Tom Argles joined the OU in the last millennium, investigating mountain-building in Pakistan. Appointed lecturer in 2000, he has since worked on numerous Earth Science modules, specialising in innovative stuff like virtual field trips, home resource use calculators and teaching practical science online. He has been involved with the OpenSTEM Labs from the launch of the OpenScience Laboratory in 2013. Recently, he authored practical GIS topics in S831 Environmental Science challenges and S319 Geology and sustainability and completed a five-year stint as Director of Teaching in the School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences (EEES).
He has managed primary school outreach in EEES for many years and is currently helping coordinate the national GeoWeek UK initiative. He is also project lead on the Virtual Microscope. Outside work he is an intermittent cricketer, parkrunner and wildlife gardener.