The Open University

Award-winning 50-word flash fiction competition returns!

5 June 2023

Back by popular demand, our multi-award-winning flash fiction competition #OU50words is returning to The Open University’s social media channels. Every day for seven days (starting on Monday 12 June) we’ll be sharing a different storytelling prompt designed to inspire you to forge a 50-word, fictional footpath. We invited award-winning photographer Laura Jones from Atmospheric Images to spend […]

Lovers of detective-fiction have the chance to study Agatha Christie’s writing for free

1 June 2023

If you ever wanted to know the secrets of writing detective fiction, The Open University is staging a free short course of the work of 20th Century whodunnit queen Agatha Christie. According to Guinness World Records, Christie is the best-selling fiction writer of all time, her novels having sold more than two billion copies. Now […]

Springwatch – the wildlife lovers’ favourite – returns to our screens

26 May 2023

A new series of the BBC’s popular Springwatch is about to make its annual appearance on our screens and this time it’s produced in partnership with The Open University and comes from a brand new location – the RSPB Arne Nature Reserve in Dorset. Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan, Iolo Williams and Gillian Burke return to […]

Open University wins two broadcast accolades

23 May 2023

The Open University has won the Broadcast Award at the prestigious Learning on Screen Awards for the OU/BBC co-production, AIDS: The Unheard Tapes. The BBC2 documentary brought to life the voices of infected gay men and their friends, using actors who lip-sync to original voice recordings. The judges praised the entry for its “inventive and […]

Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland – documentary about the Troubles

22 May 2023

A gripping new Open University/BBC co-production series on the Troubles in Northern Ireland is about to air containing interviews with people whose lives were changed forever by conflict. The powerful new five-part documentary is broadcasting on BBC Two, BBC Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer today, Monday 22 May at 9pm. Once Upon a Time in […]

OU study highlights the impact of cyber victimisation on those living with chronic conditions

17 May 2023

Dr Zhraa Alhaboby, academic in health sciences at The Open University (OU), has published research highlighting the scale and impact of cyber victimisation on those living with long-term conditions or disabilities. Sadly, people living with chronic conditions experience harassment in both offline and online contexts. In this study, cyber-victimisation is used as an umbrella term […]

The Real CSI returns to our screens for a third series

16 May 2023

If you’re a fan of forensics put a date in your diary to watch the latest series of The Open University/BBC co-production ‘The Real CSI’. The first episode of four in this series airs at 9pm today 16 May on BBC 2 and charts the case of a brutal rape of a woman by a […]

OU study could provide first ever timeline of Jupiter’s origins

15 May 2023

A new study by an OU academic has provided a ground-breaking new insight into a huge Solar System event, the formation and migration of Jupiter. The research, published today in Nature Astronomy was led by Ben Rider Stokes at the OU and supported by an international team of experts and funded by the UK Science […]

Leading science-fiction writer receives Honorary Doctorate from the OU

12 May 2023

One of Britain’s leading science-fiction writers Dr Stephen Baxter has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by The Open University. The Liverpool-born writer has captivated generations of science-fiction fans and has worked with esteemed writers such as Arthur C. Clarke, Alastair Reynolds and OU honorary graduate Terry Pratchett. He originally read mathematics at Cambridge University and […]

Young women speaking to children about football

‘The conversation around women in sports is changing – long may that continue’

11 May 2023

As excitement builds for the Women’s FA Cup Final this weekend, we caught up with OU graduate and football fanatic Allana, whose community foundation is inspiring the next generation of female footballers to reach their potential. Allana’s career has gone from strength to strength since completing the OU’s Sport, Fitness and Coaching degree. With a […]

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