I thought us health sciences students could do with our own group, especially now we have a new bachelor's degree specification (B71). The health sciences forum of the studying science website is somewhat deserted!
This group is for:
- Discussing topics relating to health and medicine.
- Discussing the OU's health sciences related modules and qualifications. (TMA answers etc should NOT be discussed in accordance with OU regulations)
- Supporting each other.
We also have a Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OUhealthsciences/
I imagine that most students likely to want to join this group will be studying health sciences (or something along those lines), but anyone with an interest is welcome to join. 
Regards, Sarah
P.S. I've never been admin for a group on here before, so you might have to be patient with me!
‘Children, families and neighbourhoods: new directions in policy and research,’ 14 June workshop
The workshop, which is focused on service provision for families in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, will explore formal and informal sources of support and how neighbourhoods are experienced by parents using ethnographic and visual methods.
The aim is to bring together practitioners and policy people with researchers to discuss current issues in service provision and hear about the use of different methods in exploring community contexts with families.
Children, families and neighbourhoods: new directions in policy and research
Convenors: Dr Eleanor Jupp and Dr Helen Lomax
This event will bring together practitioners, researchers and policy makers with an interest in children, families, and parenting in disadvantaged communities and current issues around policy and service provision. It forms part of the development of new Open University research projects on families and parenting in community contexts.
Aims of the workshop:
- To explore current issues in this area including shifting models and resources for interventions with families; and the needs of families in neighbourhoods in the current economic climate
- To discuss some recent innovative research on parenting, children and families in neighbourhood contexts and how insights from this might be translated into practical resources for practitioners
The event will involve two panels of short presentations followed by group discussions. We will be inviting delegates from councils, children’s services and centres as well as researchers and policy makers.
Attendance is free and funding is available for expenses for delegates from policy and practice backgrounds.
1030 Welcome and Introduction: Dr Eleanor Jupp - Health and Social Care, the OU
1045 - 1200 Panel One: Current and future issues for neighbourhood services for children and families. Speakers to include:
- Naomi Eisenstadt (University of Oxford, former national director of Sure Start)
- Professor Brid Featherstone (Health and Social Care, the Open University)
- Amanda Powell (Head of the Leys Children’s Centre, Oxford)
1200 - 13.15 Panel Two: Understanding neighbourhoods for children and families: new methods and approaches from research. Chair: Dr Janet Fink (Social Policy, the OU). Speakers to include:
- Dr Helen Lomax (Health and Social Care, the OU ) and Miranda Sharp (Visual artist)
- Catherine Pratt (Project Director, The Knee High Project, The Design Council)
- Bart Gamber (Director of Programmes, Vital Signs project, MK Community Foundation)
13.15 - 1400 Lunch
For further information or to book a place please email Eleanor.jupp@open.ac.uk
A workshop on ‘Children, families and neighbourhoods: new directions in policy and research’ will be held at the OU on Friday 14 June. The workshop, which is focused on service provision for families in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, will explore formal and informal sources of support and how neighbourhoods are experienced by parents using ethnographic and visual ...
Sports student prepares for seven days of pain
More information
- BSc Honours Sport, Fitness and Coaching
- Foundation degree in Sport and Fitness
- Introduction to sport, fitness and management E112
Self-confessed fitness fanatic Danny Curtis has taken on a challenge of literally staggering proportions. Danny, who’s working towards an OU degree in Sport Fitness and Coaching, is planning to run more than 60 miles competing in four races to raise money for his local hospice – all within a single week. His challenge begins with the Tough Mudder, a ...
Get online and get outdoors
Despite online technology being blamed as one of the main reasons children choose to stay indoors, the OU’s iSpot helps you learn how to identify wildlife – but to use it you have to go outside and find some!
The idea is simple: take a photo with your phone or camera and upload it to iSpot via the website or the free iSpot app for Android. If you are unsure of the species someone will help you identify it and you’ll be able to discover more about it before heading back out to watch it or look for your next species.
Identification comes from the enthusiastic iSpot community who are usually able to name a species within an hour, sometimes within minutes!
The OU’s Martin Harvey and Professor Jonathan Silvertown work on the iSpot project and see the link between real-world natural history and online interaction as getting the best of both worlds.
Discover more:
- Visit the iSpot website
- Find iSpot on openlearn
- The National Trust and the Outdoor Nation campaign
Posted 25 march 2013
The National Trust is behind the Outdoor Nation campaign which aims to encourage us all, and youngsters in particular, to spend more time outside. Despite online technology being blamed as one of the main reasons children choose to stay indoors, the OU’s iSpot helps you learn how to identify wildlife – but to use it you have to go outside and find some! The idea is ...
