{"id":290,"date":"2026-08-01T19:49:11","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T18:49:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/?page_id=290"},"modified":"2026-08-01T20:39:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T19:39:43","slug":"research-interests","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/research\/research-interests\/","title":{"rendered":"Research in E&#038;I"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The research undertaken within the School is diverse and contributes to disciplinary, inter-disciplinary, multi-disciplinary, and trans-disciplinary projects and outcomes both nationally and internationally. Individual academics and research groups within the School are internationally recognised in their respective fields. While some research activities are laboratory-based, using equipment and infrastructure to conduct experiments, others apply methods from the social sciences and humanities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The School contributed to six Units of Assessment in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/results2021.ref.ac.uk\/\">REF2021<\/a>. These were B7 (Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences), B12 (Engineering), C22 (Anthropology and Development Studies), C23 (Education), D32 (Art and Design: History, Practice, and Theory), and D33 (Music, Drama, Dance and Performing Arts). In these six Units of Assessment, an average of 82% of the University&#8217;s research was rated internationally excellent or world-leading in terms of originality, significance, and rigour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The range of subject expertise within the School is broad and reflects the broad curriculum that our academic research underpins (in engineering, design, environment, technology management, and systems thinking). A strength from this diverse expertise is our sustained success in obtaining funding from a wide range of sources including AHRC, EPSRC, ERC, ESA, ESRC, GCRF, Innovate UK, NERC, Royal Society, STFC, and UKSA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The School cultivates a collegiate research environment, where research collaborations across disciplinary boundaries are encouraged. Indeed, much external bidding is dependent on self-organised initiatives to re-configure research expertise from within and outside the School appropriately. This ability to adapt also shows in the cross-disciplinary research ideas and supervision collaborations for doctoral studentships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our research expertise also contributes to a variety of knowledge exchange, outreach and international development projects with national and international partners from most sectors of the economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Within the School staff variously contribute to the areas of research activity listed here, some of which involve staff from other schools and faculties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a class=\"ou-hero__link\" href=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/research\/acoustics\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/sites\/www.open.ac.uk.stem.engineering-and-innovation\/files\/images\/acustics-tn.jpg\" alt=\"Acoustics\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/research\/acoustics\">Acoustics<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a class=\"ou-hero__link\" href=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/research\/applied-systems-thinking-practice\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/sites\/www.open.ac.uk.stem.engineering-and-innovation\/files\/images\/applied-systems-tn.jpg\" alt=\"Applied Systems Thinking in Practice\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/research\/acoustics\"><a href=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/research\/applied-systems-thinking-practice\">Applied Systems Thinking in Practice<\/a><\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a class=\"ou-hero__link\" href=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/research\/design\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/sites\/www.open.ac.uk.stem.engineering-and-innovation\/files\/images\/design-group-tn.jpg\" alt=\"Design Group\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/research\/design\">Design<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a class=\"ou-hero__link\" href=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/research\/technology-enhanced-learning\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/sites\/www.open.ac.uk.stem.engineering-and-innovation\/files\/images\/technology-enhanced-learning-tn.jpg\" alt=\"Technology Enhanced Learning\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/research\/education\">Education<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a class=\"ou-hero__link\" href=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/research\/energy\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/sites\/www.open.ac.uk.stem.engineering-and-innovation\/files\/images\/energy-research-tn.jpg\" alt=\"Energy graphic\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/research\/energy\">Energy<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a class=\"ou-hero__link\" href=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/research\/engineering\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/sites\/www.open.ac.uk.stem.engineering-and-innovation\/files\/images\/engineering-tn.jpg\" alt=\"Factory building\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/research\/engineering\">Engineering<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a class=\"ou-hero__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/research\/materials\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/sites\/www.open.ac.uk.stem.engineering-and-innovation\/files\/images\/materials-tn.jpg\" alt=\"Materials Engineering\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/research\/materials\">Materials<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a class=\"ou-hero__link\" href=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/research\/sustainability\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/sites\/www.open.ac.uk.stem.engineering-and-innovation\/files\/images\/sustainability-tn.jpg\" alt=\"Sustainability\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/research\/sustainability\">Sustainability<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a class=\"ou-hero__link\" href=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/research\/technology-and-innovation-management\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/sites\/www.open.ac.uk.stem.engineering-and-innovation\/files\/images\/Technology-and-Innovation-Management-tn.jpg\" alt=\"Technology and Innovation Management\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/university.open.ac.uk\/stem\/engineering-and-innovation\/research\/technology-and-innovation-management\">Technology and Innovation Management<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Academic staff<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Director of Research<\/strong><br><a href=\"https:\/\/stem.open.ac.uk\/people\/jb36559\">Dr James Bowen<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The research undertaken within the School is diverse and contributes to disciplinary, inter-disciplinary, multi-disciplinary, and trans-disciplinary projects and outcomes both nationally and internationally. Individual academics and research groups within the School are internationally recognised in their respective fields. While some research activities are laboratory-based, using equipment and infrastructure to conduct experiments, others apply methods from [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":27,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"unity_related_person":[],"unity_sdg":[],"unity_research_theme":[],"unity_strategic_priority":[],"unity_enabler":[],"unity_general_category":[],"unity_stem_unit":[],"unity_related_project":[],"unity_related_archived_project":[],"unity_related_event":[],"class_list":["post-290","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/290","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=290"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/290\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":297,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/290\/revisions\/297"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/27"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=290"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"unity_related_person","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unity_related_person?post=290"},{"taxonomy":"unity_sdg","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unity_sdg?post=290"},{"taxonomy":"unity_research_theme","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unity_research_theme?post=290"},{"taxonomy":"unity_strategic_priority","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unity_strategic_priority?post=290"},{"taxonomy":"unity_enabler","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unity_enabler?post=290"},{"taxonomy":"unity_general_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unity_general_category?post=290"},{"taxonomy":"unity_stem_unit","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unity_stem_unit?post=290"},{"taxonomy":"unity_related_project","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unity_related_project?post=290"},{"taxonomy":"unity_related_archived_project","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unity_related_archived_project?post=290"},{"taxonomy":"unity_related_event","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/unity_related_event?post=290"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}