The Open University

Image shows the opening titles that read The Secret Genius of Modern Life

OU/BBC series ‘The Secret Genius of Modern Life’ returns

7 November 2023

A captivating second series of the OU/BBC series The Secret Genius of Modern Life is returning to TV screens on BBC Two at 8pm on Wednesday 8 November. Series two of The Secret Genius of Modern Life follows Hannah Fry, mathematician, author, and radio and television presenter, as she uncovers the secrets behind the miraculous […]

OU Lecturer wins National Teaching Fellowship for outstanding impact on student outcomes and teaching

3 August 2023

After a highly competitive process, Derek Jones, Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Design at The Open University has received a National Teaching Fellowship (NTF) from AdvanceHE. The award recognises his contribution to the development and improvement of design education at national and international levels. The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme (NTFS) celebrates and recognises individuals who have […]

‘Don’t let exam results hold you back – you can still succeed’

17 July 2023

With Results Day on everybody’s mind, OU graduate Jess Barrett, 30, knows all too well how it feels to not get the results you’d hoped for. Despite failing two of her exams, Jess has since gone on to succeed, graduating with a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) last April. “Failing felt like a punch in the face” […]

Three reasons concrete doesn’t live up to its environmental claims

1 August 2022

Dr Alice Moncaster, is a Senior Lecturer in general engineering at The Open University and here she gives her take on why concrete isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be in terms of the environment. Up to 8% of all global anthropogenic human-made emissions are due to just one material, cement. And our use […]

Greenwashing: how ads get you to think brands are greener than they are – and how to avoid falling for it

21 June 2022

Brands have several tricks up their sleeves to convince ad viewers their products are sustainable. Here three academics from The Open University: Morteza Abolhasani, lecturer in marketing, Gordon Liu, Professor of Marketing Strategy and Zahra Golrokhi, Lecturer in Engineering, give their views. Ads are ubiquitous in many people’s lives, whether on billboards across our cities or […]

OU leads the way with £1 million software engineering project

20 April 2020

Researchers from The Open University (OU) spearhead a £1 million project, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), to change the culture of software engineering. The socio-technical resilience in software development project, also known as STRIDE, will challenge the focus of software engineering on automation and new technologies, to put people at […]

Coronavirus is a once in a lifetime chance to reshape how we travel

3 April 2020

James Warren, The Open University and Marcus Enoch, Loughborough University write for The Conversation about how coronavirus gives us the chance to change the way we travel. The transport sector has been impacted as much as any by the coronavirus. This isn’t a normal period of disruption, which is usually caused by failures in supply […]

Studying while serving overseas

19 April 2019

Felix Asare-Donkoh, 30, joined the armed forces soon after completing his A-levels in Cardiff, but realised he was still keen to continue his education. Usually, this would mean leaving the army to study full-time, but by choosing to study with The Open University in Wales, Felix was able to study for his Bachelors in Engineering […]

OU lecturer selected as one of the top women in engineering

18 July 2018

Senior Lecturer in Engineering and Innovation, Carol Morris, has been recognised for her efforts in challenging gender stereotypes in engineering with a Top 50 Women in Engineering Award (WE50). In competition with over 200 nominations, Carol was awarded the WE50 – Returners and Transferrers for being a passionate supporter of women in engineering and for being […]

OU graduate and former Associate Lecturer wins top engineering award

12 July 2018

OU graduate and former associate lecturer, Dr Phebe Mann, has been recognised with a Top 50 Women in Engineering Award (WE50) for her outstanding achievements in engineering. The initiative aims to raise awareness of the skills shortage facing the industry and the huge discrepancy between the number of men vs. women currently in engineering professions, to […]

OU News

Category: Engineering