Alumni Weekend: Recent Episodes
Oxford University
The annual Oxford University Alumni Weekend aims to showcase the Collegiate University as a whole, giving prominence to a range of current research and its application to real world situations, as well as recognising the achievements of Oxford men and women. This series also includes podcasts from other alumni events including study days and the Oxford European Reunion.
Past themes include "A Global Oxford" (2008), "Equal Citizenship" (2009) and "Shared Treasures" (2010).
This Alumni Weekend panel discusses future energy needs and steps that must be taken to increase the chance that they can be met sustainably. World energy consumption is increasing, driven by economic development in countries where more is needed to lift billions out of poverty. Our energy is mostly provided by burning fossil fuels, which is driving climate change and producing debilitating pollution. The gap between realistic energy projections and low carbon aspirations is widening. 25th April 2015, Orangery, Schoenbrunn, ViennaChaired by Professor Sir Chris Llewellyn Smith (Director of Energy Research, University of Oxford) and featuring Juliet Davenport OBE (CEO of Good Energy Group), Dr Jan Dusik (Director of the Regional Office for Europe of the United Nations Environment Programme) and Graham van't Hoff (Exectuive Vice President, Shell Chemicals)
Re-visiting the time of Freud, Klimt and Schönberg, the Alumni Weekend panel surveys and analyse this unique period in Vienna’s history and in Western culture. In the opening years of the twentieth century, Vienna – the capital of the Austro-Hungarian empire – provided the grand setting for a proliferation of artists, architects, composers, writers and thinkers whose explorations heralded a number of significant movements in modern culture.25th April 2015, Orangery, Schoenbrunn, ViennaChaired by Bethany Bell (BBC Foreign Correspondent) and featuring Professor Shearer West (Head of Humanities, University of Oxford), Professor Ritchie Robertson (Taylor Professor of the German Language and Literature, Fellow of the Queen's College) and Professor Jonathan Cross (Professor of Musicology and Student and Tutor in Music at Christ Church)
Panel discussion of the Ukraine reviewing the current situation, exploring the context of the conflict which broke out in 2014, assessing its impact on Europe, and identifying what the international community can learn and how it should respond. 25th April 2015, Orangery, Schoenbrunn, Vienna. Chaired by the Chancellor of the University of Oxford, Lord Patten on Barnes CH and featuring Jutta Edthofer (Head of Division Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs, Austria) Professor Gwendolyn Sasse (Professor of Comparative Politics and Professorial Fellow at Nuffield College) and Michael Bociurkiw (Spokesperson for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine).
This talk illustrates how Tibetan Buddhism relates to the landscapes of the Tibetan plateau, to form a unique, truly Himalayan blend.
The causes of the First World War have long been controversial and remain so. The Warden of St Antony's College, Oxford, and author of The War that Ended Peace (2013) brings us up to date on the debate.
Ira Lieberman provides an expert analysis on the evolution of micro-finance institutions. Followed by Juan Guerra, founder of StudentFunder – a case study.
Social finance and social investment is creating a global buzz, with estimates that the sector will grow over the next decade – an emerging trend that may lead to both vibrant social change and financial returns on investment.
Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine and Will Hutton, Principal of Hertford, in conversation.
Chas Bountra, a popular speaker at the recent Meeting Minds: Alumni Weekend in Asia, will explain how Oxford is creating a new ecosystem for drug discovery.
Nigel Bowles explores Nixon’s politics that achieved a synthesis of strategy, imagination, ideologies, and calculation rare among Presidents.
Richard Ovenden, Bodley’s Librarian and Fellow of Balliol, and Diarmaid MacCulloch, Professor of the History of the Church and Fellow of St Cross.
How has mathematics emerged over recent decades as the engine behind 21st century science? Alain Goriely looks at this question and more.
Joe Cartwright provides a geological perspective into the exploration of shale gas reserves.
What constitutes a cyber-attack and who conducts them? What are the risks to society? Sadie Creese will discuss these issues and explain research underway at Oxford to help in the detection and prevention of attacks.
Professor Lionel Tarassenko, an alumnus of the Department and its new Head as of September 2014, sets out his vision for the Department for the next five years.
Paul Newman talks about the UK’s first self-driving car – being developed at the Department of Engineering Science. He’ll explain the project’s motivation, its underlying technology, and its impact on the transport sector and beyond.
Globalisation has brought us vast benefits including growth in incomes, education, innovation and connectivity. Ian Goldin argues that it also has the potential to destabilise our societies.
Professor Whatmore, who focuses on the interface between cultural geography, political theory and science and technology studies, will draw upon her recent research to propose a new approach to living with flooding.
