulated the individual research but the spirit of the OU.

Congratulations to Dr Margaret Ebubedike!

We asked Margaret to share more about her research and being selected as research image of the year…

"When I found out my image had been selected as OU Research image of the month, I felt so pleased to have the opportunity to highlight my research and the importance of working collaboratively on issues of injustice. We so rarely get the chance to share the impacts of our work and the stories behind it. So, I would like to tell you a bit more about the image and the people behind it.

"The image shows a young girl sitting on a dusty path, studying outside her small home in a village in northeast Nigeria. What struck me most with this image was her expression of curiosity and resilience. Continuing to strive for her education whilst living in a situation where girls are being abducted for attending school by Boko Haram. The image showcases the untold resilience of agency of children, particularly girls in conflict affected regions.

"The girl who took the image was around 12 years old and when she was asked about the image she made a powerful statement, which sums up why I do the research I do.

The story I want to tell is not the type where we sit and talk about how Boko Haram has destroyed our community and driven us out of our homes […] I want to tell a powerful story that brings another angle to the truth some people do not know about. […] Many girls have been kidnapped. Their crime was wanting education. Families are afraid of sending their daughters to school. Here girls are facing so many difficulties. My story is not to show how they have destroyed but how we have refused to be broken. My story is to show how we rise above our attackers to show strength even in difficulties. I want to tell the story of a child’s resilience, a girl’s strength, and determination in the middle of a crisis.

"My doctoral research focused on women in leadership. During data gathering, I was interviewing one of my participants, a very senior woman leader in northeast Nigeria. What she said during the interview struck me and would later shape my current research interest. She expressed her concern about the future of girls in the Lake Chad region. She was worried that girls would no longer have the opportunities to get education and thrive due to the Boko Haram attacks. She pleaded that we should explore ways to support these girls continue education despite the situation of armed conflict. For me, this image speaks so deeply of how a girl, and her voice must be seen as equal partners in addressing the crisis. And this is where I believe research can have the greatest impact. It not only sparks a global conversation, shapes policies and inspires action but it can be utilised to cocreate suitable and successful interventions when we listen, understand, and take onboard the lived experiences of those involved. It calls to action policymakers, educators, NGO, and others to empower communities to lead the way towards a systematic change.

"The Open University’s mission has always sought to oppose injustice and empower people – and this research focuses on an empowerment rather than a deficit approach. It sees people, girls, who refuse to be defined by the struggles around her but instead show resilience and tenacity to access her right to education.

"This also aligns with the Open Societal Challenge platform at the OU which prioritises empowering communities and acknowledging local agency in tackling inequalities. Research from a deficit lens often perpetuates a view of vulnerable communities as only victims. It is critical that we recognise the voices and experiences of these communities when designing interventions. That's exactly what this whole research project on the transformative power of humanitarian education does – and this image embodies that.

"Being chosen as OU Research image of the month is incredibly meaningful to me. It’s not just recognition of my work but also of the communities it supports. Most importantly, it’s a reminder of why we do what we do. That little girl’s words keep me grounded and motivated. I am most excited to tell the girl who took the image that we continue to amplify her voice. This work is about hope, opportunity, and building a brighter future for everyone."