Knowledge Media and Data Science
We are a globally recognised research and innovation lab, the Knowledge Media Institute (KMi), with a focus on social applications and pay specific attention to the ethical implications of our research. We develop impactful research at the forefront of benevolent tech, producing hybrid methods and tools to create, analyse and understand knowledge and media to benefit society.
We pioneer hybrid methods that mix human and symbolic understanding with machine power and analysis. We focus on significant societal challenges, such as improving innovation and education; preventing hate crime and terrorism; and enabling new ways of fulfilled working and living within smart cities empowered through citizen-oriented technologies.
KMi is a non-hierarchical and people-centred research lab facilitating the free generation of ideas, and provides students with an agile environment that encourages creativity, fosters innovation and enables talent to thrive.
Key facts
- KMi was set up in 1995, and is a cutting-edge research and development lab of around 70 people based in the OU’s STEM Faculty.
- KMi constantly delivers value to the University through our global research impact (with over 180 research projects) and as a technology innovation hub.
- Our lab generates notable research outreach, such as with projects like CORE, MK:Smart and the Institute of Coding.
- We provide an attractive programme of research (Data Modelling and Prediction, Machine Vision, Natural Language Processing, Smart Cities, and Blockchains).
- With impressive alumni, KMi sees many of its PhD students now working globally with Google, Microsoft, General Motors, the BBC and Russell Group universities.
Location
Most of our full-time research students are based at our Milton Keynes campus; for details of residence requirements for different modes of study see Full-time study and Part-time study.
Facilities
We have a wide range of powerful computing resources and infrastructure for development and prototyping, including a big data cluster and dedicated IT team. We also have a robotics lab, a multimedia room, streaming infrastructure, and a Maker space.
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