A-Z Index
Open2.net is the website for Open University programmes first broadcast on the BBC.
To visit the website supporting an OU/BBC programme, click on one of the images below. If you are interested in recording programmes, find out more about the Open University Off-Air Licence Recording Scheme by visiting the 'Buy Learning Resources' website.
African School
As part of Africa Lives on the BBC, BBC FOUR shares the daily struggles and triumphs at two Ugandan schools.
All Night Star Party
The All Night Star Party allowed viewers to see images from some of the world's largest telescopes live! Terry Pratchett and Patrick Moore were there for a truly star-studded night. You can still ask astronomical questions of our experts in the forum.
Alternative Medicine
Folk remedies, traditional treatments, faith and beliefs - Kathy Sykes reveals why science is starting to warm to complementary medicine.
Alternative Therapies
Kathy Sykes takes a personal journey through the competing claims of alternative therapies. Do they offer more than a placebo effect?
Art of Glamour
Obsessed with modernity and speed, luxury and fantasy, this glamourous art movement is more than just a look or a feel.
Stardate
What do we know of Venus? Find out more about Earth's evil twin.
Background brief
When the media talks about science, make sure you're prepared - get a Background Brief.
Battle of the Geeks
Reviving the spirit of the Great Egg Race, two teams compete to send an egg on a fantastic journey...
Beagle 2
The Beagle 2 project was the British led effort to land on Mars as part of the European Space Agency's Mars Express Mission, launched in June 2003.
Being Positive
Where did AIDS come from? How much risk does it present to the average person in the UK? Why are the risks so much higher in parts of Africa? Being Positive explores the statistics and the science behind the crisis.
The Big Question
Join Emma Joseph to discuss the big issues and tricky questions facing the world; or browse our archive of previous subjects.
Blue Sky
Sometimes the best ideas come from right out the blue.
Breaking the Seal
How can historical documents connect us with the past?
Breathing Places: Autumnwatch
Discover how you can make a difference in your corner of the planet.
British Isles: A User's Guide
Take a close look at the story of the British Isles, told through the regional differences in flora, fauna and geology.
Can Gerry Robinson Fix The NHS?
Gerry Robinson faced the biggest business challenge of his life: an NHS hospital.
Can Gerry Robinson Fix The NHS?: One Year On
Gerry Robinson returns to Rotherham General Hospital: Are his suggestions making a difference?
Cast and Crew
Kirsty Wark reunites the talent from both sides of the camera to discover how some British cinematic landmarks were made.
Caterham Super Sevens
Can a small company overcome generational change? Will they be able to re-launch a classic? Filmed over three years, this documentary turns up some surprising answers.
Cell City
Discover how the structure of our cells matches the structure of our cities.
Child of Our Time
Robert Winston catches up with our children - as their lives start to become more complex.
The Children's Stories
Ten profiles of the children featured in the series, each adding to our understanding of how all children develop.
Chinese School
Discover everyday life in rural China through the lives of students and staff.
Choices
How do the choices you make alter the environment?
Civil War
The English Civil War was one of the defining moments of seventeenth century Europe. Find out more about the key players and their times.
Click On
Simon Cox delves into the week’s intriguing technology stories and discovers how computers are touching people’s lives.
Climate Change
Climate scientists agree our world is already showing signs of change - but what does that really mean for our planet?
Coast
Enjoy some highlights of the original series exploring the point where the UK becomes the ocean.
Connecting
BBC Radio 4 and the Open University present a series of dramas that explore modern communications.
The Cosmos: A Beginner's Guide
Maggie, Adam and Janet answer all the questions you might have about the universe - from where it came from, to how it might end.
Creative Archive
Get your hands on our archive - rework it, remix it, mash it up. Make something new, and share it on.
Cyberboss
Meet Sally Davis, president of BT Ignite, one of a new brand of workers who manages her teams and projects using communication technology.
Desperate Midwives
What is childbirth like in the modern NHS? Our team of midwives from Derby are desperate to deliver.
Digital Being
All you ever wanted to know about computers but were afraid to ask. The ICT portal is all about our future, our past and the merging of different technologies.
Digital Nation
The nation is getting plugged-in. Meet the Modem Monks, the Cyberboss and the Trend Trackers - all part of this Digital Nation.
Digital Planet
How is technology changing the way we live?
Discovering Tchaikovsky
Charles Hazlewood takes us to the heart of two of Tchaikovsky's greatest works.
Does Africa Need Ade?
Adrian Edmondson visits Kenya to discover how your donations to Comic Relief are making a difference.
Dr Faustus
Would you swap your place in heaven for power on Earth? Could you take the consequences?
