The Open University

OU to host Astrobiology Society of Britain Conference 2017

28 August 2017

The Astrobiology Society of Britain (ASB) Conference series continues its objective of education and outreach for UK astrobiology research with its seventh annual conference. Hosted at the OU in Milton Keynes, ASB7 will focus on habitability beyond the Earth. The Conference will begin at 10:30 on Wednesday 13 September 2017, with talks on biosignatures, ground-based […]

An ‘epiphany’ for philosophy academic at the OU

23 August 2017

An academic from the OU has been awarded funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council to explore the impact of “epiphanies” on individuals and societies. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Professor of Philosophy, Sophie Grace Chappell, has been awarded a Leverhulme Trust Major Research Fellowship (MRF) of £142,000 to research epiphanies and author […]

Saving and Investing for your child’s university education

23 August 2017

Open University economist, Alan Shipman, gives his observations on what parents might consider when looking at saving or investing for university education. Should parents save or invest for university education? Not everyone agrees that parents need to save or invest for their children’s university education, or will gain anything from doing so. As the […]

There could be snow on Mars – here’s how that’s possible

22 August 2017

Given that there are ambitious plans to colonise Mars in the near future, it is surprising how much we still have to learn about what it would be like to actually live on the planet. Take the weather, for instance. We know there are wild fluctuations in Mars’s climate – and that it is very […]

Top tips for moneywise students

21 August 2017

If you’re heading off to university this Autumn or considering studying flexibly with The Open University, you will no doubt be examining your finances. Here’s seven tips to help you manage your money, from Senior Lecturer in Personal Finance and Economics, Jonquil Lowe. 1. Choose your account carefully There are special bank accounts for students, […]

Top tips on getting to sleep the night before the big day

15 August 2017

Getting to sleep before a big day is never going to be simple. But it can be much easier if you manage your sleep (and your children’s sleep) beforehand. Honorary Associate, Dr Paul Kelley, is an expert in circadian and memory neuroscience, and given his top tips on how to wind-down before the big day: […]

OU/BBC documentary to explore history of Milton Keynes

15 August 2017

Milton Keynes and Me: Wednesday 16 August 2017, 21:00: BBC Four The most famous new town in the UK – Milton Keynes – has turned 50 and so (it just so happens) has the documentary maker, Richard Macer, who grew up there. In this special programme, which is due to broadcast on BBC Four on […]

Clearing 2017: entry available now to The Open University

14 August 2017

A-level results day launches a wave of big emotions, as young people across the UK are faced with important decisions to take about their future. The Clearing process will be underway this week, but some students will be looking for alternatives to going away to study and The Open University (OU) could be a perfect […]

Widening access to higher education and part-time learning go hand-in-hand

14 August 2017

The OU has welcomed the release of the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) and the charity Brightside’s new collection of essays on widening access to university written by senior higher education figures. Commenting on the publication of ‘Where next for widening participation and fair access?’ Laura Burley, Head of Government & External Affairs at […]

The sun’s core rotates four times faster than its surface – here’s why it matters

11 August 2017

My favourite science news is the stuff that changes the way I think about the world and our place in the universe. Many dinosaurs were covered in feathers; there’s a planet in the habitable zone around the nearest star in the night sky; the universe is expanding faster and faster but no one yet knows […]

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