SDK125 anyone?
Hey,
I'm due to start an Open Degree in Feb but need to confirm module choices this weekend - who's done this one? Any tips, is it interesting or one to avoid?
I originally wanted to start with the intro to law one but looking at it again and I think I want to change it, I'm not following the Health Sciences degree completely as there was a couple of modules I wanted to substitute but will be following as close as poss
If I do this I think my only option for the other 30 credits is an intro to a language
Any advice would be fab
Thanks
Amy
Hey, I'm due to start an Open Degree in Feb but need to confirm module choices this weekend - who's done this one? Any tips, is it interesting or one to avoid? I originally wanted to start with the intro to law one but looking at it again and I think I want to change it, I'm not following the Health Sciences degree completely as there was a couple of modules I wanted to substitute but ...
Help!!!!
Any one in the the north-west area starting health sciences in october? buddy required!!! x
Any one in the the north-west area starting health sciences in october? buddy required!!! x
What have OU Science graduates gone on to do?
Hello,
I'm starting BSc (Hons) Natural Sciences, in October. I'm doing the Biology and Health Sciences pathway.
I was wondering what past OU science graduates have gone on to do. Are there many who have gone on to work as scientists?
Thanks
James
Hello, I'm starting BSc (Hons) Natural Sciences, in October. I'm doing the Biology and Health Sciences pathway. I was wondering what past OU science graduates have gone on to do. Are there many who have gone on to work as scientists? Thanks James
Health Sciences October 2012 Newbie!!
Hello Everyone!
I'm enrolled to start a degree in Health Sciences in October. I was just enquiring as to whether there are any other newbies for this course, as it would be good to know people to share discussions and maybe set up a study group with? Also, any existing students who could give me a few tips on anything that may be worthwhile reading up on or any other hints and tips that you can provide me with would be very much appreciated :) !
Thanks a lot!
Kimberleigh
Hello Everyone! I'm enrolled to start a degree in Health Sciences in October. I was just enquiring as to whether there are any other newbies for this course, as it would be good to know people to share discussions and maybe set up a study group with? Also, any existing students who could give me a few tips on anything that may be worthwhile reading up on or any other hints and tips that ...
Research into damage and repair of the nervous system
James Phillips, Lecturer in Health Sciences
Leads a research group using tissue engineering principles to understand damage and repair in peripheral nerves and the spinal cord. This includes developing advanced 3D culture systems for neuroscience research and engineering implantable nervous system repair conduits for regenerative medicine.
James discusses some of the work his group have been conducting in modelling nervous system damage.
Melanie Georgiou, 3rd year PhD student working with James
Discusses her work on repairing peripheral nerves using engineered neural tissue.
Find out more:
- About James or Mel and the rest of the research group
- Teaching and research in Life Health and Chemical Sciences
- Biomedical Research at the OU
Research is currently taking place at the OU towards understanding more about damage repair in peripheral nerves and the spinal chord. Platform caught up with James Phillips and Melanie Georgiou to find out more. James Phillips, Lecturer in Health Sciences Leads a research group using tissue engineering principles to understand damage and repair in peripheral ...
Applications open for research studentships (MPhil/PhD) in the Faculty of Health and Social Care
The Faculty of Health and Social Care at The Open University is seeking high-quality applications for funded full time studentships and self funded part time students.
The Faculty’s research focuses on the following areas: ageing and later life; reproductive and sexual health; death and dying; living with a disability and/or long term condition; children and young people; parenting and families. Our research draws on various methodologies and forms of analysis and much is based on multidisciplinary work across the social sciences, in particular drawing on medical sociology, critical psychology, anthropology and other critical, applied social sciences.
The Faculty has a lively post-graduate student community undertaking wide-ranging research both in the UK and internationally.
Studentships commence from autumn 2012. Applicants must normally reside in the UK for the duration of the studentship.
For detailed information, and to apply online, visit the website or contact the Faculty Research Office on 01908 858373 or hsc-research-enquiries@open.ac.uk. The closing date is 12 noon on 26 April. Interviews to be held in June.
The Faculty of Health and Social Care at The Open University is seeking high-quality applications for funded full time studentships and self funded part time students. The Faculty’s research focuses on the following areas: ageing and later life; reproductive and sexual health; death and dying; living with a disability and/or long term condition; children and young people; parenting and ...
3D cell model offers new approach to spinal cord injury research
Open University researchers have developed a three-dimensional (3D) model of human tissue that could one day help us to treat spinal cord injuries.
The 3D cell culture system mimics the way injured and non-injured cells interact following damage to the spinal cord.
The research is led by Open University lecturer in health sciences, Dr James Phillips.
