News

A new research grant will make it possible to create maps of ozone and dust found on Mars as part of the ExoMars mission.

We congratulate the Open University Space Science Club (@space_ou), which has won the National UK Students for the Exploration of Space (UKSEDS) Branch of the Year Award 2021 at the National Students Space Conference. This is a fantastic achievement for a club that didn’t exist 12 months ago!

It is with great sadness that we share the news that our colleague, Simon Clark passed away suddenly last week.

Simon was a Senior Lecturer in Astronomy within the School of Physical Sciences, having originally joined the OU in 2005. He had previously worked as a researcher at University College London and the University of Sussex having obtained his PhD from Southampton University.

We are delighted to announce that Oliver Murray has been awarded the Paul Lidgett Memorial Prize for an outstanding performance and innovative and analytical work on SXP390 The Science Project Course: radiation and matter. 

Oliver’s tutor Catherine Brocksopp is quoted saying:

“Oliver's study into exoplanets around white dwarfs was highly original and fascinating to read. His scientific writing flowed seamlessly, discussing and evaluating his sources and taking on the appearance of a professional piece of research.”

We are delighted to announce that Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, has been awarded the prestigious Royal Astronomical Society Gold Medal. This is the Society's highest honour, once which can be awarded for any reason but usually recognises lifetime achievement. Past winners include Albert Einstein, Edwin Hubble, Arthur Eddington and Stephen Hawking. It was first awarded in 1824; since 1964 two have been awarded each year: one for astronomy, and one for geophysics.

Catch-up on the most recent Institute of Physics lecture by Dr Jessica Barnes from The University of Arizona. Dr Barnes joined us as part of our Moon Night 2020 celebrations, that took place as online events over three nights during 7-9th of December.

Places are still available on our MSc in Space Science and Technology and our Postgraduate Certificate in Space Science for 2021 start.

Our qualifications in space science are designed for graduates in science/engineering wanting to develop careers in the space sector.

Register by 14 Jan 2021, click here for more information.

Monday 7 December marks the 48^th anniversary of the Apollo 17 launch. The Open University STEM Faculty is hosting a series of events as part of its Moon Night with several Moon experts plus external speakers.

Fly me to the Moon - 7 December 16:30 – 18:45 pm