Weston Open Living Lab

The OU is in a unique position to mobilise and deploy its innovative environmental and ecosystems research through the Weston Open Living Lab, which will offer a new space for people to engage with nature recovery. Capitalising on the OU’s ability to educate at scale and our pioneering OpenSTEM lab technology, it will also be a digital laboratory offering learning and teaching experiences at distance.

The climate emergency and the rapid loss of biodiversity are two profound and closely-linked challenges that will shape the lives of future generations. Nature-based solutions are essential in reversing both of these challenges, but a critical factor in people’s willingness to engage with nature recovery is connection; we don’t protect what we don’t understand.

The Living Lab will enable people to engage with climate change and nature recovery. The site – on the OU’s campus in Milton Keynes – will house a dynamic living science laboratory as well as a Learning Walk and Visitor Centre, whilst the digital laboratory will offer free resources on the internet.

Bringing together expertise from across the OU, from teaching and research in the School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, to the OU’s free public learning platform OpenLearn, the Living Lab is truly multidisciplinary.

Established in 2022 through a lead grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Living Lab is now entering an exciting second phase. Funding is required to create the Learning Walk and Visitor Centre, providing the space to implement our schools and community outreach activity.

More Sustainability Projects

Leading examples of how the OU’s pioneering sustainability research is actively protecting and regenerating our planet.

Download the Sustainability brochure

Read about sustainability projects at the OU.

Get in touch

Email Gillian Hosier or call on 01908 858285 to discuss this project