The Open University

Bees, birdsong and butterflies: public connects with nature during lockdown

1 December 2020

Whether it’s listening to birdsong, strolling along leafy paths or just staring upwards at a cloud arrangement, many of us have become struck by nature’s beauty in 2020. OU Pollinator Watch is a citizen science social project which ran on the award-winning nQuire platform as part of BBC2’s Springwatch and went live during the first […]

Mars colony: how to make breathable air and fuel from brine – new research

1 December 2020

David Rothery, Professor of Planetary Geosciences, at The Open University, discusses new research from Washington University, which suggests that oxygen can be made on Mars using salty water found on the red planet. NASA is planning to land a crew on the Moon by 2024, and then onward to Mars, possibly in the 2030s. One […]

OU academic takes on running challenge to raise awareness of domestic violence

26 November 2020

Anna Hopkins, Lecturer in Policing Organisation and Practice at The Open University, is undertaking an epic challenge by running 125 miles to raise awareness of domestic violence and raise money for AAFDA – Advocacy After Domestic Abuse – a charity that supports victims’ families. Throughout November Anna is completing three ten mile runs a week […]

NHS award for Open University nursing apprenticeships

26 November 2020

A partnership between The Open University , Leeds Beckett University and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has won the 2020 North East and Yorkshire NHS Parliamentary Award for Wellbeing at Work. The Future You Partnership was launched in September this year, providing an apprenticeship route for both experienced and aspiring healthcare workers in Leeds to […]

The Open University scoops two Guardian University Awards

25 November 2020

The Open University (OU) today won two awards after being shortlisted as a finalist in the prestigious Guardian University Awards 2020, which showcases some of the best work from across the Higher Education sector. The OU was selected as the winner in the categories of Research Impact and Widening Access and Outreach by a panel […]

OU’s new microcredential supports with accessible and inclusive online learning to disabled students

20 November 2020

The Open University (OU) has launched a new short course in its suite of microcredentials, designed to help education and training professionals across the world to plan, design and deliver accessible and inclusive online learning to students with disabilities. Online Teaching: Accessibility and Inclusive Learning, will be hosted on the OU’s FutureLearn platform and is open […]

Ariel space mission moves one step closer to reality

17 November 2020

The European Space Agency’s (ESA) exoplanet mission Ariel, set to launch in 2029, has moved from study to implementation phase. Ariel, also known as the Atmospheric remote-sensing infrared exoplanet large-survey mission, will study what exoplanets are made of, how they are formed and how they evolve, by surveying a diverse sample of around 1000 planetary […]

OpenLearn launches hub to offer fresh perspectives on race, racism and ethnicity

16 November 2020

The Open University’s free learning site, OpenLearn has today launched a new hub page to offer fresh perspectives on race, racism and ethnicity. The Race and Ethnicity Hub will host existing and new content, including articles, videos, audio recordings and courses, which draw on expertise from across the OU’s core faculty areas. With support from […]

Coronavirus is no longer seen as high risk by many – and that’s undermining control measures

16 November 2020

Victoria Murphy, Postdoctoral Researcher in Professional Learning in Uncertainty at The Open University discusses why people are not following Coronavirus guidelines and what the implications are. During the era of US prohibition, illegal speakeasies thrived. And while the UK socially distances, there are similar reports of secret parties and raves today. Beyond such gatherings, there […]

OU offers free digital course to Lancashire and Greater Manchester residents

12 November 2020

People across Lancashire and Greater Manchester have a chance to retrain to become a tech engineer for free with The Open University (OU). The OU is offering residents across Lancashire and Greater Manchester the opportunity to upskill and make a career change into the technology sector. DevOpsSkills, a 20-week part-time course, developed by The Open […]

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