World Space Week at the OU

We are running a number of online panel events in World Space Week open to everyone. You can find out more on the links below, where you can sign-up for a place on Eventbrite. All events are free and open to the public. The events on Thursday 7th Oct and Friday 8th October are aimed at schools (upper level of primary).

Ask the Experts: Adventure to the stars

Tue, 5 October 2021, 12:00 – 13:00 BST

A chance to ask our expert panel about their research into observing the night sky and using online telescopes. Sign-up on Eventbrite here.

About this event

Join us as we journey to the stars with the scientists involved with The Open University telescope facility in Tenerife. We’ll hear how these scientists use the telescopes for research to image the night sky learning about stars, galaxies and a host of Solar System objects. We’ll also find out how you can get involved using the telescopes remotely through our world leading OpenScience Laboratories.

This event, which will be hosted as a webinar on Zoom, is aimed at anyone who wants to learn more about observing the night sky using research telescopes.

Please submit your questions in advance, or on the day, to STEM-Communications@open.ac.uk for our host to ask our scientists.

Ask the Expert: Building Alien Worlds

Wed, 6 October 2021, 12:00 – 13:00 BST

As part of our World Space Week series. We’ll be exploring whether there are other planets beyond our Solar System that are just like Earth? Sign-up on Eventbrite here.

About this event

Join us for this Ask the Experts: Building Alien Worlds, part of our World Space Week series. We’ll be exploring whether there are other planets beyond our Solar System that are just like Earth? And how would we even find these worlds if they exist – exoplanets?

You’ll learn more about the exoplanets that exist in star systems located light years from Earth. You’ll see how our scientists locate and investigate these far-flung planets, finding out about the geology of their surfaces and chemistry of their atmospheres using advanced telescopes and laboratory experiments. We will also explore whether there is the possibility for life in these fascinating and varied worlds beyond Earth.

This event is part of our Ask the Expert sessions aimed at anyone who wants to learn more about the planetary objects that exist beyond our Solar System, and how scientists use planets closer to Earth to learn more about those light years away from us.

Our panel will be answering questions during the event. You can submit questions in advance or on the day by emailing us at STEM-Communications@open.ac.uk (please put ‘Building Alien Worlds’ in the subject of your email).

Ask the Experts: Icy Moons (school event)

Thu, 7 October 2021, 14:00 – 15:00 BST

Join us for this fascinating look at icy moons in this Ask the Experts event, part of our World Space Week series. Sign-up on Eventbrite here.

About this event

Icy Moons, such as Enceladus and Europa, are some of the coolest places in the solar system, not just because of their cold temperature, but as they are where it might be possible to find life, or the evidence of life, in space!

Our speakers from AstrobiologyOU, are actively involved in the research into icy moons, and will take you on an incredible journey where you’ll learn about the environment on icy moons, how we research them and if we might find life on them in the future. Our amazing panel of speakers include Al del Moral, Grace Duffield and Dr Mark Fox-Powell, with the event hosted by Dr Claire Batty.

This event will be of interest to anyone with a curious mind about space and astronomy as well as teachers, parents and carers of children in Year 5 (Key Stage 2) and above.

Signing up to this Zoom event allows you and your children, whether they are in-school or at home, to ask questions to our team of scientists via live chat on the day.

The event will be hosted in a Zoom webinar format on Tuesday 7 October 14:00-15:00.

Alien worlds (school event)

Fri, 8 October 2021, 14:00 – 15:00 BST

Have you ever wondered if there is a planet just like Earth elsewhere in the Universe? Has that planet had life just like us? Sign-up on Eventbrite here.

About this event

Have you ever wondered if there is a planet just like Earth elsewhere in the Universe? Maybe that planet has life just like us, or maybe it’s a barren world?

As part of our World Space Week series of events, Alien Worlds will engage curious, young minds as we explore the possibilities of life-supporting planets elsewhere in space. This live Q&A session will give you access to one of our most accomplished astronomers, Professor Carole Haswell.

Join Professor Haswell as she takes you on a journey to explore some of the planets beyond Earth, so-called exoplanets, telling us about how we locate them and find out what they’re made from. Only then can we start to wonder whether they might host alien life…..

Questions can be sent into us in advance or on the day by emailing STEM-Communications@open.ac.uk with Alien Worlds – Question in the subject line. Teachers, please collate questions from your classes with students first name if possible.

The event will be taking place as a Zoom webinar on Friday 8 October from 14.00-14.45.