Drawing on European and Middle Eastern sources, historian Eugene Rogan provides an overview of the Great War in the Middle East from both sides of the trenches.
Tom Higham examines some of the projects the Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit has been involved with over the last few years; from dating the Neanderthal extinction, to identifying the bones of Richard III and Alfred the Great.
This panel debate discusses key facts and fiction in international migration, and presents new ideas for a better politics of immigration.
World-renowned mathematician Sir Roger Penrose, Oxford University, describes how crystalline symmetries are necessarily 2-fold, 3-fold, 4-fold, or 6-fold.
Lord Patten of Barnes, Chancellor of Oxford University draws upon his experience at the highest levels in the public sector to share his unique perspective on Britain over the last seven decades.
This lecture by Jamie Lorimer explores new ways of thinking and doing environmentalism that need not make recourse to nature. The diagnosis of the ‘Anthropocene’ marks the public end of the idea of nature as a pure place removed from society and revealed by natural science. This problematic idea has been central to much Western environmentalism. This lecture explores new ways of thinking and doing environmentalism that need not make recourse to nature. It focuses on the promise and pitfalls of rewilding – a novel mode of wildlife conservation – illustrated through an experiment in the Netherlands.
Illustrated with photographs from previous trips, this talk by Professor Mark Smith contrasts the Nile Valley and the desert and explore how the relationship between them developed over the course of Egyptian history.
This lecture given by Dr Matt Friedman will look at the evolution of the unique flora and fauna of Madagascar and how it is intertwined with the geological history of the island.
Panel discussion looking at healthcare in the future as part of the inaugural Oxford Alumni Weekend in Asia held in in Hong Kong.
Oxford University Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Hamilton kicks off a stimulating day of academic sessions in Hong Kong for the inaugural Alumni Weekend in Asia.
Matthew Reynolds, Fellow and Tutor in English Language and Literature, Oxford, gives a talk for the 2013 Oxford Alumni Weekend. Translations are never as good as their originals - or so we tend to think. But why should that be? Surely translation can involve gain as well as loss? But, if it does that, doesn't it stop being translation and turn into something else: a 'version', 'interpretation' or 'poem in its own right'? The 2013 St Anne's Founding Fellows Lecture will explore these questions with the help of a range of wonderful translations into English, such as Dante, Virgil, Homer, Zamyatin, Dryden, Pope, Ciaran Carson, Natasha Randall and Peter Robinson. We will discover what it means for a piece of writing to be at once a translation and a work of literature.
Panel discussion led by Vice Chancellor Andrew Hamilton, with Mike Nicholson, Helen Swift, Priscilla Santos and Jenny Brennan. Each year, Oxford welcomes talented students, at both undergraduate and graduate level, from all over the globe. Our students come from 140 different countries and territories, attracted by the chance to study at an internationally-renowned university, with outstanding academic achievement and innovation. This session, chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andrew Hamilton, will take a closer look at the student experience at Oxford. Topics under discussion will include Oxford's distinctive college and tutorial system which still underpins a culture of close academic supervision; recent changes to student fees and funding; the admissions process, and Oxford's extensive work in access and widening participation, helping to ensure that the best students, regardless of background, apply to the University. Current students will also be represented on the panel to share some of their experiences.
Dr Perkins gives a talk for the 2013 Oxford Alumni Weekend. Dr Nicholas Perkins curated the 2012 Bodleian exhibition 'The Romance of the Middle Ages'. In this illustrated lecture (also intersecting with the ongoing 'Magical Books' exhibition in the Bodleian) he reflects on medieval romance through the gifts and exchanges that structure its stories: gifts such as rings, swords or the girdle Sir Gawain accepts in return for dangerous kisses; exchanges between men and women, families or enemies. These dynamics are still at work, from The Winter's Tale to The Lord of the Rings. Examining storytelling itself as a form of exchange, Dr Perkins suggests how medieval romances explore ideas of identity, value and the power of narrative to shape human relations.
This session will examine the political and humanitarian dynamics behind the Arab Spring and the Syrian War. Starting with a long view of the events leading to the Arab Spring, it will analyse the regional and international repercussions of the uprisings.
Marianne Talbot talks about the uses and dangers of the relatively new discipline of synthetic biology.
Fireworks consultant, author and former Oxford chemist Dr Tom Smith explains the basic chemistry and construction of fireworks, and their use in modern fireworks displays.
