Meet our scientists

Meet some of the The Open University experts who helped the Bang! team put science to the test.

Nick Braithwaite, Engineering Physicist
Nick's research is in plasma physics - a broad field that stretches from the interactions of charged particles with solid surfaces on a scale of micrometres to stars and the interstellar medium.
Nick on the question 'what makes technology important'

James Bruce, Organic Chemist
My research interests are broadly based around supramolecular photochemistry and the coordination chemsistry of the lanthanide metals with applications in chemical sensing and medicinal chemistry.
James' blogs for Open2

Michael Dodd, Research fellow
Mike's main expertise is in ecology and environmental areas - but he also teaches on an Open University photography course.
Mike's blogs for Open2

Jimena Gorfinkiel, Physicist
Jimena's chief research interest is electron-molecule collisions.

Mark Hirst, Biologist
Mark's post-doctoral research has focused primarily on triplet repeat instability, working on both human Fragile X syndrome and its genetics and Huntington’s disease.
Mark's blogs for Open2

Ian Johnston, Engineer and Mathematician
Ian is an academic engineer and applied mathematician with a passion for taking science to the masses.
Ian on the science of flight

Nigel Mason, Astrochemist & Physicist
The co-founder of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Astrobiology and The Centre of Atomic and Molecular Engineering.

Sylvia Miller, Mass Spectroscopist & Science Communicator
Sylvia on X-rays and planet formation

Peter Naish, Cognitive Psychologist
Peter is currently focussed on the nature of perception and consciousness, and he has been exploring these through hypnosis.
Peter on consciousness

Andrew John Norton, Astrophysicist
Andrew's area of research is time-domain astrophysics, in particular the astrophysics of compact accreting binary stars and planets around other stars.
Andy on SuperWASP

Liz Parvin, Physicist
Liz concentrates primarily on medical physics.

David Robinson, Zoologist
David's research interests are in animal communication, acoustics and evolutionary biology.
David on why animals fly

Dave Rothery, Geoscientist
Dave's expertise is in geology (especially volcanoes), planetary and space science.
Dave's blogs for Open2

Stephen Serjeant, Observational Cosmologist
Stephen is interested in finding the birth of galaxies like our Milky Way, by looking in infrared light for violent convulsions of star birth.
Stephen's blogs for Open2

Peter Skelton, Palaeontologist
Peter is the course chair on The Open University's Darwin and evolution course.
Peter on the evidence for evolution in fossils

Peter Taylor, Chemist
Peter's main interest is in organosilicon chemistry and public science engagement.
Peter on how plastic works

Liz Whitelegg, Science Education
Liz is a senior lecturer in Science Education in the Science Faculty and her background is in physics and in education.
Liz talks about how scientists are presented on TV and how children perceive them

Paul Wilkinson, Planetary and Space Sciences Research Institute
Paul is currently investigating the diversity and nature of microbe-mineral interactions in selected samples from extreme environments.