Why not take your interest in science further by studying for a course with the Open University?

The courses range from short, introductory courses at first level to post-graduate courses. For further information on the courses available, why not make your start with our taking it further pages?

The world around us
Computing and the net
The planets and beyond

Further reading

Nutrition and Health, Book 3 of ST240 Our Chemical Environment,The Open University (2000)

A Manual for the Novice Gold Prospector
A book for absolute beginners, it contains all the basic knowledge you need. It looks at how gold behaves, how to pan, how to use a sluice and the basics of detecting. It also examines the types and features of gold workings and what to look for. It explains the jargon of prospecting, and how to research for places to go, as well as some tips on safety.

Gold Detecting for Novices
Aimed at people with little or no experience, this book explores the different places and types of gold to look for and why.

Metals and Chemical Change, edited by David Johnson, published by The Open University and the Royal Society of Chemistry (2002)

Materials and Energy, Book 2 of the Open University Course ST240 Our Chemical Environment, The Open University (2000)

Weblinks

Minerals of Scotland
Introductory guide for the collecting, panning and mining of gold in Scotland.

The Aussie Gold Prospector
Australian gold prosepector site, covering the history of gold, finding gold and practical advice in starting to pan for gold.

University of Cincinnati - the chemistry of fats and oils explained.

Nutrition Australia- more on fats and oils from a nutritional angle.

University of California
Information on how to build your own seismograph

Incorported Research Institution for Seismology
A Seismic Monitor which allows you to monitor global earthquakes in near real-time, visit seismic stations around the world, and search the web for earthquake or region-related links.

How Earthquakes work
This site looks at what causes earthquakes and how they can have such devastating effects.

Northern California Earthquake Data Center
Worldwide seismogram readings.

The Tech
This site gives explanations of seismographs and seismograms.

How stuff works
How a lens works

Wikipedia Encyclopedia
A site looking at a variety of chemical reactions, including exothermic and endothermic reations.

Washington University in St Louis
This site provides an experiement for an exothermic reaction.

University of Siegen - Germany
Selection of experiments of Thermit reactions

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