Ethics Bites Podcast
Our weekly consideration of ethics - and ethical boundaries - to download or listen to now.
Eurofighter
Europe's largest ever defence programme, completed ten years late and billions of pounds over budget. Ravaged by the blows of conflicting national interests and a changing world order.
Ever Wondered About Food
Take a closer look at the science, history and even artistic aspects of the food in your store cupboard - and create some mouthwatering recipes on the way.
Ever Wondered
Questions that make you sit up and think - about the world we live in, and life in general.
Family Ties
Royal connections and unexpected heroism are uncovered as BBC Two revisits the companion series to Who Do You Think You Are?
Flooded Britain
Climate change is putting increasing pressure on Britain's coastal regions. Is the solution to create more salt marshes rather than keeping the sea blocked out?
Forensic Engineering
Discover for yourself how forensic skills can explain the Tay Bridge Disaster - and more recent catastrophes.
Forums
Join the community on Open2.net. With topics as diverse as The Emerging Mind to popular science, have your say and ask questions of OU academics.
Free Thinking
An introduction to the ideas and events forming part of BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio Merseyside's Free Thinking event
From Here to Modernity
A movement; a way of life; an architectural style
Get Writing:Tips and Tasks
Tips and simple tasks to help you write - whether you're a newcomer to poetry or completing a novel.
The Essay: Greek and Latin Voices
The exploration of the roots of Western literature returns for a run of new programmes.
The Hidden Slave Trail
Discover Northern England's hidden role in the slave trade.
History Detectives
Neil Oliver and team recount amazing stories from clues in everyday objects.
History Mysteries
The story of the past can be unpeeled using the clues all around us. Find out how.
Hollywood Science
Hollywood stunts are legendary - but can you rely on tinseltown to do its homework?
The Human Mind
Robert Winston explores the workings of the mind.
Ian McMillan's Writing Lab
Ian McMillan gives an inspirational insight into the creative writing process, complete with tips for nurturing your inner writer.
In the Shadow of the Vesuvius
In the eighteenth century the eruptions of Vesuvius became a major tourist attraction. Learn more about the life and loves of the expert on the scene, Sir William Hamilton.
Indian School
Discover everyday life in the Indian education system, as Indian School comes to BBC Two.
Inside The Medieval Mind
The Middle Ages: Turbulent times, certainly, but what was it like to live through?
Interdependence Day 2006
A new approach to the challenges of our planet: prepare for Interdependence Day.
Interdependence Day 2007
Making maps for an interconnected world
The Invention of Childhood
Kids don't change, but attitudes to childhood do - BBC Radio 4 follows the development of growing up in Britain.
James May's 20th Century
James May explores 100 years of innovation which would change the world forever.
Journeys From The Centre Of The Earth
Iain Stewart takes us on a tour round the Med, showing how far the region and the world has been influenced by its rocks - in everything from religion to cuisine.
Journeys In Thought
Discover the journeys which shaped the lives and thoughts of some of the giants of philosophy.
Just Do It
Radio One's Bobby Friction asks Alan Sugar and others how to make a success of your business.
Lab Rats
Mike Leahy and Zeron Gibson face their fears, race their sperm, stay up (very) late and reach for the skies - all in the name of science. Join the Rats as they explore their bodies through a series of wild challenges.
A Land Worth Loving
Nick Knowles traces the lives of five families seeking to make their lives more ecologically aware.
Landscape Mysteries
Aubrey Manning returns to BBC TWO to solve geological and geographical puzzles. From chalk figures to the riddle of the Yorkshire tracks, what does the landscape tell us about the past?
Lenny's Britain
What does our humour say about us?Join Lenny Henry to explore Britain and Ireland through jokes.
Leonardo
The life of the artist, the inventor, the scientist, the man. Leonardo's genius with observation and experimentation lay the groundwork for the scientific method.
Life in Cold Blood
David Attenborough completes his 'Life' journey by getting close to those creatures whose blood runs cold.
Life In The Undergrowth
Join David Attenborough as he takes a trip into the thriving world of bugs and beyond.
Looking For Democracy
A concept much invoked in political debate, what actually is democracy? Does it work, and how does it adapt itself around the world?
Making of Modern Medicine
From the Greeks to organ transplants, trace the development of medical treatments.
Mark Steel Lectures
Who did some of his best thinking in an oven? Which comedy actor was barred from the US? Discover the other side to some familiar figures with Mark's new collection of lectures.
Masters of Science
Three Masters of Science students recorded web diaries as they took their courses through the OU in 2001. What turns an enquiring mind into a scientist?
The Material World
BBC Radio 4's science weekly discovers what happens on an OU Summer School.
