Mars came to Campus

In late July, the International Festival: Milton Keynes came to campus for three days, welcoming visitors for an inspiring space-themed experience.

The Open University hosted Luke Jerram’s Mars in the courtyard of Berrill, from the 18th to 20th July. The breathtaking 7-metre installation was open and free for all to view, including many of our own staff, students and stakeholders. 

 

Over the weekend, the event attracted over 2000 people to campus – the equivalent of one person every minute. 

Saturday attracted the largest crowds of over 1000 visitors. A major draw being the many stalls within Berrill, offering the opportunity to get hands-on with science. Activities included handling meteorites, making life beyond the Earth Lego, finding Mars landing sites, learning about how to live on the Moon and engaging lab tours. 

 

Activities included handling meteorites, making life beyond the Earth from Lego, finding Mars landing sites, learning about how to live on the Moon and engaging lab tours. 

On Friday night we hosted a brilliant panel to highlight space research at the OU, with Prof Mahesh Anand, Dr Julia Semprich, Dr Peter Fawdon and Dr Nisha Ramkissoon, spectacularly hosted by Dr Julia Cooke.

Saturday brought a special appearance by the artist Luke Jerram, who delivered a captivating talk about his inspiring art journey and iconic works, including Museum of the Moon, Glass Microbiology and Play Me, I’m yours. The evening saw Prof Susanne Schwenzer give an engaging talk on the 12 years (and more) of the Curiosity rover’s time on Mars. Sunday welcomed an external speaker; Dr Elliot Sefton-Nash from the European Space Agency, who gave an exceptional talk about his work as the deputy project scientist for the upcoming ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Rover mission.  

As the weekend drew to a close, visitors lingered in the courtyard, reluctantly taking their final look at Mars. The atmosphere was one of reflection and wonder, a fitting end to a weekend that sparked curiosity and connection.

This unforgettable event was made possible by the passion, creativity and collaboration of a dedicated team across the university, showcasing the best of what we can do. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped bring together this celebration of science, art and the future of space exploration.