A research paper entitled Engineering an integrated cellular interface in 3-dimensional hydrogel cultures permits monitoring of reciprocal astrocyte and neuronal responses on the OU's research database and is available online and will be published in the journal Tissue Engineering in August.
Further information
Open University researchers have developed a three-dimensional (3D) model of human tissue that could one day help us to treat spinal cord injuries. The 3D cell culture system mimics the way injured and non-injured cells interact following damage to the spinal cord. Scientists hope to discover why certain cells called astrocytes (pictured), which are normally beneficial, ...
OU gets £1 million to establish online centre for practical science teaching
The Wolfson OpenScience Laboratory will be at the cutting edge of new techniques in online education.
It will be a gateway to a range of scientific experiments and observations, many developed by Open University scientists.
Although the centre will operate entirely online, users will access data from real physical instruments and equipment enabling them to carry out authentic and rigorous science investigations.
Professor Steve Swithenby, Science Director of eSTEeM at the OU said: “Practical science has been an under-developed area of online education – it is cost-effective and is a bold way of making the world of science accessible to many more people, particularly those in the least developed countries.”
Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation, said: “The Open University is among the international pioneers in this field and we look forward to the Wolfson OpenScience Laboratory making practical science available to many more students across the globe."
Read the full story here.
The Open University is to lead a global centre for practical science teaching, with the help of a £1 million grant from the Wolfson Foundation. The Wolfson OpenScience Laboratory will be at the cutting edge of new techniques in online education. It will be a gateway to a range of scientific experiments and observations, many developed by Open University ...
New arthritis course
Inflammatory Arthritis – a multidisciplinary approach has been funded by a curriculum development grant from the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, and has been developed with the direction and advice of specialist rheumatology nurses.
The course aims to provide healthcare professionals with specialist knowledge to improve services for patients with inflammatory arthritis, and is also relevant to patients and carers who want to have a deeper understanding of their condition and its treatments.
It aims to support a person-centred and multidisciplinary approach to caring for people with this long-term condition.
It will give students knowledge of how to identify and monitor inflammatory arthritis using history, disease scores and blood tests, and ensures they are aware of the standards and guidelines that govern the care of patients with the condition.
The course is aimed at a wide range of health and social care professionals including nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, health assistants, community pharmacists, GPs, junior doctors, radiologists, podiatrists, social workers and alternative therapy practitioners.
It is delivered online over a period of up to 18 months, with flexible modules that amount to 50 hours of learning.
A self-study course aimed at improving the care of patients with inflammatory arthritis is being launched by The Open University in February 2012. Inflammatory Arthritis – a multidisciplinary approach has been funded by a curriculum development grant from the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, and has been developed with the direction and advice of specialist rheumatology ...
New treatment expected to improve prognosis for some cancer sufferers
A drug treatment which dramatically boosts the effectiveness of laser cancer treatment has been developed by Open University researchers working with the National Medical Laser Centre.
Laser light combined with a photosensitizer drug is widely used to attack skin, breast and neck cancer cells, a treament known as photodynamic therapy (PDT). But many cancer cells contain antioxidants which partially protect them against PDT.
The research team, led by Dr Jon Golding, Lecturer in Health Sciences at The Open University, used antioxidant inhibitor drugs to overcome the antioxidant defences of breast cancer cells, resulting in a significantly improved cell kill.
"Because we are able to target cancerous cells more effectively, we expect an improved prognosis for cancer suffers," he said. "We selected antioxidant inhibitor drugs that are already clinically licensed, so it should speed up the adoption of these important findings into clinical practice."
Their study, Antioxidant Inhibitors Potentiate the Cytotoxicity of Photodynamic Therapy, is published in the PDT journal, Photochemistry and Photobiology.
A drug treatment which dramatically boosts the effectiveness of laser cancer treatment has been developed by Open University researchers working with the National Medical Laser Centre. Laser light combined with a photosensitizer drug is widely used to attack skin, breast and neck cancer cells, a treament known as photodynamic therapy (PDT). But many cancer cells contain antioxidants which ...
Nerve research could get limbs moving
The study, published in the Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System (JPNS), will be of interest to those working to repair damaged nerves and to physiotherapists treating nerve-related problems.
It suggests that the structure of fibres of collagen, the protein "glue" which connects and supports bodily tissues, could play a key role in how nerves are able to bend and stretch around moving joints.
Dr James Phillips, Lecturer in Health Sciences at The Open University and Principal Investigator on the research project, said: “We’ve been investigating how peripheral nerves are adapted to cope with the bending and stretching to which they are subjected during normal movement.