Professor Marcus du Sautoy (New College), Charles Simonyi Chair in the Public Understanding of Science, author and broadcaster gives a talk for the 2013 Oxford Alumni Weekend. From composers to painters, writers to choreographers, the mathematician's palette of shapes, patterns and numbers has proved a powerful inspiration. Often subconsciously artists are drawn to the same structures that fascinate mathematicians, as they constantly hunt for interesting new structures to frame their creative process. Through the work of artists like Borges and Dalí, Messiaen and Laban, Professor du Sautoy will explore the hidden mathematical ideas that underpin their creative output and reveal that the work of the mathematician is also driven by strong aesthetic values
Dr Sabina Alkire, Director of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) gives a talk for the Oxford Alumni Weekend 2013. What does 'being poor' really mean? The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, or MPI, is an international measure of acute poverty covering more than 100 developing countries. Assessing poverty at the individual level, it complements traditional income-based poverty measures by capturing the severe deprivations that each person faces at the same time with regard to education, health and living standards. It also reveals how poverty is falling: whether there is a smaller number of people experiencing poverty, or whether the share of deprivations faced by poor people has dropped. Join Sabina Alkire to hear how the method that underlies the index, developed at Oxford University, is being applied by governments.
James Benmore (Kellogg), Samantha Shannon (St Anne's) and Sam Thompson (St Anne's) talk about their work as writers. Chaired by Dr Clare Morgan (Kellogg), author and Director of the Master of Studies in Creative Writing. Whether you're an aspiring author or simply a fan of contemporary fiction, join us for this engaging session as our panel of Oxonian authors share their stories, motivations and top tips on getting published. This event will celebrate three talented local debut authors. James Benmore's first novel, Dodger, was published by Heron in 2013 and follows the story of Jack Dawkins, better known as the Artful Dodger from Oliver Twist. Samantha Shannon has recently completed a degree in English language and literature at Oxford and signed a book deal with Bloomsbury in 2012. The Bone Season is the first in a series of seven novels. Dr Sam Thompson is a lecturer at St. Anne's College, whose first novel Communion Town was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2012.
Dr John Wheater (Head of Physics Department), Emeritus Professor Derek Stacey and Dr Jay Watson (alumnus), give a talk about the Oxford Physics department and the study of physics today.
Dr Simon Butt (Keble), Fellow and Tutor in Neuroscience, gives a talk for the Oxford Alumni Weekend. The human brain is an amazingly complex organ, yet at the moment of conception we are formed of a single fertilised egg, the potential of which will be sculpted over the years ahead by a variety of genetic and environmental cues to emerge as the brain that defines us as individuals today. In this lecture, Simon Butt will explore how his research over the last few years has focused on elucidating a genetic bar code to identify nerve cells and relate their activity to behaviour - a strategy that has significant implications for our understanding of a wide range of neurological disorders
Professor Richard Washington, Professor of Climate Science at the School of Geography and the Environment; Fellow and Tutor in Geography, Keble College, gives a talk for the 2013 Oxford Alumni Weekend. In summer the central Sahara is a brutally hot and inhospitable place largely devoid of people. But it is also a critically important part of the climate system controlling the West African Monsoon and driving the largest dust emissions on the planet. Yet we have no observed data to quantify the behaviour of this system. This talk will explore how the Fennec project aimed to do the impossible and recover those all-important observations from the core of the remote desert.
In this lecture, Professor Goldin presents ideas from his latest book and focuses on issues such as the financial crisis, the internet, pandemics, migration and climate change, in order to highlight the need for urgent global action.
'Big data' in medicine is an emerging field with the potential to revolutionise healthcare research.This session will look at how Oxford is addressing some of these research opportunities and challenges.
With digital broadcasting increasing and newspaper readership falling, how should we respond in ways that ensure the free flow of information that is essential in a pluralist society?
See how modern analyses of the fossil record, genetics and development provide a new understanding of flatfish evolution, and how this bears on both the great flatfish controversy and the rate and nature of evolutionary change more broadly.
This lecture, based on the recent biography by Bettany Hughes, looks at Socrates' life, following in his footsteps across Greece and Asia Minor and examining the new archaeological discoveries that shed light on his world.
Dr Rana Irshad, University of Oxford, gives a brief whistle-stop tour of the exciting initiatives Oxford has running in exploring the vast expanse of the Universe in which we live.
Sir Adam Roberts, Emeritus Professor of International Relations at Oxford, gives a talk for the Oxford Alumni Weekend 2013.
Dr Kumi Naidoo, Executive Director of Greenpeace International, gives a talk for the Oxford Alumni Weekend 2013. Some have described the current moment of world history as a 'perfect storm', as a range of crises converge. The impacts of climate change are picking up speed with often devastating consequences. Increased pressures on limited natural resources are inevitably leading to conflict. Globally we see major economic exclusion and a democratic deficit. This lecture will highlight how the environmental movement needs to act very differently than it has done in the past, applying 21st century practices to 21st century problems, in order to play its part effectively. South African human rights activist Dr Kumi Naidoo has been the International Executive Director of environmentalist group Greenpeace since November 2009. He is an alumnus of Magdalen College and a former Rhodes scholar.
