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Science, Maths & Technology
Exploring sedimentary processes
What is sand? What’s it made from, and how does it get from where it’s made to the beaches and sand dunes that surround many of our shores? On this album, Dr Dave McGarvie of The Open University takes us on a visit to Cornwall to follow grains of sand on their journey from the high moorland to the sea shore. Back in the lab, he demonstrates some...
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Science, Maths & Technology
The physical world: helicopters
Want to learn to fly a helicopter? In this album Royal Berkshire Ambulance pilots show two complete beginners the ropes. Normally, Marie and Tracey dispatch air ambulances, now they find out how to fly one. The five video tracks offer a hands-on explanation of the science and engineering behind helicopter flight. They show how rotors help this ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
The physical world: waves and relativity
This album explores the science of waves. Five video tracks feature two pair trawling fishermen from the Cornish village of Looe. Their lives and livelihoods depend on gadgets like radio, GPS and radar. This album explores the physics behind this technology, gives a simple introduction to wavelengths and looks back to the discovery of ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Bang challenge: Snakes by a flame
It's dark – you need light to avoid standing on the slumbering snake. Can your science know how help you make enough light to escape without waking the python?
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Science, Maths & Technology
Rocks in the field
Geology is the scientific study of the Earth, its origin, structure, processes and composition. This album features The Open University's Glynda Easterbrook and fellow geologist Tony Lee as they visit Northern Ireland to look at some amazing rock forms and some fascinating successions of different depositional environments. This material forms ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Personal and career development in engineering
What's it like working as an engineer, and what career opportunities are available? On this album, 6 practicing engineers talk about the work they do and the career path they have followed. This material forms part of The Open University course T191 Personal and career development in engineering.
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Science, Maths & Technology
Using and managing waste
Do you know what happens to the things you throw away? Sustainable management of municipal and industrial waste is essential in any society, but is particularly crucial for a future in which we face diminishing resources and a growing population. This album considers the issues that are driving the waste management industry across the EU, ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Water supply and treatment in the UK
Have you thought about the journey water makes to get to your taps? What processes has it undergone to make it safe to drink? The tracks in this album examine issues of water supply and treatment in the UK, where each of us uses approximately 150 litres a day! We hear from different parties involved in water management including the bodies ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Sounds harmonious
Math can be applied to pretty much everything in existence, and music is of no exception. Across this album, The Open University's Alan Graham shares his wealth of knowledge on the relationship between music and math, demonstrates many easy-to-follow theories and examples, and performs several pieces of traditional music with his band Betty's ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
International Development: microcredit and migration
What does it mean to be poor, or an immigrant? What form should Aid take? This album begins to explore the complex issues of international development in a globalised world, starting with a look at schemes which attempt to alleviate poverty. Small business owners are empowered by micro-financing in Glasgow, while in Argentina a disastrous ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Mission to Titan
Have you ever wanted to explore a distant planet? In this exciting album, Titan, Saturn’s biggest moon, is revealed live before our eyes for the first time. In January 2005 the Huygens probe parachuted down from its mother ship, Cassini, through Titan’s murky atmosphere to rest on its mysterious frozen landscape. Equipped with an impressive ...
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Science, Maths & Technology
Space scientist: John Zarnecki
Are we alone in the universe? How did our solar system evolve? These are the kind of questions that inspire John Zarnecki, Professor of Space Science in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at The Open University. In the course of his 30 year career, Zarnecki has taken part in several high profile space probe missions. In this album, he ...