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Category: Science, maths, computing and technology
Open University scientist selected for leading role in Mars exploration
James Holmes, an atmospheric scientist at The Open University (OU), has been selected as an Interdisciplinary scientist (IDS) for the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) team. An IDS holds equivalent status to an instrument lead except working across all instruments on the spacecraft. James’s appointment to this role was announced as TGO celebrated 10 years […]
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JANUS: the camera on the JUICE mission to Jupiter that just keeps coming back for more
Space researchers from the Open University Atmospheric Research and Space Exploration group, led by Prof. Manish Patel, and the Centre for Electronic Imaging, have once again helped take images of the Earth and Moon from space as the JUICE spacecraft makes it epic voyage to Jupiter. The European Space Agency JUICE mission to Jupiter carries […]
Vaccines have been so successful that some people have forgotten why we need them
Three measles-related deaths have been reported in England in 2026. One child died from an acute infection, another from the long-term effects of measles, and an adult with an underlying immune condition also died, says Dr Dan Stratton, Lecturer in Biomedical Health Science at The Open University. Yet misconceptions about vaccination persist, including the belief […]
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Open University celebrates Beagle 2 legacy and looks to the future of space research
The Open University celebrated its pioneering contribution to space exploration today (7 October 2026) with the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the Beagle 2 mission alongside a showcase of the University’s current and future space research. Led by the late Professor Colin Pillinger and a team including scientists and engineers at The Open University, Beagle […]
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New research boosts prospects for finding life in the icy plumes of Saturn’s moon Enceladus
How likely are we to find extra terrestrial life in our Solar System? A study published in Science Advances involving OU academics shows that potential traces of life in the hidden ocean of Saturn’s moon Enceladus may be easier to detect than previously thought. The research demonstrates that components of the ocean water become separated from […]
The Open University and Cisco mark 20 years of partnership advancing digital skills
Two decades of collaboration have helped thousands of learners develop technology skills, widened participation in digital education and created new opportunities for educators and communities across the UK. The Open University (OU) and Cisco are marking 20 years of partnership, celebrating two decades of collaboration to expand access to digital skills and help learners develop […]
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OU experts lead geological mapping of Mercury
Experts from The Open University (OU) have led geological mapping pole to pole across Mercury, culminating in the publication of the north pole ‘quadrangle’ map. A total of 15 mapping quadrangles have been defined covering the whole of Mercury, several of which were produced by current and former OU PhD students. OU maps include both […]
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Study of climate–carbon behaviour through the ages gives vital lessons on the earth’s capacity when under threat
A detailed study of past changes in the Earth’s climate-carbon system – dating back 539 million years – shows the close links between the vulnerability of life on the planet and the long-term shifts it experiences. The multi-disciplinary paper, led by The Open University (OU) and published in the journal Nature Communications and available to […]
OU lit the spark for professor’s lifetime achievement in chemistry research
Picking up a coveted Doctor of Science – a qualification that is only awarded by The Open University (OU) for exceptional scientific contributions – seems a long way from Professor Simon Hall’s memories of crashing out of sixth form with dreams of becoming a rock star. The University of Bristol’s Professor of Chemistry recalls being […]
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Open University mathematics professor receives society’s top award
The Open University (OU) is delighted to announce that its Professor of Pure Mathematics, Gwyneth Stallard OBE, has been awarded the Senior Anne Bennett Prize by the London Mathematical Society (LMS). The award is for her unwavering promotion of and support for women in mathematics, and for her important contributions to complex dynamics. The Senior […]
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