Geologist Mike Searle gives a beautifully illustrated talk on his expeditions and field research in many remote locations, over 25 years.
The St Anne's Gaudy Seminar explores the topic of food security, focusing in particular on sustainability, supply and demand, and aid and trade. How will science, ecology and consumers have an impact on how food is produced and distributed?
Fiona McPherson, Senior Editor, Oxford English Dictionary, explores the OED's journey through the last century, from paper to screen, and how the digital age ensures that the OED remains as relevant as ever.
Professor Anthony Heath (Nuffield), Emeritus Professor of Sociology, presents findings from the ESRC-funded Ethnic Minority British Election Survey.
Reeta Chakrabarti, BBC Education Correspondent, gives the third annual Oxford Education Society lecture. She looks at changes in education policy under the Coalition government and the challenges of reporting them.
W.H.Auden described Spain as "...that arid square, that fragment nipped off from hot Africa, soldered so crudely to inventive Europe". This discussion looks in more detail at Spain's place in Europe, as well as the image and reality of Spain today. The panel includes Charles Powell, Director of the Elcano Royal Institute, Esperanza Aguirre DBE, former President of Madrid, and eminent journalist and author Tom Burns, who was awarded the OBE in 2001 for services to UK-Spain relations.
A session chaired by Dr Frances Lannon that examines this period of flourishing arts and literature in Spain, which coincided with the political rise and subsequent decline of the Spanish Habsburg dynasty. Renowned historian and author Professor Sir John Elliott (Oriel) gives the first talk on 'Art and Politics in Golden Age Spain'. This is followed by a talk by Dr Jonathan Thacker (Merton), an expert in Spanish Golden Age drama and author of 'A Companion to Spanish Golden Age Theatre'.
Professor of English, Katherine Duncan-Jones, discusses the real life characters and contemporaries of Shakespeare that inspired, shaped, and on occasion performed the various roles of the 'fool' in much of his work. Shakespeare's fools, in sync with Shakespeare's revolutionary ideas about theatre, began to depart from a more simple representation of the traditional jester. Like other of his characters, Shakepeare's fool began to speak outside of the narrow confines of exemplary morality, to address themes of love, psychic turmoil, and the innumerable themes that arise in Shakespeare, and indeed, modern theatre.
Dr John Wheater, Chairman of the Department and other members of the Oxford University Physics team about all the latest projects and ideas that they are working on. With Alan Barr and Henry Snaith.
Dr Rob Simpson from Zooniverse talks about the awe-inspiring aurorae, the Northern Lights, and other effects the sun can have on the earth. Find out why 2013 will be a spectacular year for this phenomenon and how and where is best to view it.
Dr Chris Lintott and Dr Rob Simpson explain using 'citizen power' to expand our knowledge of the Universe.
Sir Peter Lampi, founder and chairman of the Sutton Trust (which aims to improve social mobility through education) and founder of the Education Endowment Foundation. Outlining the impetus for these organisations, their key research findings, major projects and future direction, as well as thoughts on improving social mobility in the UK.
Professor Richard Jenkyns, Oxford University's Public Orator, looks at where what we call classical antiquity came from, whether it differed from other ancient civilisations and what it can tell us about Western Civilisation now and in the future.
A lecture exploring the differences and similarities between the rich and poor of Dickens' era and that of today. Alison Jackson, Jane Humphries, Helen Small and Paul Donovan bring forward their views in a panel discussion.
A talk from Matthew Leigh, Fellow and Tutor from St Anne's College, Oxford University, on Military Ethics; taken from the Alumni Weekend 2012.
English, as its vocabulary confirms, is constantly on the move - both words and meaning act as witnesses to time and change, revealing the diverse pathways of contact and conflict with other nations, as well as changes in culture and identity. Please Note: Technical difficulties interrupted the recording. We apologise for this disruption. This talk, by Lynda Mugglestone, Professor of the History of English and Fellow and Tutor in English at Pembroke College, looks at the history of the English language, examining not only the ways in which it changes (and continues to change), but also the challenges of trying to represent English in dictionaries, not least since popular notions of 'the dictionary' often tend to assume that it is a simple and non-problematic entity, neutrally telling us 'the truth' when we look up words and meanings.
