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

  • Maps and landforms

    Subject Env Earth

    Learn how to interpret maps and how to use a compass.

    Time required 1 hour
    Open to the public

  • Elementary flame test

    Subject Chem Phys

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

    Time required 1 hour
    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

All experiments (filtered; page 1 of 5)

  • Virtual petrographic microscope

    Subject Earth Env

    Thin rock sections viewed under a polarising microscope.

    Time required 1-2 hours
    Open to the public

  • PIRATE facility

    Subject Astro Phys

    Remote-access astronomical observatory.

    Time required 10 h
    Open to the public

  • Sedimentary rocks and fossils

    Subject Earth

    A reference set of hand specimens.

    Time required 1-2 hours
    Open to the public

  • Treezilla

    Subject Env Bio

    Map and record Britain's trees using Citizen Science.

    Time required 30 mins or more
    Open to the public

  • A-Level Virtual microscopy

    Subject Bio Env Gen Health

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

    Time required
    Open to the public

  • Elementary flame test

    Subject Chem Phys

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

    Time required 1 hour
    Open to the public

  • Graph plotter

    Subject Gen

    Import your own data to create graphs.

    Time required 30 mins or more
    Open to the public

  • Field Network System

    Subject Env Bio Earth

    A portable network infrastructure for fieldwork.

    Time required N/A
    Open to the public

  • Leaf Structure as Environment Indicator

    Subject Env Bio

    Microscopic study of leaf structure relating to environment

    Time required
    Open to the public
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