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Science, Maths & Technology
The Wizard of Oz: From Fractions to Formulas
Maths in movies has often been used creatively as a method by which to engage students in formulas and numerical theory. The 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz features a maze of potential mathematical problems – not least the Scarecrow’s incorrect pronunciation of Pythagoras’ theorem. Presented by The Open University’s David Brannan and Phil Rippon,...
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Nature & Environment
Culture and Climate Change
Every generation faces challenges that previous generations could scarcely imagine. Twenty years ago, few people were talking about climate change, now it's one of the most hotly-contested areas in politics. How do artists, writers, musicians and broadcasters respond when a new subject appears that is as large and significant as this? What kind...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Measuring the Immeasurable
We live with a paradox. We need to measure our world to make sense of it, but important things are really hard to measure. And, when we do measure important things, how do we tell people what we have found out? Dr Simon Bell from The Open University and the Bayswater Institute investigates the world of indicators (or measurements). Who decides...
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Science, Maths & Technology
The science of the mind: investigating mental health
How do biology, psychology and social science contribute to our understanding of mental health and mental illness? How do the biomedical and biopsychosocial models compare when it comes to diagnosis and treatment? This album reveals the importance of the perspective scientists and health professionals take, and the difference it can make to ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Fire and Ice
How are volcanoes created? And how can scientists re-construct eruptions from many thousands of years ago? On a field trip to Iceland, Dr Dave McGarvie visits a range of volcanoes. These include Askja, a particularly spectacular and active volcano in Iceland’s remote interior, and the valley where astronauts once trained to land on the Moon. ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Imagining Scientists
Why does the stereotype of a scientist with mad hair, big spex, white coat endure and how does this image relate to what 21st century scientists actually look like and do? For more than 60 years researchers have explored stereotypes of scientists. During this time they have attempted to isolate the small number of essential, simplified criteria ...
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Nature & Environment
Letter to a Climate Sceptic
Why is there so much scepticism around climate change? And why does it continue to cause controversy among scientists? In 2009 the ‘Climategate’ news story, regarding stolen emails from the University of East Anglia’s Climate Research Unit, became symbolic of public mistrust in climate science. In this audio, in the form of an open letter, The ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Surviving the 21st Century
Leading cosmologist Professor Martin Rees once famously said that the human race has only a 50 per cent chance of surviving the 21st century. Current President of the Royal Society, Sir Rees cites natural disasters, nuclear war and global warming among the challenges facing future generations. The Open University's Dr Stephen Serjeant ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Investigating bacterial communication
Can bacteria communicate with each other, and if they do communicate, how and why do they do so? And how might understanding the mechanisms of bacterial communication be used to inform development of anti-bacterial drugs? In this album scientists involved in pioneering work into bacterial 'quorum sensing'' at Nottingham University in the UK ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Investigating ageing
We might think we know what ageing is, but it’s surprisingly difficult to pin down. In this album a 70-year-old fashion model and her 17-year-old grand-daughter take part in a series of scientific tests to see whether it is possible to distinguish between them. The results give an insight into what contemporary science can tell us about what ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Science Communication and Public Engagement
The adaptation of H.G. Wells’ novel ‘The War of The Worlds’ in 1938 showed the power of radio to capture listeners’ imagination through science-fiction - and in doing so demonstrated how mass media could be used to communicate science to different audiences. For decades, print and broadcast media have used different genres to portray the ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Integrated health, safety and environmental management
Just how dangerous is the everyday workplace? What can be done to mitigate risks and avoid hazards? And what trade-offs have to be made between the competing demands of safety, efficiency and wider social responsibility? This album looks at three very different case studies - farming, food manufacturing and urban redevelopment - and explores the...