Moon Night brings science to life at the OU

Posted on 17 December 2024 • Science, maths, computing and technology

On Friday 13 December, The Open University’s Milton Keynes campus hosted a celebration of lunar science and exploration, offering opportunities for learning and discovery to visitors of all ages.

More than 210 people visited the Walton Hall campus to take part in the two interactive events this year. A creative school competition focused on designing lunar habitats using Lego© bricks during the day, and then the annual Moon Night event brought together members of the public, families, and supporters for an evening of activities and expert talks.

The day began with the ‘Living on the Moon!’ competition, which welcomed local primary school pupils to the campus. Guided by OU researchers, the students worked in teams to design and build models of sustainable lunar bases. Their challenge was to address the practicalities of supporting human activities on the Moon while considering limited resources and the importance of sustainability.

As part of the hands-on design competition, the children were given the opportunity to present their Moonbase models to the panel of judges.

Later in the day, the focus shifted to the engagement with the wider community with the return of the much-loved Moon Night event. Local families, students, and staff were invited to explore a variety of interactive activities showcasing the OU’s cutting-edge research in lunar science and planetary exploration.

Visitors handled real Moon rocks and meteorite samples, participated in a virtual reality simulation of exploring the Moon’s surface, and learned about 3D printing technologies that could one day help to build habitats on the Moon. Guided tours of the University’s space research labs offered a rare opportunity to see behind the scenes of this world-leading work.

There were also talks from expert speakers, covering topics from lunar meteorites to the Moon’s connection to festive traditions.

Mahesh Anand, Professor of Planetary Science and Exploration at The Open University, runs the Moon Night event along with a team of volunteers each year. Mahesh said:

“Moon Night and the ‘Living on the Moon!’ competition are all part of our aspirations to share our research with the community and inspire curiosity among learners of all ages.

“With the OU’s strong heritage in leading research on samples returned from the Moon by the Apollo missions, we are well placed to contribute to the upcoming era of Artemis lunar missions. Together, we are helping to shape the future of space exploration.

“We think it’s really important to encourage today’s young learners to get excited and learn how they can get involved in these endeavours, capitalising on their talents and interests.”

Local MP Chris Curtis, Member of Parliament for Milton Keynes North, was one of the 150 people who attended the evening Moon Night event on Friday.

Chris added:

“I was delighted to attend The Open University’s annual Moon Night event. It is a great example of the OU making learning accessible to all in innovative ways. To hear more about the OU’s research in this area, explore their research labs and to handle Moon rock was an incredible opportunity. It is brilliant to have such leading national expertise on our doorstep in Milton Keynes.”