UofM Awarded U.S. Department of State Grant to Bring STEM Communication Course to Global Learners

New English for STEM Professionals course will combine language education with UofM research to help thousands of learners worldwide communicate and participate more effectively in international STEM communities

A University of Memphis team has received a $53,944 grant from the U.S. Department of State's Online Professional English Network (OPEN) program, administered by FHI 360, to develop English for STEM Professionals, a free online course designed to strengthen English communication skills for students and professionals working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
 
Beginning in January 2027, the asynchronous massive open online course (MOOC) will be offered through U.S. embassies to thousands of English learners around the world. The course will help participants develop the language skills and confidence needed to communicate about scientific research, technological innovation, and professional activities in STEM fields.

Leading the project are Dr. J. Elliott Casal, principal investigator; Dr. Lyn Wright, co-principal investigator; and Dr. Fareed Bordbar, co-principal investigator. Together, the team brings expertise in applied linguistics, English language teaching, science communication, and international education.

 

Learning English Through Science and Innovation

Rather than teaching grammar and vocabulary in isolation, English for STEM Professionals will introduce language through real-world scientific communication. Participants will learn how STEM professionals use language to explain complex ideas, communicate results, and engage with colleagues across disciplines and national borders. 

Across five modules, learners will explore how scientists and other STEM professionals communicate when comparing materials and systems, explaining cause-and-effect relationships, describing scientific and technological impacts, proposing solutions, and discussing innovation. Activities will then encourage participants to apply those skills to their own academic and professional interests.

The approach is intended to give learners more than technical English proficiency. The team hopes participants will leave the course with greater confidence and independence to participate in international scientific and professional communities.

 

Bringing UofM Research to a Global Classroom

A distinctive feature of the project is its integration of research taking place across the University of Memphis. UofM STEM researchers will provide the real-world scientific content around which many of the course's language lessons are built.

Featured researchers and topics include Dr. Martina Sala, discussing aerogels and materials science; Dr. Nick Simon, exploring decision-making and risk; Alexandra Snyder, presenting on biomedical tissue engineering; Dr. Daniel Nascimento, examining light and matter at the molecular scale; and Dr. Jeya Kumar, discussing artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction. 

Their presentations will give learners authentic examples of how researchers explain ideas, describe processes, evaluate potential solutions, and communicate innovation. Participants will engage with the presentations through guided listening, language analysis and exercises that connect UofM research with their own fields and professional experiences.

The project team is also partnering with UM3D, the University's instructional design unit, to film, edit and produce original instructional videos for the course.

 

An Interdisciplinary UofM Effort

The project brings together expertise and resources from several areas of the University.

Casal, associate professor of Applied Linguistics/TESOL and assistant director of the Institute for Intelligent Systems, studies corpus linguistics, STEM discourse, and language and literacy technologies. Wright, professor of Applied Linguistics/TESOL, brings expertise in multilingualism, language policy, and language learning and teaching. Bordbar, director of the University's Intensive English for Internationals program, specializes in international English language education, curriculum development, and learner support. Graduate assistant Oanh Ho is also supporting the project.

Together, the team is drawing upon the University's Applied Linguistics and TESOL programs, Intensive English for Internationals, STEM research community and UM3D to create a course with an international reach.

 

Extending UofM Research Around the World

The project's impact extends beyond language instruction. By incorporating University of Memphis researchers and their work into a course distributed internationally through U.S. embassies, English for STEM Professionals creates another avenue for UofM scholarship and expertise to reach a global audience.

At the same time, the course will help students and professionals around the world develop skills that can make it easier to exchange scientific ideas, collaborate across borders, and participate in the global STEM community.

Through the project, the University of Memphis is bringing together research, education, and international engagement—using language as a bridge to make scientific knowledge more accessible and to strengthen connections among STEM professionals worldwide.

For more information on this award or initiative, contact Casal at jecasal@memphis.edu.