Hello - just found you!

[Precious]

Hi
Great site!
I am a 'fifty-something' who believes we need to take much more care of our environment and our wildlife. After recently completeing a BSc (hopefully!) with the Open University - for 'fun' (some people think I'm a masachist!) I hope to have time to contribute to the forum. This year I did Oceanography - last year Environmental Science - great courses and I learned a lot. I've just started putting together a website about things I care about - not highly scientific - I want everyone to have a bit more knowledge and then maybe together we can slow-down climate change and all the associated threats such as species extinctions and deforestation.

Look forward to reading posts here.

All the best

Precious

[stirling]

Hi and welcome from me Precious,look forward to seeing your site when finished.

Best from mike.

[paul m]

You're a youngster then! Look forward to seeing more of your site. This site has great potential - Stuart puts a lot of work into it - but basically needs more people to participate in fora and galleries - to build up a head of steam!

PS: I'm sure that some people on the site would like to know more about what OU degrees involve - what are the options, how much work is involved, what does it cost etc.. Are there similar schemes in other countries?

[Precious]

Hi and thanks for the welcomes.

I found the OU excellent - but then I'm divorced and my kids have flown the nest so I had plenty of time! In other words it can be a bit time consuming and around this time of the year, when the October final exam is over, I get to do all those jobs that have been waiting all year (defrost 'fridge, spring clean! etc.)

The variety of courses is vast. I was able to choose things that interested me - like geology, oceanography, environmental science. Also did a couple of 'heavier' chemistry modules that really got the brain cells working! And you can go at your own pace - I started in 2000 but had a couple of years break due to health (couldn't cope with full time work, breast cancer AND OU!)

Most of the courses have beautiful books, CD-roms maps etc. The costs are about �600 for a 60 point course (you need 300 for a degree, 360 for Honours unless you already have some higher learning awards). The cost does include most of your books and there is financial aid available. Some courses have one week residential summer schools which are extra but for things like the science courses lab/field work is important.
There are lots of optional extra day trips and help available.

I would recommend anyone to take a look - they even do mini courses (about 8 weeks I think) so you can dip your toe in first.

Hope that gives you an idea - post any questions and I'll try and answer.

Precious

[goosey]

Hi Precious, welcome from me to! You sound as if you are so busy - good luck with your website and all your other interests. I look forward to seeing your photos and posts - but don't put off defrosting that fridge!