OU's Dr Andrew Morris turns the tables on Select Committee
“In the end I think that it possibly the most valuable thing I could have got from the day," he said.
It is not every day you are summoned to appear before members of a House of Commons Select Committee – and you ask the questions! Dr Andrew Morris of The Open University Department of Physical Sciences found himself seated in the Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House on Wednesday, March 14, with Coalition Government Universities and Science Minister David Willetts, ...
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 ...
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 ...
New study evidence of genetic basis of autism says OU Lecturer
Latest research suggests siblings of children with autism could develop the condition themselves, but genetics plays a bigger role says the Open University's Rosa Hoekstra.
A study by US charity Autism Speaks looked at more than 650 young children in families with at least one child with autism.
A team from the University of California, Davis, found the young children were 19 per cent more likely to develop the condition.
That is double the 3 to 10 per cent elevated risk estimate found previously.
Writing in the New Scientist, OU Lecturer in Psychology Rosa Hoekstra said this study – combined with findings from previous twin studies – gives strong evidence for a genetic basis of autism.
Rosa said the raised risk profile may also be a result of better diagnosis of autism than before, plus the broadening of defining symptoms to include more cases.
Rosa Hoekstra's comments have been revised since an earlier version of this story on Platform.
- See the online version of the New Scientist article here
Latest research suggests siblings of children with autism could develop the condition themselves, but genetics plays a bigger role says the Open University's Rosa Hoekstra. A study by US charity Autism Speaks looked at more than 650 young children in families with at least one child with autism. A team from the University of California, Davis, found the young ...
OU lecturer lands role in Hollywood blockbuster
For weeks Dr David Robinson, zoologist and Senior Lecturer in Biological Sciences, has been picking colleagues’ brains over the possibility that a drug could kick-start ape evolution to human intelligence levels.
Knowing his interest in evolutionary biology few suspected his questions had less to do with science and more to do with showbiz.
This week Dr Robinson appeared alongside Lord of the Rings and King Kong actor Andy Serkis and film director Rupert Wyatt to lend some expert opinion to the release of the Hollywood blockbuster, Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
Dr Robinson joined film people and the writer and chimpanzee expert Dr Sanjida O’Connell on a panel in front of journalists for a Q&A session following a press screening of the movie which opened in the UK on August 11.
The filmmakers hoped David’s expertise could answer questions related to the movie plot which involves experiments on treatment for Alzheimer’s in humans accidentally boosting the intelligence of laboratory apes.
A chimp called Caesar, played by Andy Serkis, leads other apes in a revolt against humans – with spectacular and terrifying consequences. This movie is the prequel to the classic Planet of the Apes where a future earth is ruled by apes.
David, co-author of the book ‘The Emergence of Humans’ and a contributor to ‘99% Ape: How Evolution Adds Up’ was called in by 20th Century Fox last month and was initially asked to do radio phone-ins in the build up to the movie’s release.
“It came out of the blue and then they asked me to do the panel,” he said.
Sworn to secrecy about the film plot and his role he asked OU colleagues in relevant disciplines about the general premise of dementia research and ape intelligence to confirm his own views and without telling them why.
“Most knew about my work in TV and did not ask further what it was for,” said the former head of the Open University Broadcasting Unit and academic adviser on BBC/OU co-productions including Coast, Life and Frozen Planet.
So, has the studio got the science right?
As far as the Alzheimer’s treatment is concerned there are some aspects which are “scientifically plausible”, he said.
“On others the movie science is more advanced than where we are now.”
In the movie a mutated virus is responsible for the apes’ accelerated intelligence rather than evolution and, said David, while “you can buy into a lot of the story” the basic premise remains science fiction.
David said he enjoyed the film, especially the science-based build-up before the climactic battle between apes and humans and he praised Andy Serkis’ role as Caesar the apes' leader.
The part uses motion capture technology as seen in Lord of the Rings and King Kong and Serkis studied the movements and behaviour of chimpanzees.
“It is a compelling performance and despite the technology used he really is acting,” he said.
For weeks Dr David Robinson, zoologist and Senior Lecturer in Biological Sciences, has been picking colleagues’ brains over the possibility that a drug could kick-start ape evolution to human intelligence levels. Knowing his interest in evolutionary biology few suspected his questions had less to do with science and more to do with showbiz. This week Dr Robinson ...
Clearing rubbish key to fighting dengue fever says OU's Dr Heller
Clearing rubbish from outside homes on the Maldives could have a dramatic effect on fighting Dengue Fever in the island nation says Open University lecturer Dr Tom Weller.
The disease, for which there is no vaccine, is carried by mosquitoes and as dengue haemorrhagic fever it can kill.
The Maldives in the Indian Ocean, is currently tackling an outbreak of Dengue Fever and eight Maldivians have died this year.
Avoiding being bitten and the eradication of mosquito breeding sites is currently the only preventative option and lakes and areas of stagnant water across the islands have been drained or treated.
But Dr Weller, Senior Lecturer in the OU’s Faculty of Health and Social Welfare, says community involvement in any eradication programme is key.
Writing in the Maldivian Minivan News Dr Weller, who has visited the islands as a medical volunteer for the Friends of Maldives NGO, said the strategy to prevent the spread of dengue fever is aimed at the mosquito itself, often relying on spraying chemicals and treating water storage.
When he was in the Maldives, Dr Heller said he noticed that outside almost every house there is a little collection of garbage.
“This includes plastic drink containers, tins, discarded tyres, containers and invariably a pile of half coconuts.
“These are ideal breeding sites for the mosquitoes that carry dengue fever. Unless each and every one of these piles is cleaned up, dengue fever will continue to be a problem throughout the Maldives in urban and rural areas.
Dr Heller said that without fully integrated community involvement, anti dengue fever strategy has failed almost everywhere in the world it has been tried.
“The mosquito will always find ways to outwit their human adversaries unless locally tailored eradication programmes are implemented,” he said.
Clearing rubbish from outside homes on the Maldives could have a dramatic effect on fighting Dengue Fever in the island nation says Open University lecturer Dr Tom Weller. The disease, for which there is no vaccine, is carried by mosquitoes and as dengue haemorrhagic fever it can kill. The Maldives in the Indian Ocean, is currently tackling an outbreak of Dengue Fever ...
Is it all in your genes? Try the quiz.
Have you ever wondered whether human traits such as depression or political values are down to our genes or influenced by our environment?
OpenLearn, the OU's free educational resources website, has created a quiz which will bust some myths about what we think is hereditary – follow the link below to try it for yourself!
Have you ever wondered whether human traits such as depression or political values are down to our genes or influenced by our environment? OpenLearn, the OU's free educational resources website, has created a quiz which will bust some myths about what we think is hereditary – follow the link below to try it for yourself! Unzip your genes. 2.8 Average: 2.8 (5 votes)
National Science and Engineering Week 2011
To celebrate National Science and Engineering Week Platform has gathered up some interesting articles, podcasts and games you might find interesting.
Have a listen to themed content on The Open University's iTunes U pages or listen to the collection on Science Communication and Public Engagement. For National Science and Engineering Week on OpenLearn, read articles or play games like the DIY catapult, discover how you can turn your kitchen into a lab.
And on Platform you can join or browse the following groups:
To celebrate National Science and Engineering Week Platform has gathered up some interesting articles, podcasts and games you might find interesting. Have a listen to themed content on The Open University's iTunes U pages or listen to the collection on Science Communication and Public Engagement. For National Science and Engineering Week on OpenLearn, read articles ...