For more than two decades, Professor Steve Rayner has led interdisciplinary research programmes on science technology and environment, specifically on global climate change. He is the co-author of a number of controversial articles on climate change policy including 'Zen and the Art of Carbon Cycle Maintenance', 'Lifting the Taboo on Adaptation' and 'Time to Ditch Kyoto', all published in the journal Nature. Steve Rayner is James Martin Professor of Science and Civilization, Professorial Fellow of Keble College, and Director of the Institute for Science Innovation and Society
Professor Marc Stears reflects on his experiences. Marc Stears is a Professor of Political Theory and fellow at University College. He is the author of Demanding Democracy: American Radicals in Search of a New Politics and is one of the co-editors of the widely discussed The Labour Tradition and the Politics of Paradox. He is currently visiting fellow at Britain's leading think tank, the Institute for Public Policy Research, and he works closely with many of Britain's most prominent politicians on questions of political strategy and communication. Chaired by Mark Philp, Fellow and Tutor in Politics at Oriel College who works on political theory, the history of political thought, and is interested in political ethics, corruption and standards in public life.
Iain MacLean, Professor of Politics and fellow of Nuffield College, the British Academy and the Royal Society Edinburgh, has published widely on constitutional issues. MacLean is joined by Professor Will Hutton. His What's wrong with the British Constitution? co-won the WJM Mackenzie Prize for the best politics book of the year and was a member of the Independent Expert Group advising the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution.
A panel discussion on new techniques and applications in the emerging field exploring the boundaries between man and machine in medical imaging, drug delivery and taking healthcare from the hospital to the home.
A debate on the whether the choice to end their own lives could be safely offered to some people with terminal illnesses.
Director of the Rothermere American Institute Dr Nigel Bowles' intellectual interests lie in American political history and, in particular, in the history of the US Presidency. Among his publications are The White House and Capitol Hill, an exploration of the politics of presidential lobbying; and Nixon's Business: Authority and Power in Presidential Politics in which he examines the relationship between authority and power in five cases of President Nixon's leadership of economic policy.
The Nepali community is one of the newest minorities in the UK, but already numbers more than 100,000, with the biggest concentrations around Farnborough, Ashford, Wembley and Plumstead. Professor David Gellner, Head of the Department of Anthropology, will share his expertise on Buddhism, Hinduism, and shamanism in Nepal, and describe how those religions are being transformed in the UK.
The Coalition Government is committed to greater corporate diversity in the financial services sector, and are promoting 'John Lewis' style mutuals to deliver public services. Can this new agenda be delivered? Professor Jonathan Michie, Director of the Department for Continuing Education and President of Kellogg College will consider the evidence globally and nationally, and discuss how a more sustainable economy might be created.
Professor Hawkins will look at the history of coalition government in British politics over the past 200 years and discuss some of the constitutional implications of the current Conservative/Liberal Democrat government under David Cameron and Nick Clegg.
Cities are epicentres of creativity and innovation but are also easily locked into patterns of infrastructure and behaviour that may not serve them best. The Co-Director of the Oxford Programme for the Future of Cities looks at these phenomena and considers ways to enhance the ability of cities to adjust to changes in their natural, political and financial environments.
Using 2012 as a starting point, Dr Tim Stanley goes back into history and considers the different ways that Hollywood has influenced US elections.
Professor Margaret Esiri, Professor of Neuropathology and Fellow of St Hugh's, will talk about the pivotal role Oxford has played in neuroscience - where the words neuron and cell were coined - and the relevance of this history today. The Thomas Willis Brain Collection is at the centre of research into finding out more about the underlying causes and potential treatments of conditions such as autism spectrum disorder and related cases such as epilepsy. Find out why organ donation is critical to research and why you may want to consider donating your brain to Oxford.
Niko Pfund, President of Oxford University Press (USA), discusses the ways in which technology affects reading, scholarship, publishing and even thinking.
In his keynote lecture at Alumni Weekend 2012, Lord Patten of Barnes attempts to shed light and his particular perspective on whether "the West has had it". He draws on his experience as an Oxonian Alumnus, politician, diplomat, policy maker and current Chair of the BBC Trust to investigate this provocative question.
Professor Adrian Hill gives a talk for the Oxford Alumni Weekend 2011 on the past, present and future of vaccines against diseases.
Sir Brian Unwin (New College) is Honorary President of the European Investment Bank with a longstanding interest in the Napoleonic period. He has pursued his research into the subject over several decades. From the Oxford European Reunion in Paris, 6-8 May 2011 at Les Invalides, Musee de L'Armee.
From the Oxford European Reunion in Paris, 6-8 May 2011. This session charts Europe's role in a changing, globalised world. Our panel of regional specialists consider factors such as the rise of China and India, the alleged 'decline' of the US, France's ambitions under Sarcozy, whether the EU can shape the way international relations evolve and the relative strength of Europe in a global context.
