The Early Years of the OU - A Personal Account

"The first thing we Tories will do on regaining power is stop that blithering nonsense called the Open University”. Such was the view of the then Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Iain Macleod. It was typical of the hostility and sheer scepticism that greeted the proposal for the new style of university. Russell Stannard, Emeritus Professor of Physics, recounts his experiences of the early development of the OU from its beginnings as a rented house in Belgrave Square, London.

Russell Stannard is a particle physicist who has a career spanning many decades. Since 1999, he has held the position of Professor Emeritus of Physics at The Open University, but has held many prominent positions as well as a long hostory of involvement with The Open University from its earliest days. Russell joined the Open University as Reader in Physics in 1969 before becoming Professor in 1971 and Head of the Physics Department.

Tickets are essential, and available to book for free on the following Eventbrite link.

The talk starts at 12pm in the Berrill Lecture Theatre.