The Mechanics of Space Exploration
Dr Cyril Isenberg delivers the CEPSAR Christmas lecture - listen online.
Meet The Immigrants
Go beyond the statistics and headlines to meet the people who've made the UK home.
A Mile in their Shoes
Three celebrities - Nick Knowles, Patrick Kielty and Victoria Beckham - go the extra mile to see how Sports Relief makes a real difference around the world. Read more about the programme.
Modem Monks
A community of Cistercian monks who set up a website and webshop to sell their monastic produce, in order to improve their less-than-healthy financial situation.
The Money Programme
The series investigates boiler room share operations - who, exactly, gets rich quick?
More or Less
Why are figures not always fact? Tim Harford takes us beyond the headline figures to explore the real meaning of statistics.
Music of the Primes
They're the atoms of the maths world, and they keep you safe when you buy stuff online. Tune in to the world of prime numbers.
Nation On Film
When amateur film makers shot movies in the 1900s, few probably suspected their value to future historians. Find out what home movies reveal about life, work and even the wars in the last century.
Nature of Britain
Alan Titchmarsh sings the praises of Britain's natural treasures - and how you can help them.
Next Big Thing
Cloning... living forever.. computers that think? What is the Next Big Thing?
Nobody's Normal
A five part series about families living with disability from BBC One.
Online Radio
Listen online to this unique radio series that outlines the history of electronics. From crystal sets to the microprocessor, hear from the pioneers as they talk about their discoveries. It's history with a technological edge.
Online Radio - Curiosity Shop
A series of downloadable radio programmes dealing with diverse topics such as "Can a Piano Fly?" to "Can you Really Dissolve a Human Body in Acid?". Join David Robinson as he presents The New Curiosity Shop.
Open Advice
Thinking of studying but don't know where to begin? Follow our Open Advice.
Open Minds
Want to expand your mind? Sharpen your wits? Give your brain a good workout? Anita McNaught and Dan Roland present Open Minds - where knowledge is cool.
Open University Radio Lecture
Doreen Massey explains why the world might not be shrinking quite as much as you may have been told. Download the lecture mp3.
OpenLearn: Free learning resources
Free learning resources from the Open University
The Other Medicine
Complementary and Alternative Medicine is now a multi-million pound business. While mainstream doctors no longer reject it out of hand, how can we be sure CAM works? Join Anna Ford on Radio 4 to explore the debate.
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OU Lecture 2005
Sir Ian Kershaw delivers the first OU Lecture for BBC FOUR. As we reach the 60th anniversary of Hitler's death, how will history judge him?
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OU Lecture 2007
Watch or listen online to Professor John Zarnecki as he relives the first half-century of space exploration.
Inspired to learn
Discover more about the Open University, our programmes - and what we can do for you if you're inspired to learn.
Our Man in the Antarctic
The man coming in from the cold: Meet blogger Mark Brandon - our man in the Antarctic.
Paris
Join us for a look at the City of Light in a whole new light.
People's War
The Second World War was a total war - and it totally changed everything. As part of the the BBC People's War project, Open2 explores the lasting legacies of the conflict.
Personal Passions
Find out the secret loves of the famous, as they reveal their Personal Passions.
Picture of Britain
David Dimbleby explores the history of the British landscape through art for BBC ONE; while BBC FOUR's Digital Picture of Britain asks if modern photography can have the same impact.
A Picture of Health
The BBC and the OU came together to take a snapshot of a typical day in the 21st-century NHS.
PY's Rules of the Game
Wonder why economics matters to you? PY explains how it controls football, the car you drive - even how happy you are.
Reading on Open2
Grab a book, write a book, rate a book, debate a book - if it's connected with reading, the place to start is Reading on Open2.
Respect for the Earth
On the cusp of a new millennium, a distinguished panel of experts look to our common futures.
A Question of Trust
Onora O'Neill discussed the nature of trust in the BBC Reith Lectures 2002. How have philosophers through the ages tackled trust? Why is it such a key issue in the 21st century?
The Emerging Mind
Open2 provides in-depth background to BBC Radio 4's Reith Lectures for 2003 The Emerging Mind. Find out more about the inner workings of the brain with articles by OU academics.
The Climate of Fear
Nigerian writer and activist Wole Soyinka gives this year's Reith Lectures. Against the backdrop of the 'War on Terror,' Soyinka explores the nature of fear and asks: What exactly are we afraid of?
Triumph of Technology
This year, Lord Broers takes the theme "The Triumph of Technology." Join our experts to debate his views in the Reith Lectures forum.
In the Beginning was Sound
Daniel Barenboim explains his belief in the healing powers of music. Can it bring unity where politics have failed?
