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Category: Science, maths, computing and technology

OU mathematics professor honoured by Royal Society in their annual awards

OU mathematics professor honoured by Royal Society in their annual awards

Professor June Barrow-Green has been awarded the Wilkins-Bernal-Medawar Medal by the Royal Society for her research in 19th and 20th century mathematics, notably on historical roots of modern computing, dynamical systems and the three-body problem. Her work places special emphasis on the under-representation of women in historical narratives and in contemporary mathematics. Her recent work includes […]

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OU astronomer part of international team that captures galaxies in ultra-high definition

OU astronomer part of international team that captures galaxies in ultra-high definition

An international team of astronomers have published the most detailed images ever seen of galaxies beyond our own, revealing their inner workings and black-hole activity in unprecedented detail. The images were created from data collected by the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR), a network of more than 70,000 small antennae spread across nine European countries. The […]

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Funded digital-skills job training for over 19s

Funded digital-skills job training for over 19s

People with a strong interest in moving into a digital career have an opportunity to change their fortunes for the better. Two free Skills Bootcamps are being delivered by The Open University (OU) that will fast track those taking part into their first digital job or into a new digital role with their existing employer. […]

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One line drawing of winner trophy

OU’s teaching excellence recognised by national award

Dr Victoria (Vic) Pearson, Senior Lecturer in the School of Physical Sciences at The Open University, has been awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in the 2021 National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS). The NTFS recognises excellence in teaching and celebrates individuals who have made an outstanding impact on student outcomes and the teaching profession. Vic has […]

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Scientists from the OU and Harvard publish new findings to help fight against skin cancer

Scientists from the OU and Harvard publish new findings to help fight against skin cancer

A new study by an international team of researchers, including academics from The Open University and Harvard University, has had its findings published in the journal Cell. They have presented the discovery of a new mechanism that can darken the colour of human skin as a natural defence against ultraviolet (UV)-associated cancers. Melanin, the dark […]

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World’s finest minds come together for new educational website

World’s finest minds come together for new educational website

An academic from The OU’s Institute of Educational Technology is among more than 150 of the world’s best minds chosen to record a series of conversations about their subjects for a new educational website called EXPeditions. Mike Sharples, Emeritus Professor of Educational Technology, is part of an international cast of doctors, professors, lecturers, lawyers and […]

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Open University lab final destination for extraterrestrial samples that could reveal secrets of the Universe

Open University lab final destination for extraterrestrial samples that could reveal secrets of the Universe

Scientists from The Open University have today taken delivery of pristine samples from an asteroid which could reveal the secrets to how our Solar System formed. The spacecraft ‘Hayabusa2’ launched by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) in December 2014 travelled over 5 billion kilometres before flying past the Earth in December 2020 to deliver its […]

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lone planet, copyright NASA

New free-floating planet population spotted by “elderly” telescope

Tantalising evidence has been uncovered for a mysterious population of “free-floating” planets, planets that may be alone in deep space, unbound to any host star. The results include four new discoveries that are consistent with planets of similar masses to Earth, published today in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. The study, led by […]

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UK scientists join NASA’s first steps back to the Moon – and onward to Mars

UK scientists join NASA’s first steps back to the Moon – and onward to Mars

A team of scientists from The Open University (OU) and RAL Space are collaborating with ESA and NASA to investigate the occurrence and behaviour of water on the Moon. Led by the OU’s Dr. Simeon Barber, the UK team has developed a sophisticated analytical instrument known as the Exospheric Mass Spectrometer (EMS) under a contract […]

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OU research finds human impacts on monsoon rainfall could exceed natural changes over last 30 million years

OU research finds human impacts on monsoon rainfall could exceed natural changes over last 30 million years

A study by a team from the Open University (OU) has had its findings published in leading science journal Nature Communications Findings at a glance Study shows that the long-term evolution of East Asian Monsoon rainfall was driven by the rising Himalayas, but Indian Monsoon rainfall is sensitive to a complex mix of drivers, with […]

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