The Open University

US election puts personality politics in spotlight

3 November 2020

As the world awaits the outcome of the US election Dr Kesi Mahendran, a social and political psychologist at the OU, sheds new light on this crucially important vote and specifically its headline player Donald Trump. Her team’s research focuses on the public conversation between leaders and their citizens and the rise of populism. Yet […]

Arrows pointing in opposite directions stating 'true' and 'false'

OpenLearn film ‘The Language of Lying’ wins this year’s MEDEA Award

2 November 2020

‘The Language of Lying‘ commissioned by The Open University’s OpenLearn team and produced by Hamlett Films has won the MEDEA Award 2020. The annual awards recognise and celebrate the very best in educational media from across Europe, with the aim of championing producers, designers and teaching staff of inspiring and innovative media-rich learning resources. Created […]

NMC approval for new blended nursing degree partnership

2 November 2020

The latest addition to The Open University’s selection of nursing programmes has received approval from the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC). The new BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult); (in partnership with Middlesex University and the University of the West of England) was successfully approved with no conditions or recommendations on Tuesday 27th October 2020. Developed in […]

OU physicist receives national award for creating award-winning online lab

29 October 2020

Today, Professor Nicholas Braithwaite, of The Open University (OU), received a national award from the Institute of Physics (IOP) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to practical science. Professor Braithwaite was awarded the Lawrence Bragg medal and prize for developing the award-winning OpenSTEM Labs. Spearheaded by Professor Braithwaite, the flagship online laboratory for teaching practical […]

Report airs fresh concern for migrants’ healthcare rights in a COVID world

27 October 2020

A report calling for universal access to healthcare and raising the needs of migrants denied healthcare is launched today (Tuesday October 27th) co-authored by The Open University (OU). Dr Kathryn Medien is lecturer in sociology and has co-authored a report by The New Economics Foundation and the Patients Not Passports coalition called: “The International Struggle […]

Water on the Moon: research unveils its type and abundance – boosting exploration plans

27 October 2020

New study unearths water on the Moon, Open University academics James Mortimer, postdoctoral researcher in planetary science and exploration and Mahesh Anand, professor of planetary science and exploration, explain how this discovery will enhance our understanding of water on the lunar surface. The Moon was for a long time considered to be bone dry, with […]

Asteroid Bennu: successful touchdown – but the scientific mission has only just begun

21 October 2020

Following the successful touch-and-go landing on asteroid Bennu, Monica Grady, Professor of Planetary and Space Sciences at The Open University, suggests that this momentous feat is only the beginning for the OSIRIS-REx team and wider scientific community. Relief showed clearly on the faces of the team of NASA scientists and engineers as they were told: “Touchdown is […]

OU relationships academic is made a Fellow

21 October 2020

Jacqui Gabb, Professor of Sociology and Intimacy at The Open University, has been named among this year’s Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS) FAcSS is the national academy of academics, learned societies and practitioners in the social sciences, and its mission is to promote social science in the United Kingdom. Recipients of a […]

“Sport was always a part of me – it was in my DNA”

20 October 2020

As The Open University continues to celebrate Black History Month, Darren Harris, blind Paralympian, footballer, public speaker and honorary OU graduate with a post-doctorate diploma in psychology, shares his inspirational story. A rare eye disease diagnosed after his first birthday would eventually take Darren Harris’ vision, leaving him completely blind by the time he reached […]

Campaign to recognise the UK’s #changemakers

19 October 2020

The Open University has launched a social media campaign in partnership with UK Parliament Week to highlight “changemakers” past, present or predicted in society. The OU’s student-focused POLIS Open Politics team and UK Parliament Week have partnered to launch the Changemakers project from 12 October until 30 November. The aim is to think about people […]

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