News Story

BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds – Rare Earth

Wednesday 7 Jan 2026

This month, the BBC science documentary series Rare Earth returns with a fifth series. Academics from the OU STEM Faculty, including the School of Engineering and Innovation, have once again contributed to the production.

Rare Earth is a weekly podcast and radio show which digs deeper into the biggest issues for our planet. Each episode tackles a major story about environment and wildlife, exploring the relationship between humans and the Earth.

From human impact on the ozone layer to the return of wolves in Europe, the series highlights both the damage done and possible solutions.

Find out more about climate challenges on OU Connect: https://connect.open.ac.uk/nature-and-environment/rare-earth/

If you’d like to know more about how to apply creative and analytical knowledge to real world problems then check out our Engineering, Design and Innovation, and Environmental Management courses.