The keynote lecture from the Oxford European Reunion in Paris, 6-8 May 2011 on the European Union and its future.
With a generous donation from Len Blavatnik, the new Blavatnik School of Government has been set up. Professor Ngaire Woods explains the history and progress of this bold and high-profile new school.
Dr Sally Mapstone, Hugh Dent MBE, Professor Fiona Caldicott and Peter Quinn discuss the issue of equality and diversity specifically within the University of Oxford, looking at gender, race and disability issues. It was filmed at the Alumni Weekend 2011.
Professor John Broome discusses the moral and ethical issues that coincide with the whole topic of climate change and challenges us as to how we should be acting.
Mark Philp, Simon Caney and Adam Swift discuss the issue of intergenerational justice and ask questions like how do we allocate resources intergenerationally accross areas like welfare, pensions, higher education and environmental costs?
Dr Richard Walker talks about the science behind earthquakes and the methods used to study them by giving examples from recent global disasters.
Chris Day reflects on how generous philanthropic support from organisations and individuals has inspired the success of the University of Oxford.
Professor David Coleman, Dr George Leeson and Dr Nando Sigona discuss the global issues relating to the world's rising population at the Alumni Weekend Conference 2011.
Dr Francis Szele gives a talk for the Oxford Alumni Weekend on Stem Cell science and looks at how they could be used in repairing brain disease and injuries.
Dr Robert Johnson, lecturer in the History of War and Deputy Director of the Oxford Program on the Changing Character of War gives a talk for the Oxford Alumni Weekend.
Peter Frankopan, Director of the Centre for Byzantine Reseach, gives a talk for the Oxford Alumni Weekend.
Should we cut meat to three meals a week? Why are so many UK men predicted to become obese by 2020? Why might high yield crops in Asia hold the key to feeding the world's growing population? Join our panel of experts to find out what the future holds.
Shearer West, Rana Mitter, Helen Wanatabe-O'Kelly and Eugene Rogan give presentations showcasing the research being done in the Oxford Humanities Division.
David Watson leads a panel discussion on the future of Oxford as a leader for higher education. With Mike Nicholson, Nick Rawlins, Ben Plummer-Powell and Loren Griffith.
Richard Darton gives a talk for the 2011 Oxford Alumni Weekend on the developments in the science of Geoengineering and looks at how close we are to be able to do it.
Stephen Cameron gives a talk for the 2011 Oxford Alumni Weekend on robotics and new technological advances in the field.
Use of the internet has raised major public issues around the definition of public and priavte information. Director of the Oxford Internet Institute Professor Bill Dutton examines how we can best reconcile the risks and opportunities presented.
Part 3 of 3. Some of Oxford's leading experts discuss the issue of energy in the future, one of the greatest challenges facing the world as we move through the 21st century.
Part 2 of 3. Some of Oxford's leading experts discuss the issue of energy in the future, one of the greatest challenges facing the world as we move through the 21st century.
Part 1 of 3. Some of Oxford's leading experts discuss the issue of energy in the future, one of the greatest challenges facing the world as we move through the 21st century.
Why does Oxford produce so many politicians? How have the University's alumni shaped the political landscape? And how has this impacted on perceptions of the University, both in the UK and overseas?
A panel discussion with some of the Oxonians most closely involved with the successful Olympics bid, providing a fascinating insight into the thrills and anxiety of preparing for London 2012.
Dame Stephanie Shirley speaks about her personal philosophy of philanthropy, the importance of a social and cultural approach to giving, and her vision of the role of philanthrophy in the 21st century.
The University of Oxford has a rich sporting heritage and many links with the foundation and evolution of the modern Olympics. Professor Simon Lee examins the role of Oxonians as athletes and administrators within this global phenomenon.
Jennifer Welsh and Hugo Slim from the Oxford Centre for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict discuss "The Responsibility to Protect" in contemporary international relations, and its role in key cases such as Libya and the post-election violence in Kenya.
Professor Myles Allen explains how research at Oxford allows us to quantify just how much climate change caused by past emissions is costing individuals, corporations and potentially entire countries.
Nanotechnology has the potential to transform the way that medical and healthcare solutions are developed and delivered, this talk reviews the properties of nanomaterials for medical applications and the challenges and opportunities of their use.
For his keynote lecture the Chancellor, Lord Patten of Barnes, examines the rapidly-growing list of challenges facing the world, from climate change to nuclear proliferation, migration to water and energy shortage.
Social networks are now culturally bound to online software such as Facebook and Twitter, with a trend in personal persistent content. Bernie Hogan will review new empirical research on social networks and conclude with advice on future online policy.
