The Open University

OU contributes to major Government ‘CreaTech’ report

13 February 2025

The Open University (OU) has contributed to a major new government report, The Coronation Challenge: CreaTech Report, by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and the Royal Anniversary Trust. The Report explores how the combination of creativity and emerging technologies, known as CreaTech, can drive innovation, create jobs, and position the UK […]

OU researchers help to solve major planetary science mystery

12 February 2025

A researcher at The Open University (OU) has made strides in cracking an ongoing space unknown by discovering fragments of planets thought to be long gone. A lack of olivine (a magnesium iron silicate mineral that is a major component of the Earth’s upper mantle) dominated material in the asteroid belt and in our recorded […]

Euclid mission discovers a stunning ‘Einstein ring’

10 February 2025

The European Space Agency’s (ESA) dark universe detective, Euclid, has discovered a stunning ‘Einstein ring’, with help from astronomy experts at The Open University (OU). Euclid blasted off on its six-year mission to explore the dark Universe on 1 July 2023. Before the spacecraft could begin its survey, the team of scientists and engineers on […]

Mystery mounds reveal the history of water on Mars: study discovers erosion the size of the UK

20 January 2025

A team led by a researcher at London’s Natural History Museum and The Open University (OU), Dr Joe McNeil, have published a study into the history of water on Mars’ surface, how the surface evolved, and its potential to support life. The experts used high-resolution images and compositional data captured by orbiters to understand the […]

Woman with long-dark-brown hair standing in front of an OU banner in her graduation robes

‘Studying with the OU has broadened my horizons’

17 January 2025

Fallon, 38, achieved a BSc (Honours) Mathematics and Statistics from The Open University (OU) whilst studying from her home in Malta. Gaining a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degree has always been her dream and she hopes to inspire other women to join the industry. “I’ve loved the science subjects since I was young, […]

BepiColombo swings by Mercury for the final time

9 January 2025

On 8 January 2025, the ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission flew past Mercury for the sixth time, successfully completing the final ‘gravity assist manoeuvre’ needed to steer it into orbit around the planet in late 2026. As with BepiColombo’s previous flybys, the spacecraft’s monitoring cameras (M-CAMs) did not disappoint. “Wonderful to see” David Rothery (Professor of Planetary Geosciences) […]

Photo of a young man with a beard a long-hair in a ponytail, wearing a shirt, waistcoat and tie.

‘I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved, even against the odds’

2 January 2025

George, 28, from Brighton, has just graduated with a BSc (Honours) Computing & IT from The Open University (OU). Since completing his degree, his career has gone from strength-to-strength thanks to his studies, with promotions and even a nomination for Business Analyst of the Year 2024. However, George’s study journey hasn’t been without its challenges. […]

Moon Night brings science to life at the OU

17 December 2024

On Friday 13 December, The Open University’s Milton Keynes campus hosted a celebration of lunar science and exploration, offering opportunities for learning and discovery to visitors of all ages. More than 210 people visited the Walton Hall campus to take part in the two interactive events this year. A creative school competition focused on designing […]

CORE receives funding for five years from Microsoft’s open data initiative to increase access to open scientific research

12 December 2024

CORE, an Open Access infrastructure operated by The Open University, has been awarded significant funding for the next five years from Microsoft, as part of its’ support for increasing access to data and scientific research. Since 2020, Microsoft has worked to close the data divide and help organisations of all sizes realise the benefits of […]

OU academics discover new type of salt that could exist on icy moons

6 December 2024

A team of researchers from The Open University (OU), UCL, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, and Diamond Light Source have just announced the discovery of a new type of salty ice that could exist at the icy ocean moons of Jupiter and Saturn. In a new paper led by OU researcher Dr Rachael Hamp, the […]

OU News

Category: Science, maths, computing and technology