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STEM Faculty

Explore study opportunities from STEM Faculty.

The OpenSTEM Labs

The Open University’s OpenSTEM Labs are a suite of online laboratories that allow students from anywhere in the world to participate in experimental work 24/7 as if they were in the laboratory. Founded in 2013, the multi-award-winning labs make practical experiments accessible, changing the way scientists and engineers of the future are educated by making authentic laboratory experiences possible online and at scale.

Each year the OpenSTEM Labs support over 100,000 hours of student learning, helping the OU to address the nation’s critical shortage in STEM skills. Since its inception, the OpenSTEM Labs have supported over 120,000 users of which several thousand are external users from school children to PhD researchers. More than 10,000 new users register each year to access over 160 different practical activities.

OpenSTEM labs have successfully made the practical learning of STEM subjects a reality for many, embodying The OU’s mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas.

The OpenScience Laboratories logo comprises a rounded box displaying a graphical representation of a molecule on the left, and the name on the right. Note that the words Open and Science are always joined as one word in the logo. This image is also a link to The OpenScience Laboratory subpage.

The OpenScience Laboratory, launched in 2013 with funding from the Wolfson Foundation, provides online access to real data and equipment through customised student interfaces.

The OpenScience Observatories logo comprises a rounded box displaying a graphical representation of an astronomical observing dome on the left, and the name on the right. Note that the words Open and Science are always joined as one word in the logo. This image is also a link to The OpenScience Observatories subpage.

Comprising two remotely operated optical telescopes at the Observatorio del Teide in Tenerife, the OpenScience Observatories are used for both teaching and research.

The OpenEngineering Laboratories logo comprises a rounded box displaying a graphical representation of some cogs and connectors on the left, and the name on the right. Note that the words Open and Engineering are always joined as one word in the logo. This image is also a link to The OpenEngineering Laboratory subpage.

Launched in 2017, the OpenEngineering Lab supports practical learning at a distance encompassing electronics, signal-processing, control, materials and mechanical engineering.

The OpenHealth Laboratory logo comprises a rounded box displaying a graphical representation of the heart and a cardiograph reading on the left, and the name on the right. Note that the words Open and Health are always joined as one word in the logo. This image is also a link to The OpenHealth Laboratory subpage.

The OpenHealth Lab encapsulates experiments and activities used in our Health Science and related qualifications.

The OpenComputing Laboratory logo comprises a rounded box displaying some binary code (three strings of ones and zeros) on the left, and the name on the right. Note that the words Open and Computing are always joined as one word in the logo. This image is also a link to The OpenComputing Laboratory subpage.

The OpenComputing Lab gives students access to powerful data analysis and programming environments through their web browser.

For further information on our vision, values and assets, visit the About us page.