Emerging infectious diseases are often in the news but are there really more of them? Here we explore how infections invade human populations, how new pathogens adapt to become efficient infections of humans and how to predict what might happen next.
Dr Marc Ventresca from Oxford University's business school reports on recent advances in economic sociology with examples from markets in high technology, microfinance in Bangladesh, and ecosystem services in Amazonian Peru.
Oxford trip scholar Michael Jay is only the second non-Japanese man to hold a Samurai rank. Hear about his journey to becoming a Samurai. Followed by a viewing of the actual logbook of the incredible voyage of William Adams, the first non-Japanese Samurai, housed in the Bodleian Library.
Part of the 2010 Alumni Weekend. Dr Ovenden looks at the Bodleian's great acquisitions, from Alan Bennett's gift of his literary archive to Cavalli's Erismena, the earliest surviving score of an opera in the English language. Hear more about the 'treasure trove' which is the Bodleian today and some of the acquisitions which will be major resources for generations of scholars to come.
Part of the 2010 Alumni Weekend. Bodley's Librarian Dr Sarah Thomas in conversation with Dr Alice Prochaska, Principal of Somerville, discussing the 'infinitely expanding universe of memory' and collections in the digital age. What is the value of Oxford's library collections in a world where Google has digitised more books than are held by the Bodleian Libraries? Are the distinctions between the published and the unpublished becoming blurred?
Part of the 2010 Alumni Weekend. Timothy Endicott, Murray Hunt and Sandra Fredman discuss the future of human rights, looking at the human rights constitution, its critics and how to uphold human rights.
Part of the 2010 Alumni Weekend. Sir John Boardman gives a talk on the antique gems held in Blenheim Palace; the history of the collection and the significance to researching the Classics.
Part of the 2010 Alumni Weekend. Professor john Baines gives a talk on the Ashmolean Museum and its collection of ancient Egyptian art.
Part of the 2010 Alumni Weekend. Dr David Smith gives a talk on how to prevent Alzheimer's disease.
From the 2010 Alumni Weekend. Duchene Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic muscle wasting disease that causes great suffering to those experiencing it. Dr Kay Davies talks about the advances in molecular genetics which could help treat DMD.
From the 2010 Alumni Weekend. Marjorie Reeves Memorial lecture given in St Anne's College. Mark Bostridge, author of the first major biography of Florence Nightingale in 50 years talks about the great woman's life and character.
From the 2010 Alumni Weekend. Conrad Keating, biographer of Richard Doll, gives a talk on the difficulty scientists have at getting people to believe their results, as Richard Doll had when he published his findings on the dangers of smoking.
From the 2010 Alumni Weekend. The english Reformation has often been seen as am 'act of state', imposed on the people. How true was that? How soon did the English people buy into the huge success story that was he reformation in northern Europe?
From the 2010 Alumni Weekend. Phillip England talks about the history of Greece through its many earthquakes and seismic activity over the last 6000 years and shows how these events shaped the ancient world's history.
From the 2010 Alumni Weekend. Nick Bostrom, director of the Future of Humanity Institute gives a talk on ideas surrounding future scenarios on what might happen to the human race in the future, from ideas of total extinction to post-humanity.
From the 2010 Alumni Weekend. Frances Larson gives a talk entitled 'Shared Treasures or Just Bits and Pieces? The Hidden History of the Wellcome Collection. Examining Sir Henry Wellcome's vast hoard of Art and Antiques he collected over his lifetime.
From the 2010 Alumni Weekend. Dr Toby Ord, a practical ethics researcher and founder of Giving What We Can, explains why he has pledged to donate more than £10,000 per year - an estimated £1 million over his career - to development charities. For more details see the project website: https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/
From the 2010 Alumni Weekend. Emma Smith reveals how Oxford University mobilised Alumni support to bring Shakespeare's First Folio back to the Bodleian library over 200 years after it was lost.
Chris Lintott from the Department of Astrophysics gives a talk on the increasing significant contributions members of the public are making to scientific research through websites such as Galaxy Zoo.
Dr Yueh presents on China's position in the global economy, the indirect role played by China in the global financial crisis, and the implications of the crisis going forward.
An intriguing biographical exploration of Lewis Carroll, focusing on the author's mathematical career and influences.
Prof. Paul Collier discusses the contradiction of resource rich countries with troubled economies, including how the harnessing of natural assets can go wrong, and what can be done to ensure their correct handling.
Local historian Ann Spokes Symonds gives a talk on the Oxford children and mothers who were evacuated to Canada and the USA in July 1941.
