This module consists of 11 topics with questions to help you start thinking like a scientist. The final topic, What is ‘Bad science’? brings together the principles of good science practice that you will learn throughout the module.
Topic 1: Can you make a hole in water?
Water is essential for life as we know it, and its many special properties distinguish it from other substances, making it of interest to all scientists. This topic will introduce you to some fascinating science, including chemistry, Earth sciences, and physics.
Topic 2: How do you know what is alive?
This topic will focus on the biological functions used to define ‘life’. First, you learn about the diversity of living things and what living organisms are made up of. You will learn about the basic functions of life: growth, reproduction, metabolism, and response to stimuli or adaptation to the environment.
Topic 3: Why does it snow in winter?
You will gain a basic understanding of what makes the weather on Earth and its seasonal cycle. The topic starts with forces and then investigates gravity, the orbit of Earth around the Sun, and the orbit of the Moon around Earth. Finally, it looks at how these forces combine to give Earth its distinctive climatic zones.
Topic 4: Is there life on Mars?
Life is found in all environments across Earth, with vast diversity and abundance. Some organisms have developed ways to live and thrive in extreme environments such as hot deserts or deep oceans. Knowing how these organisms survive lets us consider whether life might exist on Mars.
Topic 5: Why do metals corrode?
This topic explores the main characteristic properties of metals. You will look at the chemical interactions of metals with different surrounding environments (in air, soil and water) and how the reactivity of different metals varies greatly. Easy ways of preventing metal deterioration are also discussed. You will build a battery using galvanised nails and copper wire, and conduct simple chemistry experiments with copper coins and iron nails.
Topic 6: How similar am I to a plant?
The diverse organisms on Earth seem to have very little in common besides being ‘alive’ as described in Topic 2. You will learn about the principles of inheritance and genetics, consider how different humans are from one another and investigate this yourself.
Topic 7: Does the Earth move under your feet?
Earth is very diverse, yet we see similarities between separate parts of the world in the geology and the species living there. How has this come about? Is it the result of moving plants and animals or a moving Earth? This topic discusses the different mechanisms underlying the movement and distribution of organisms around the world, including ocean and wind currents, continental drift and sea-level change, as well as the role of humans and the influence of evolution.
Topic 8: Are waves everywhere?
What are waves, and how do they form? There are waves you can see and waves you cannot see. You will develop an understanding of what waves are, why and how they happen, and how humans can exploit some of their properties. This topic is also about the conservation of energy and restoring forces.
Topic 9: Can we lead a chemical-free life?
This topic examines some common misconceptions, responsible for turning the word chemical into a shorthand for “unpleasant additive". Are synthetic chemicals dangerous? Are natural chemicals better for us? We look at chemicals within the Earth and their use as ‘natural resources’; chemicals in our diet and inside our homes; and chemicals as treatments for disease. This topic includes a home experiment on investigating the impact of household products on early root growth in seeds.
Topic 10: Why does the Sun shine?
The Sun provides the energy necessary for life on Earth, but how does it work? We look at the physical properties of our own star and the physical processes that power it. In the latter part of this topic, we examine the Sun in a broader astronomical context, relating it to other stars, examining its evolution and death in the far future and the intimate role played by the death of stars in the birth of life.
Topic 11: What is ‘Bad Science’?
The module concludes with a discussion of the ethics of scientific experimentation and good practice in experimentation to ensure unbiased and scientifically sound results. This final topic leads to the final assessment, which looks back over the experiments undertaken throughout the module.
You will learn the key scientific concepts that underpin the world around us. You will develop scientific and critical thinking skills to help you understand and use scientific information. You will develop scientific investigation skills through practical experimentation and share your findings with other students. An important part of this module is the development of key mathematical skills, crucial for scientific analysis and explanation. As this module is entirely online, your skills for learning and working online will also be developed. By the end of the module, you will be a confident, independent learner.
While exploring various interesting topics, this module will develop your problem-solving and collaboration abilities and improve your mathematical and communication skills online. These skills are beneficial in a work context, particularly in jobs requiring a precise and quantitative approach.
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
The School of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences offers optional laboratory schools in Milton Keynes at an additional cost. Laboratory schools are not part of this module but may be of interest if you wish to gain relevant hands-on laboratory experience.
Further information and instructions for booking are on the SS011 website.
You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:
Additionally, the website includes:
You can study this module on its own or use the credits you gain towards an Open University qualification.
S111 is a compulsory module in our:
S111 is an option module in our:
Questions in science (S111) starts twice a year – in October and January.
It will next start in October 2026 and January 2027.
We expect it to start for the last time in January 2028.
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