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Category: Science, maths, computing and technology
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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OU academic recognised in King’s Birthday Honours
Professor Rachel Hilliam, Head of the School of Mathematics and Statistics at The Open University, has been awarded an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for her services to Data Sciences. Rachel joined The Open University in 2011 and has held a number of senior roles, including Director of Teaching for Mathematics and Statistics and […]
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OU expert shows that NASA’s Bennu mission still holds surprises
During NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission to the asteroid (101955) Bennu, several unusually bright boulders were observed scattered across the asteroid’s otherwise dark surface. These rocks were unexpected, as Bennu’s predicted mineralogy is primitive and volatile-rich, indicating formation without extensive melting processes. One leading hypothesis proposed that these bright boulders originated from (4) Vesta, one of the […]
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Open University experts at heart of landmark SMILE mission launch
UK scientists, including those from The Open University (OU), are at the heart of SMILE, a pioneering mission that launched today and will transform our understanding of how Earth is protected from the Sun. The Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) — a joint mission between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Chinese […]
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