The Open University

OU team gives go ahead to bring Mars’ moon pieces to Earth

2 December 2019

A UK team led by the Open University has given the green light for Mars’ moon material to be transported to Earth as part of a forthcoming mission. The team, led by the OU’s Dr Manish Patel, a renowned expert on Mars exploration, gave the thumbs up for a new Japanese mission to bring pieces […]

World AIDS Day 2019: treatment success, but austerity bites

29 November 2019

On Sunday (1 December), we mark World AIDS Day: an opportunity to come together to support people living with HIV and to commemorate those who have died. It’s also a time to take stock of how we are doing in the fight against AIDS. Dr Peter Keogh, Deputy Associate Dean Research Excellence & Senior Lecturer […]

OU technician honoured as ‘truly inspiring’ at THE Awards 2019

29 November 2019

Dr Barbara Kunz, an Analytical Laboratory Technician at The Open University has won the Outstanding Technician of the Year category at this year’s Times Higher Education Awards. Presented last night (Thursday 28 November) at a ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, Dr Kunz beat off competition from seven other shortlisted universities to be […]

World Access to Higher Education Day – OU increases number of female educators in rural parts of Sierra Leone

26 November 2019

World Access to Higher Education Day (26 November) is an opportunity to highlight how HE is contributing to global inequality as much as it is addressing it. The Open University’s project in Sierra Leone GATE – Girls’ Access to Education aims to increase the number of female educators in rural parts of the country. The […]

UK election 2019: a choice between low-tax, individualism or generous state with unknown price tag

25 November 2019

Jonquil Lowe, Senior Lecturer in Economics and Personal Finance at The Open University writes for The Conversation about the tax implications of the upcoming general election. Brexit may be the main reason for the UK’s upcoming general election, but voters are also invited to choose between two radically different types of social system with different […]

Open University Position Statement on USS Pensions and 2019/20 Pay Award

25 November 2019

The Open University (OU) is one of more than 340 higher education and related institutions across the United Kingdom that participate in the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS). With effect from Monday 25 November 2019, the University and College Union (UCU) has announced it is taking eight days of strike action. This is around two separate […]

Linda’s story: A non-traditional route to academia

22 November 2019

Linda, 62, is a PhD researcher at the OU. Following a successful career working with young people and sport, she’s turned to research. “I’ve not approached academia in a traditional way. I’m 62, so I’m ancient! I was secure within my professional world and don’t have the same confidence as an academic as I had […]

From the Iliad to Circe: culture’s enduring fascination with the myths of Troy

21 November 2019

Dr Jan Haywood, Staff Tutor and Lecturer in Classical Studies at The Open University writes for The Conversation about the legend of Troy. The story of the epic war fought over a woman has been told many times. It now lies at the heart of an exhibition at the British Museum opening on November 21. […]

BBC/ OU documentary wins Mind Media Award

21 November 2019

Actor, David Harewood has won a Mind Media Award for his work in David Harewood: Psychosis and Me, a co-produced documentary by the BBC and The Open University’s Broadcast and Partnerships team. The documentary, which aired in May, followed Harewood as he talked about the psychotic breakdown he had at 23 years-old. Piecing back together what […]

Titan: first global map uncovers secrets of a potentially habitable moon of Saturn

20 November 2019

David Rothery, Professor of Planetary Geosciences at The Open University, writes for The Conversation about a potentially habitable moon of Saturn. There are just three moons in our solar system that measure more than 5,000km across. Of these, Jupiter’s moons Ganymede and Callisto are airless and have ancient heavily cratered surfaces. But Saturn’s largest moon, […]

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