Research
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Search below for a range of research stories by department or topic. These stories include impact case studies, videos, news and the research in conversation series. For more information please see individual department websites.
Interdisciplinary Study of Energy use and Activities
Understanding the timing of energy demand is becoming ever more important. The uptake of renewable sources of energy, such as wind and solar, is accelerating and systems have to accommodate their sometimes volatile outputs.
Creating vehicles that drive themselves
From 2005 to 2017 Paul Newman led the Oxford Mobile Robotics Group (MRG) within the Dept. of Engineering Science. In 2017 MRG become the Oxford Robotics Institute. During this time he led the development of a suite of technology that enabled autonomous vehicles to navigate with zero dependence on infrastructure at scale. It is a foundation technology.
Global Jet Watch for Social Change
The creation of the Global Jet Watch observatories has led to real impact on communities spanning four continents, which work together to track Galactic black holes and exploding stars in the night sky.
LAB282
There is currently a lack of funding and industrial expertise available to help translate innovative, world class, biomedical discoveries at Oxford University into next generation drug discovery programmes that can be commercialised for patient benefit.
Smart Handpumps
In Africa around 275 million people don't have access to a decent reliable water supply.
Mitigation of arsenic mass poisoning: a unified experimental and theoretical approach
The Ganges–Brahmaputra Delta is a global hotspot for arsenic groundwater contamination. Naturally occurring arsenic concentrates in water drawn from deep wells, creating a major public health issue in West Bengal and Bangladesh, which has been described as the largest mass poisoning of a population in history.
The Language Problem Language Problem: Building consensus on Developmental Language Disorder
Video
Around 7% of people suffer from a developmental language disorder, and yet not many people have even heard of them.
Is it easier to forge a £1 coin or a Leonardo?
Oxford Arts Blog
It has been claimed that the new £1 coin is 'forgery proof'. But Martin Kemp, professor of the history of art at Oxford University and an expert in art forgeries, is sceptical.
Women in science series: InspireHer to code
Oxford Science Blog
Although women in science continue to be underrepresented at the highest level, things are slowly changing. In a complex but changing culture, many have built highly successful, rewarding careers, carving out a niche for themselves as a role model to budding scientists, regardless of gender.
Women in science series: Meet one of Oxford's most successful entrepreneurs
Oxford Science Blog
As Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry, a mother of two and one of Oxford University’s most successful entrepreneurs, developing both the spinout companies MuOx and OxStem, Professor Angela Russell wears many hats.
Manipulating plant enzymes could protect crops from flooding
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Scientists have long understood how oxygen deprivation can affect animals and even bacteria, but until recently very little was known about how plants react to hypoxia (low oxygen). A new research collaboration between Oxford University and the Leibniz Institute for Plant Biochemistry, published this week in Nature Communications, has answered some of these questions and shed light on how understanding these reactions could improve food security.
Monitoring the emergence of infectious diseases
Oxford Science Blog
In a guest blog, Professor Stephen Baker from the Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, explains the importance of monitoring the emergence of infectious diseases in Asia
Women in science series: Engineering a difference
Oxford Science Blog
Many female scientists now have inspiring stories to tell, but all the science disciplines still need to make progress on gender equality. With the lowest percentage of female professionals of all the STEM areas (9% in UK universities), engineering is one of the most scrutinised specialisms.
Protecting the effectiveness of antimalarial medicines
Oxford Science Blog
To mark World Malaria Day on 25th April, Prof Philippe Guérin, Director of the Infectious Diseases Data Observatory, based at the University of Oxford, explains the need to maintain our focus on the elimination of malaria.
World Penguin Day 2017: ‘people power’ and robotics
Oxford Science Blog
With one of the biggest fan-clubs in the animal kingdom, penguins are undeniably cute. From Pingu to Happy Feet and the countless wildlife documentaries centred around them, they continue to...
Women in science: Cleaner chemicals for a greener planet
Oxford Science Blog
In today’s political climate, science’s value to society is under threat and consistently questioned.
From toilet to tap: Recycling water for a better tomorrow
Oxford Science Blog
From drought concerns to political debate and international awareness activity, H₂O has become big news, with good reason. As quickly as the world’s population is rising, international water reserves are diminishing.
Women in science: A quantum ballerina dancing to the beat of her own drum
Oxford Science Blog
Merritt Moore has achieved what some would call ‘the impossible’: a career as a professional ballet dancer and as an academic quantum physicist. Having quite literally danced her PhD, she is just months’ away from completing her degree in quantum and laser physics.
Can the theatre change our minds about crime?
Oxford Science Blog
From the books we read, to the films and programmes we watch, and the theatre productions we attend, the arts’ have the power to get us all talking and thinking. But can they actually influence our perceptions of real issues?
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