The Open University

From cradle to grave – new model identifies factors that have shaped evolution

20 July 2018

Research involving scientists from The Open University (OU) published today in Science brings us closer to understanding how the complex interactions between topography (especially mountain ranges) and climate change influence the evolutionary histories and biodiversity of species in the Earth’s natural ecosystems. In a major step forward, the international team of researchers from the University […]

New series uncovers biggest engineering challenge for a generation

18 July 2018

London’s Victorian sewer network is at bursting point and its tunnels are regularly pushed past their limit. A huge engineering project is underway to massively expand the capital’s capacity to deal with its own waste and a new three-part series co-produced by The Open University and the BBC follows the action. The Five Billion Pound Super […]

OU lecturer selected as one of the top women in engineering

18 July 2018

Senior Lecturer in Engineering and Innovation, Carol Morris, has been recognised for her efforts in challenging gender stereotypes in engineering with a Top 50 Women in Engineering Award (WE50). In competition with over 200 nominations, Carol was awarded the WE50 – Returners and Transferrers for being a passionate supporter of women in engineering and for being […]

Sounding Coastal Change Norfolk Coast Blakeney

An ear to the coast for World Listening Day

17 July 2018

Conservationist groups from around the UK joined together with broadcasters on Wednesday, 18th July 2018, to present the sound of the coast in a special event to mark World Listening Day. The Sounding Coastal Change research team did a 24-hour broadcast from Blakeney in North Norfolk, which included prerecorded documentary and music, live discussion and microphones […]

A journey to Mercury: TEDxLondon talk by Professor David Rothery

17 July 2018

Professor David Rothery spoke at TEDxLondon in July 2018, talking about the upcoming BepiColombo mission, Europe’s first mission to Mercury. Setting off in October 2018, the mission will take seven years to reach its destination, with the spacecraft completing a complex trajectory to reach the planet before examining its surface and magnetic field in detail. […]

Tropical forests can recover from destructive impact of human activity, suggests OU research

16 July 2018

New research The Open University published in Nature Ecology and Evolution reveals that tropical forests may be more resilient to the effects of our behaviour than previously thought and offers hope that, if undisturbed, tropical forests may be able to recover from the harmful effects of human activity. Funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) […]

New OU report reveals financial cost of the skills shortage

16 July 2018

Organisations across the UK are having to spend £6.3 billion to plug the gap in skills on recruitment fees, temporary staffing, salaries and additional training to remain productive, according to our new report released on Monday 16 July. The Open University Business Barometer, which monitors the skills landscape of the UK, also reveals that most […]

Photo of volunteer serving food in homeless shelter

Research reveals smaller charities play a vital role in our society

13 July 2018

Research involving the Centre for Voluntary Sector Leadership (CVSL) in The Open University Business School has discovered that local small and medium-sized charities (SMCs) in England and Wales are making a huge contribution to our society. The report, The Value of Small, revealed that when tackling social issues like homelessness, domestic abuse or mental ill […]

Awards recognise global impact of OU research

13 July 2018

On Wednesday 11 July 2018, the OU held its first ever Research Excellence Awards to celebrate the University’s research and academic achievements, and the global impact and breadth of the University’s research portfolio. Researchers from across the University were in the running for five awards, whose winners were chosen by a judging panel chaired by Professor […]

OU graduate and former Associate Lecturer wins top engineering award

12 July 2018

OU graduate and former associate lecturer, Dr Phebe Mann, has been recognised with a Top 50 Women in Engineering Award (WE50) for her outstanding achievements in engineering. The initiative aims to raise awareness of the skills shortage facing the industry and the huge discrepancy between the number of men vs. women currently in engineering professions, to […]

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