Reith 2007: Bursting at the Seams
As the number of people grows, and more people chase finite resources, Jeffrey Sachs asks "is our planet bursting at the seams?"
Renaissance Secrets
The secrets of history exposed: conspiracies against the Queen; new cities rising out of the old; married couples who weren't actually wed.
Romans in Britain
A history of a nation during occupation.
Romantics
Pete Ackroyd and a strong cast recreate the turbulent lives of the pioneers of turbulent imagination.
Rough Science 1
Five scientists were taken to a remote Mediterranean island and set a series of challenges to test their ingenuity and lateral thinking.
Carriacou
Rough Science returns - this time on an island.
New Zealand
Kate Humble joins the scientists as they search for gold on the rugged west coast of New Zealand's South Island. Find out if they found gold. Make your own metal detector!
Death Valley
The team are taken to Mars - or, at least, as close as we can manage on Earth.
Zanzibar
Don't let the beautiful location fool you - for the scientists, this is no lazy summer holiday.
Colorado
The team are back to face challenges way up in the Colorado mountains - and down in an abandoned mine.
Rules of Life
In nature, if at first you don't succeed, you... don't succeed. Join Aubrey Manning on BBC Radio 4 to discover why.
Sacred Music
Simon Russell Beale explores the flowering of Western sacred music. Listen to the music.
School Day
See the education system through the eyes of those who know it best.
Science Shack
Can we do impossible feats? Join Adam Hart-Davis and his team as they put science to the test in the Science Shack. Make your own ornithoper (flapping plane).
Shakespeare Re-told
As part of the BBC's Shakespeare ReTold season , William Boyd brings the story behind the Sonnets to life for BBC FOUR.
The Slavery Business
Take a fresh look at slavery - what did it mean to treat people as chattels; and why does the trade continue today?
Small Matters
Discover how everyday substances, from water to wool, depend on their smallest parts.
Snapshots
Six young scientists and engineers embark on exciting careers in industry and universities, from searching for the magnetic monopole to automated submersibles.
Someone To Watch Over Me
Difficult situations; life-changing decisions; conflicting interests - the real face of Social Work.
The Somme: From defeat to victory
Remembered for the bloody slaughter, is there another story behind The Somme?
The Sound of Life
Aubrey Manning invites you to join him to explore the sounds of the planet, the sounds of nature - the Sound of Life. What did the world sound like in the beginning - and as we make more and more artificial noise, what does the future hold?
Stardate
Travel the universe and scan the heavens - Stardate is your guide to the skies.
Steve Squyres lecture
The latest from Mars, via Milton Keynes and your PC, as Mars Rover principal investigator Steve Squyres lectures.
Sunday Surgery
Teen pregnancy and STIs are on the rise - is sex education failing?
Talking Languages
Students, teachers and enthusiasts discuss languages in our exclusive podcasts.
The Things We Forgot To Remember
Michael Portillo investigates more of the events which history overlooks.
Think Friends
You might work out with your mates - but do you look out for each others mental health?
Thinking Allowed
Laurie Taylor and guests explore the city of Marseille - in France, but apart from France.
Timewatch
Meet the Ten Pound Poms - Britons who took assisted passage to Australia.
Transit of Venus
Transits of Venus - the passing of Venus in front of the Sun - have played a historical role in the calculation of the Astronomical Unit. Did you see the transit in 2004? Explore its significance and share your experiences.
Trend Trackers - Digital Nation
What does the future hold for online gaming, male grooming and the way children use computer technology? Meet the Trend Trackers, the people who watch developments today and try to predict what's coming next.
Truth Will Out
Is global warming caused by humans? Is there intelligent life out there? Is CJD caused by BSE? Discover the truth behind these hotly debated issues.
A Waste Of Shame
The story behind the Sonnets - part of Shakespeare ReTold.
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Weekend Break
Join us as we get to grips with the essential language for a weekend break.
Well connected
Mariella Frostrup reveals how new technology has changed the world in which we live and enhanced the lives of many individuals around the globe.
What The Ancients Did For Us
Footballs, chocolate - even computers. Some very familiar items have longer histories than you might think. Join Adam Hart-Davis and his team to discover the extent of our ancestor's legacies.
What The Industrial Revolution Did For Us
Join Dan Cruickshank to explore the scientific, technological and political changes of the 19th century, when the industrial leap forward shaped the world we live in today.
Word4Word
Explore the rich - and sometimes surprising - varieties of the English language with the Voices team and BBC Radio 4.
The World in a Box
Historian Lisa Jardine takes us through the private collections which formed the basis for our most famous museums. Follow the history of the national collections from mere cabinets of curiosities to world class institutions in The World in a Box.