The OpenScience Laboratory

An initiative of The Open University and The Wolfson Foundation

This online laboratory brings interactive practical science to students anywhere and anytime the internet is available. The laboratory features investigations based on on-screen instruments, remote access experiments and virtual scenarios using real data. Several activities are available to all, while others are available only to registered users.

Come in and look around.

Lab tour

If you close this box, you can still see it at any time by clicking About from the main header above.

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Popular experiments

  • Graph plotter

    Subject Gen

    Import your own data to create graphs.

    Time required 30 mins or more
    Open to the public

  • OEL Video Test

    Subject Eng

    Welcome to the video test for the OpenEngineering Lab. This is designed to check that your computer/tablet and network combination can successfully connect to the resources in the laboratory.

    Time required
    Open to the public

  • Flame test II

    Subject Chem

    A simple demonstration of the characteristic colours produced by metallic salts in flames.

    Time required
    Open to the public

All experiments (filtered; page 1 of 5)

  • Fine Beam Tube

    Subject Phys Astro

    Access to real data from which users can determine a fundamental electron property.

    Time required 2-5 hours
    Open to the public

  • PIRATE facility

    Subject Astro Phys

    Remote-access astronomical observatory.

    Time required 10 h
    Open to the public

  • Variation in vegetation: the heather hypothesis

    Subject Env Bio Earth

    Sample virtual transects to gather data on species of heather.

    Time required 2.5 hours
    Open to the public

  • Adipose tissue: virtual microscope

    Subject Bio Health

    A collection of annotated slides covering adipose tissue.

    Time required 1-2 hours or more
    Open to the public

  • Light Harvesters

    Subject Env Bio

    Value the trees in your neighbourhood and see their environmental benefits using Treezilla.

    Time required 1-3 hours
    Open to the public

  • Sorting out soils

    Subject Env Bio Chem

    Examine the physical and chemical characteristics of soil.

    Time required 2.5 hours
    Open to the public

  • A-level: virtual microscope

    Subject Bio

    A collection of slides covering animal and plant tissues in the school curriculum.

    Time required 1-2 hours or more
    Open to the public

  • VOFT

    Subject Env Earth

    Virtual Oceanographic Field Trip

    Time required 3 - 4 hours
    Open to the public

  • Optical Microscope

    Subject Gen Bio Earth Env Mat

    Remote access to microscope ready loaded with a wide variety of slides.

    Time required 5 min - 1 h
    Open to the public
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