You are here

  1. Home
  2. New advisory board guides the future of OU research

New advisory board guides the future of OU research

Societal Challenges logo

A new external advisory board has been formed to advise on the future of research at The Open University (OU).

The Research Strategic Advisory Board has been formed to engage the expertise of individuals from sectors including charity, social enterprise, academia and industry to inform the direction of the OU’s Research Plan to be launched on 22 September 2022 in London in line with the University’s new strategy.

The Board has provided advice on how other organisations have improved their societal impact and how The Open University can build collaborations to further enhance our response to societal challenges.

In January, members were taken through pilot projects to test how we can help academic teams to develop their approaches in challenges focussing on sustainability, living well and tackling inequalities.

Chair of the Research Strategic Advisory Board, Martha Lane-Fox, Chancellor of The Open University said:

“The board brings a diversity of voices and experiences to inform the OU’s ability to rise to societal challenges in a way that is unique to the scale and reach of The Open University. They bring energy, perspective and challenge to us so that we can shape our solutions and play our part through our research on a global stage. Our first two meetings have focussed on projects responding to challenges in sustainability and equality, themes that are core to the OU’s mission and our new strategy.”

The full list of board members is:

  • Martha Lane-Fox, Chancellor, The Open University
  • Dr Annette Bramley, Director N8 Research Partnership
  • Jack Houghton, CEO, Half-Full
  • Sarah Jones, President of The Open University Students Association
  • Mohit Joshi, President, Infosys Ltd
  • Stephanie Laing, Citizens MK
  • Einstein Ntim, Chair of Global Startup Ecosystem
  • Professor Hywel Thomas, President, Learned Society of Wales
  • Elizabeth T Vega OBE, Group CEO, Informed Solutions
  • Professor Kevin Shakesheff, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, The Open University
  • Jake Yeo, Director of Research and Enterprise, The Open University
  • Jhumar Johnson, Chief of Staff to the Vice-Chancellor, The Open University

Find out more about OU research

Quarterly Review of Research

Read our Quarterly Review of Research to learn about our latest quality academic output.

View the latest review

Contact our news team

For all out of hours enquiries, please telephone +44 (0)7901 515891

Contact details

News & articles

The Moon above the sea, with its reflection in the sea

China set to blast off to the far side of the Moon – here’s what it could discover

China is attempting to recover the first ever soil and rock samples from the lunar far side. The surface mission, Chang’e 6, named after the Chinese Moon goddess Chang’e, is a successor to the successful sample return mission, Chang’e 5, and a part of the Chinese lunar exploration programme.

2nd May 2024
See all