"If this ability is compromised, for example after nerve injury, it can lead to pain, fibrosis and loss of function. Little is known about how the structure of nerves allows them to bend and stretch normally.
"Our research shows localised variation in collagen in the areas near joints that could explain how the nerves cope with limb movement.”
OU PhD student Sarah Mason conducted the study published in JPNS, which is part of a programme of work that aims to understand nerve biomechanics in order to improve surgical nerve repair.
Previous research by Dr Phillips’ group showed that nerves are more compliant at joints compared to other parts of the limbs. In particular, in the median nerve, which controls hand function, there is an area of increased compliance at the elbow joint.
The new study reported that median nerves at joint regions showed a pattern of smaller diameter collagen fibrils [small fibres] than non-joint regions. Increased nerve compliance at joints may therefore be due to the presence of collagen fibrils with smaller diameters and increased density, compared to those in stiffer non-joint regions.
The study indicated that collagen fibril diameter may be a key feature contributing to the mechanical function of nerves, which provides new insight into how these nerves accommodate localised strain during limb movement.
Read the team's research paper at Open University Research Online
Research by a team at The Open University has shed new light on how peripheral nerves (nerves outside the brain and spinal chord) can be flexible to accommodate limb movement. The study, published in the Journal of the Peripheral Nervous System (JPNS), will be of interest to those working to repair damaged nerves and to physiotherapists treating nerve-related ...
Inspirational speakers for schools - for free!
Speakers for Schools are offering state schools the opportunity to access a fantastic network of speakers who are willing to give inspirational talks to young people for free.
These speakers have kindly agreed to give at least one talk per annum in a state school and will address the big subjects: technological, scientific, political, economic, historical, cultural, artistic, ecological and ethical. They are people who will be able to explain the latest developments in areas such as business, cosmology, biology, medicine, linguistics, history, engineering, inter alia.
Speakers include: Honorary graduates Baroness Tessa Blackstone, Sir Peter Bonfield, Sir Christopher Bland, Sir William Castell, Evan Davis, Sir Richard Lambert and Martha Lane Fox. As well as David Cameron, Nick Clegg, Lord Sebastian Coe and other well know faces.
For further information or to apply for a speaker, visit the Speaker4schools website: http://www.speakers4schools.org/
Speakers for Schools are offering state schools the opportunity to access a fantastic network of speakers who are willing to give inspirational talks to young people for free. These speakers have kindly agreed to give at least one talk per annum in a state school and will address the big subjects: technological, scientific, political, economic, historical, ...
This is me - Who are you ? :)
Hi,
I'm Kate,
About to start module SDK125 (Introduction to Health Sciences) in October 2011. I'm also registered to begin MST121 (Using Mathematics) in January 2012.
I have previously studied with the OU with varing degrees of success and commitment.
However I am now determined that I'm going to persevere - no matter what - and really make a go of it, giving my studies my best shot !
I am originally from Leicestershire (Uk) but have been living in Wakefield, West Yorkshire for 18 years now.
Looking forward to getting to know people.
Kate
xx
Hi, I'm Kate, About to start module SDK125 (Introduction to Health Sciences) in October 2011. I'm also registered to begin MST121 (Using Mathematics) in January 2012. I have previously studied with the OU with varing degrees of success and commitment. However I am now determined that I'm going to persevere - no matter what - and really make a go of it, giving my studies my best shot ! I am ...
Anyone signed up for the new BSc in Health Sciences?
Hi
I started studying with the OU at the beginning of the year (I've completed S154, S171 ,SK183, SK185 and SK195 so far) and I've now linked all my credits towards the new BSc in Health Sciences.
I love nearly all the sciences, but biology has always been my best topic, and I have a lot of health problems myself so I find it easier to relate to health sciences side of things. Additionally, if I'm ever well enough for employment I'd also like to go into some sort of vocational health professional training, so this might help me achieve that.
I was going to be following the biology and health science route of the natural sciences degree, but I really wanted to do a degree in health science or biomedical science so I was somewhat delighted when the new health science degree was announced.
I'm starting S104 (Exploring Science) and SDK125 (Introducing Health Sciences) in October. S104 can't count towards the new health sciences specification, but I'd already signed up for and I decided I'd stick with it so I can get an additional Cert. HE in Natural Sciences.
So, has anyone here decided to go for the new degree? What are your reasons for choosing it (or not choosing it) etc?
Regards, Sarah
Hi I started studying with the OU at the beginning of the year (I've completed S154, S171 ,SK183, SK185 and SK195 so far) and I've now linked all my credits towards the new BSc in Health Sciences. I love nearly all the sciences, but biology has always been my best topic, and I have a lot of health problems myself so I find it easier to relate to health sciences side of things. ...
