The Open University

New facial profile genes discovered

5 February 2021

An international research team, including academics from The Open University, have discovered new genes that determine the shape of a person’s facial profile. Researchers identified 32 gene regions that affect our facial features such as the nose, lip, jaw, and brow shape. Nine of these were gene regions never known before, while the other 23 […]

Mars: how scientists prevent Earth’s microbes from contaminating other planets

5 February 2021

There are two planned Mars landings in 2021. First, Nasa’s Perseverance rover is due to land on the planet later this month. Then China’s Tianwen rover will follow in May. Both missions intend to search the planet for signs of life. Dr Thomas Cheney, Lecturer in Space Governance at The Open University, explains more. But […]

Ahead of National Apprenticeship Week OU poll finds more employers now backing work-based learning

4 February 2021

A report commissioned by The Open University and The 5% Club has found that nearly three quarters (70%) of employers held the belief that apprenticeships and work-based learning would be vital to their organisations’ recovery from COVID disruption, compared to just half (50%) of business who were asked in August 2020. The Open University commissioned […]

Five ways the OU’s new chatbot can support disabled students

29 January 2021

The process of disclosing a disability can be a time-consuming, stressful process, which the OU is aiming to improve with a chatbot to support both its students and staff. The OU’s chatbot, produced through the ADMINS Project, has been developed by educational experts, staff and students to improve disability disclosure processes for people with disabilities. […]

One step closer to building habitats on the Moon

27 January 2021

A team of lunar scientists from The Open University (OU) and the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) are making advances in building permanent structures on the Moon’s surface. OU researchers Dr Sungwoo Lim, Professor Mahesh Anand, Dr James Bowen, Dr Giulia Degli Alessandrini, Vibha Levin Prabhu and Aidan Crowley, a researcher from the EAC, investigated the […]

Man sitting on a bench with his two daughters

‘The OU was there when life seemed impossible’

26 January 2021

Richard Dicks began studying with The Open University as a way to cope when his daughter Ella was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Though life seemed impossible at times, Richard says being able to study gave him something positive to focus on and that he found strength in Ella’s determination to keep smiling despite the […]

Talking education: school manager Syed shares his “lightbulb moment”

26 January 2021

A boarding school manager from Birmingham talks about the “lightbulb moment” he realised his career ambition in a new podcast series, hosted by presenter Gemma Cairney. Life … On Our Terms is an eight-episode podcast series from The Open University (OU) discussing a range of topics about life and the inspiring routes to success taken […]

Analyst by day and student by night, Abiola shares his story with Gemma Cairney

22 January 2021

An inspiring data analyst from Greenwich, South East London, is the latest guest on a brand-new podcast series starting this month, hosted by broadcaster Gemma Cairney. Life … On Our Terms is an eight-episode podcast series from The Open University (OU) discussing a range of topics about life and the routes to success taken by […]

Will Trump loom large over Biden’s early days?

20 January 2021

A very different US presidential inauguration happened in Washington on Wednesday January 20th 2021, as Joe Biden became the 46th president of the United States. Historian Dr Sinead McEneaney, lecturer and staff tutor at the OU, talks about the day and indeed what to expect from the next 100 days from both President Joe Biden […]

OU partners with BBC World Service on ambitious new radio series

19 January 2021

An ambitious radio series starts tomorrow (20 January) on BBC World Service. Co-produced by the BBC and The Open University’s (OU) Broadcast and Partnerships team, Project 17 looks at the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals through the eyes of seventeen,17-year-olds from 17 different countries. Just over five years after the goals were created with […]

OU News