The Open University

Artist's impression of the planet orbiting Proxima Centauri

Astronomy research from the OU among Physics World 2016 top breakthroughs

16 December 2016

The discovery of a planet orbiting our nearest star, Proxima Centauri, has been highly commended among Physics World 2016 top 10 breakthroughs. As part of an international team of astronomers, Postdoctoral Researcher at The Open University, Dr John Barnes, was instrumental in establishing that the observed ‘wobble’ of Proxima Centauri was caused by a nearby […]

Athena Swan Awards winners from The Open University

OU wins four gender equality Athena SWAN Awards

13 December 2016

The Open University has collected four Bronze Athena SWAN awards, in recognition of its ongoing commitment to gender equality for all staff and students across the newly launched (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) STEM faculty. Commitment to extending equality scheme Chair of the OU’s STEM Gender Equality Group (SGEG), Dr Clem Herman, said she was thrilled to […]

OU launches international online course for humanitarian sector

12 December 2016

A growing number of emergencies in developing and developed nations has increased the demand for front-line humanitarian managers with key leadership skills. Often being posted to the most challenging regions and working under great pressure, these managers are responsible for making life-saving decisions at speed. Global scope to new online course Recognising the importance of ensuring managers […]

OU grad’s study inspired by humanitarian work

10 December 2016

Open University graduate Ines Katic-Vrdoljak, from Sarajevo, saw first-hand the difference humanitarian aid can make when she worked on deliveries to those impacted by the Bosnian War in the mid 1990s. Supporting the OU’s focus on Human Rights Week, Ines explains how the volunteer work she undertook led her to study both a BSc and […]

The Open University in Scotland, The Scotsman

Taking students on a ‘learner journey’

6 December 2016

This article is by Learning and Teaching Co-ordinator at The Open University in Scotland, Joan Thomson, and was originally published in The Scotsman. The “learner journey” is a concept which crops up in most of the literature on education policy. It’s not exactly the most user-friendly of phrases – I wonder how many students would recognise […]

Tributes to Gary Slapper, the first Head of the Law School at The Open University

6 December 2016

Professor Gary Slapper, the first Head of the Law School at The Open University, has died. Gary joined The Open University in 1997 and maintained his links with the OU as a Visiting Professor after leaving in 2011 to take up a post as Director of New York University, London. Professor Rebecca Taylor, Executive Dean […]

Poet welcomes Open University’s Human Rights Week focus

5 December 2016

In a one-off series marking Human Rights Day, OU academics focus on key elements of the historic Universal Declaration of Human Rights and explore its relevance in a 21st century light. Poet and OU Honorary Graduate Benjamin Zephaniah, a passionate supporter of human rights, introduces each theme as they lead up to Human Rights Day on 10 December. He […]

The filter bubble isn’t just Facebook’s fault — it’s yours

5 December 2016

Following the shock results of Brexit and the Trump victory, a lot of attention has focused on the role that Facebook might have played in creating online political ghettos in which false news can easily spread. Facebook now has serious political influence thanks to its development from a social networking tool into a primary source […]

Is climate change the ‘kale smoothie’ of TV schedules?

1 December 2016

Covering climate change today in a meaningful and engaging way is increasingly challenging, reveal TV producers, in a new report by the OU’s Professor Joe Smith. He reflects that covering climate change seems akin to a kale smoothie – something which can be unappealing yet somehow fashionable and essential. Amid continuing news stories on the […]

How booming Havana can avoid the traffic and pollution that plagues most middle-income cities

1 December 2016

The classic 1950s cars on the streets of Havana are much admired by foreigners, yet the reality for most Cubans is a lot more mundane. For them, owning a car – any car – remains a dream, albeit one which has been reawakened by economic reforms and moves towards normalising relations with the US. But […]

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