Best-selling crime fiction writer of Wire in the Blood Val McDermind talks about what makes Oxford city so alluring to crime fiction writers. Part of the 2009 Oxford Alumni Weekend.
Professor MacFarlane gives a talk about modern Russia; from the fall of the Berlin Wall to today; including the rise of Vladimir Putin, the conflict between Chechnya, alleged human rights violations and Russia's relationship with the rest of the world.
Bodley's head librarian, Sarah Thomas, talks about the history of the Bodleian Library and the changes that are taking place within it, particularly the digitisation project -creating electronic digital versions of books- currently underway.
Using examples from her research, Professor Tracey illustrates some of the exciting developments in brain imaging -seeing exactly how the brain is affected by its environment-and discusses how this research impacts on modern medicine, law and society.
In the history of the University, women and music have shared a Cinderella-like status before the 20th Century. In this talk, Dr Wollenberg looks at how women composers have continued to change the face of Oxford music in new ways.
Dr McShane talks about the University's work in creating an improved vaccine against tuberculosis and she also talks about the urgency of this research.
Dame Stephanie gives a talk about her philanthropic work in autism, looking at the condition's history, its causes, the treatments, specialist education and society's position on autism.
Recent studies have shown that genes are strongly implicated in determining if children will develop language disorders. In this talk, Professor Bishop examines the role genetics play in language development and language disorders.
A talk assessing the role of women in ancient Egypt - looking at the changes in female religious roles in ancient Egyptian society as a barometer for wider social, cultural and political transformation.
This talk looks at the work done by the Young Lives Project, a study which tracks 12,000 children across 4 developing countries over a 15 year period trying to find a scientific answer to the question of the causes of childhood poverty.
This talk looks at the University's work in China and Africa and its attempts to identify the key determinants of protective immunology against HIV infection that should guide future vaccine design.
Dr Valerie Beral talks about her research into the causes of breast cancer, looking into the history of the cancer as well as offering ways of reducing the risk of contracting breast cancer.
The 2008 Oxford University Society Lecture in which Professor Woods talks about the shift in Global Economic Power from private companies in the developed world to national companies in developing countries.
Professor Gideon Henderson and Dr Ros Rickaby from the Department of Earth Sciences talk about some of the key issues surrounding climate change today.
Professor Foster gives a talk on some of the causes and consequences of sleep disruption and explores how our increasingly sleep deprived society is have unanticipated consequences for out physical and mental health.
Dr Heather Bell talks about Oxford’s growing international student population and what Oxford does to support and encourage them. Medical student Xin-Hui Chan also talks about her experience of being an international student at Oxford.
Tom Hockaday, Managing Director of Isis Innovations, talks about Oxford University’s Technology Transfer Office, helping to transfer products of university research to the business world.
Tristram Wyatt gives a talk on 'The Science of Smell' - Pheromones, outlining their discovery, their chemistry and how animals (and humans) interact through smell. Part of the 2008 Oxford Alumni Weekend.
Professor Alan Bowman gives a talk on the Roman fort of Vindolanda. Using the famous Vindolanda tablets and other written sources found at the site, he paints a vivid picture of life at the Roman fort and in Roman Britain during the reign of Hadrian.
Professor Griffin from the Oxford University Society Travel Programme gives a humourous talk about the ancient Aegean Islands; the founding Minoan and Greek civilizations where philosophy, science, and literature were born and first flourished.
Professor Boehmer gives a short talk on her current research on Indian Literature in English, looking at the Post-Colonial world of literature and gives an introduction to studying World Literature in the Humanities Division.
Dr Rana Mitter talks about his cutting edge research in China and gives an introduction to studying the history and politics of China, a new and exciting field of research within the Humanities division.
Richard Gombrich, first academic director for the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies (OCBS), gives a talk on Buddhism, from its Indian Origins, its history and its influence on Eastern culture. He also talks about the history of the OCBS.
Professor Clive Holes gives a short talk on Arabic popular poetry; a medium of social satire and cultural criticism that is as important in Arabic culture as much as Social satire is in British culture. He also reads three translations of political poetry
Dr Jaromir Malek, Keeper of the Archive at the Griffith Institute talks about the tomb of Tutankhamun; its discovery by Howard Carter and what the Griffith Institute are doing to study the tomb and the treasures inside it.
Zhengming Chen, Professor of Epidemiology, gives a talk on the Kadoorie Biobank study, a joint Chinese and British study looking at the lifestyles of 500,000 people and presents some of the findings that can be used to influence public health policy.
Professor Fred Taylor discusses some of Oxford University's pioneering work in planetary science.
Peter Donnelly, one of the UK's leading statisticians and geneticists, discusses his involvement in recent projects aimed at understanding the genetics of common human diseases.