About – STEM Faculty

Computing and Communications

The School leads and shapes the digital revolution through delivering innovative and dynamic teaching that is relevant to the workplace, and is founded on world-class research and scholarship in computing and communications.

Engineering and Innovation

The School leads the OU’s teaching in Engineering, Design, Technology & Innovation Management, Systems Thinking and Environmental Management and has highly rated Design and Materials Engineering research.

Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences

The School is renowned for its interdisciplinary research and teaching methods, enhancing our understanding of past and present Earth and environmental systems interactions, and promoting positive actions for a sustainable future.

Life Health and Chemical Sciences

Leading research and teaching across the broad discipline areas: Brain & Behavioural Sciences; Cell & Molecular Biology; Chemistry & Analytical Sciences and Human Biology.

Mathematics and Statistics

The School’s research in mathematics and statistics fuels innovation in industry, medicine and public health.

Physical Sciences

World-leading research and teaching in Astronomy, Physics, and Planetary & Space Sciences.

Knowledge Media Institute

KMi is at the forefront of research and development in: Cognitive and Learning Sciences, Artificial Intelligence and Semantic Technologies, and Multimedia.

News

Advancing AI approaches to intangible cultural heritage at a British Academy workshop in Rome

22 Jul 2026

KMi researcher Dr Alessio Antonini and Prof John Domingue recently convened a successful British Academy–funded workshop in Rome (26–28 May 2026) at the Bibliotheca Hertziana – Max Planck Institute for Art History, focusing on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of littorals. The workshop brought together collaborators to develop a new research bid for a Horizon 2027...

Meet the 2026 KMi Summer Scholars

10 Jul 2026

(Image, left to right: Richelle Acheampong, Temmy Phillips, Timi Banjo) KMi is delighted to welcome the 2026 cohort of Summer…

Promptathon 2026: Exploring Critical AI Literacy at the OU

01 Jul 2026

In May 2026, colleagues from across the OU came together for the Promptathon, a collaborative, challenge-based initiative exploring how we…

KMi and FBL researchers present SABRINA AI agent for ethical future-focused decision-making

30 Jun 2026

On 23 June, Audrey Ekuban from KMi and Ruth Dimes from FBL, accompanied by FBL PhD student Tapiwa Muvirimi, presented…

Computer Séance: A new research podcast from KMI researchers explores AI through the lens of popular culture

29 Jun 2026

As artificial intelligence reshapes almost every aspect of contemporary life, a new…

Taking AI out of the Lab: Real-world data collection at The Saxon Clinic

23 Jun 2026

Building on the momentum of the Innovate UK–funded initiative at…

KMi research informs parliamentary debate on AI, labour, and gender inequality

21 Apr 2026

KMi’s Prof Miriam Fernandez was recently invited to contribute to…

View all

People

Prf Mike Fernando

Executive Dean, STEM

STEM at The Open University is about opening doors: to knowledge, opportunity and discovery. Our strength lies in the people who learn, teach, research and collaborate here, and in the difference we can make together.

Prf Stephen Lewis

Head of School

Prf Carlton Wood

Head of School

environment-earth-and-ecosystem-sciences

Mr John Woodthorpe

Head of School

View all people

Research highlights

OU Analyse

OU Analyse is a system powered by machine learning methods for early identification of students at risk of failing. All students with their risk of failure in their next assignment are updated weekly and made available to the course tutors...

Dynamic Earth

Our research focuses on quantifying the mechanisms and rates of key processes in the solid Earth system. We are at the forefront of developing analytical techniques to categorise the redistribution of economically important elements during crustal recycling. We use high-precision...

ELENA

H2020 Project ID: 722149 funded as a MSCA-ITN-ETN - European Training Network

View all