The Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute (PSSRI) spans a wide range of integrated research into the cosmo-chemical, physical and bio-geochemical nature of the Solar System.
PSSRI is an intergal part of the
Centre for Earth, Planetary, Space and Astronomical Research (CEPSAR) along with members of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and the Astronomy group in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. The centre was established in 2004 to enable and encourage interdisciplinary research.
The facilities to undertake our research are housed in three principle localities sited in close proximity to each other on the main Walton Hall campus of the Open University. The Robert Hooke Building, completed in 2004 with SRIF1 funding, houses the main office accommodation and the analytical and instrument development laboratories. East Perry Technical building, completed 2003, houses the hyper velocity and environmental simulation facilities. The Ecosystems and Geobiology Laboratories Building, completed in 2006 with SRIF2 funding, houses the astro/microbiology facilities.
Details of the equipment and instrumentation in each of these areas is provided in the
Facilities section.
PSSRI has a strong history of developing new research programmes and this fuels a steady creation of
opportunities for a variety of research and research support positions within the Institute. In addition, we have an established programme of full time postgraduate research students based within the Institute, with a regular recruitment each year across all the main research areas.
As well as providing input into a wide range of teaching activities across the Science Faculty, the exploration of our Solar System is an area of scientific endeavour that is very popular with the general public and school children in particular. Many PSSRI staff are involved in a wide range of
public outreach activities.
