Latest video and audio

Encaenia 2009

Highlights and interviews from Oxford's honorary degree ceremony.

Entrepreneur pledges $50m in matched funding

Dr James Martin has pledged to give the University $50m in matched funding to encourage others to continue giving through the global financial downturn. He will match donations of at least $1m and up to a total of $50m for gifts made between 12 March 2009 and 12 March 2010. 

Prime Minister gives Romanes lecture

The Prime Minister, The Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP, today visited the University of Oxford to deliver the Romanes lecture on ‘Science and our Economic Future’. He talked about the importance of scientific research and science as a route out of the global economic crisis. In particular he pledged to maintain the government’s investment in science and to double the number of state school pupils taking triple science by 2014.

Darwin's 1860 evolution debate revisited

Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection revolutionised how people thought about the natural world. To mark the naturalist’s 200th birthday the Oxford University Museum of Natural History revisited the famous 1860 debate on evolution held at the Museum between Thomas Huxley and Samuel Wilberforce, with a conversation between Professor Richard Dawkins and Lord Harries of Pentregarth.

Gambaccini gives first lecture

Paul Gambaccini, radio and television presenter and Oxford alumnus, has been giving a series of lectures as Oxford University’s News International Visiting Professor of Broadcast Media. Here he talks about his first lecture Face The Strange.

Lord Drayson visits Oxford University

Science and Innovation minister, Lord Paul Drayson of Kensington, visited Oxford University in January 2009. In this video he discusses the importance of research in the current economic climate.

Stone carvers reveal gargoyle secrets

The winners of the Millennium Myths and Monsters competition received firsthand experience of what it takes to be stone carvers. Alec and Fiona Peevor showed them how their clay designs will be turned into new stone gargoyles for the Bodleian Library.

Muhammad Yunus gives Romanes Lecture

Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Laureate and pioneer of microcredit, has given 2008's Romanes lecture on ‘A poverty-free world: When? How?’. Yunus, who called himself “a compulsive optimist as far as poverty is concerned”, is one of the world’s leading proponents of economic advancement. Here he talks about his vision for a world free from poverty.

New treatment approach may offer end to suffering from allergies

A new therapeutic approach for allergy sufferers is in development thanks to Oxford University research funded by the Medical Research Council that shows how allergic responses can be blocked. In allergic rhinitis, mast cells in the nasal lining become activated by an otherwise harmless allergen and generate an immune response. It is the resulting inflammation and swelling that gives the main symptoms experienced by allergy sufferers.

John Denham visits Oxford University

John Denham MP, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, visited Oxford University in October 2008. In this video he describes the visit and what he sees as the challenges facing UK universities.

Website shares experiences of Parkinson’s and autism

Oxfordshire Eco-Homes Open Days

The second Oxfordshire Eco-Homes Open Days (11-14 September 2008) has been organised by Oxfordshire ClimateXchange, a campaign by Oxford University Environmental Change Institute (ECI) to take climate change issues into the community in partnership with the charity Climate Outreach and Information Network. Oxford homeowner, Averil Stedeford, shows Jo Hamilton from Oxfordshire ClimateXchange round her low energy house.

Weidenfeld scholars look to the future

Child poverty, climate change and organised crime are some of the issues concerning this year’s cohort of Weidenfeld Scholars, who have just completed their first year of study at Oxford University. 

Learn from others living with epilepsy 

A website has been launched for young people with epilepsy. It will give them an opportunity to read about, or listen to, other teenagers and young adults who have experienced living with the condition. The website is at Youthhealthtalk, which is part of the award-winning DIPEx patient website based on Oxford University research.

Participation in clinical diabetes trials wanted 

A new website designed to encourage far more people to get involved with clinical trials has been launched by the Diabetes Research Network, which is co-directed by Professor David Matthews. Here he explains the significance of diabetes as a health problem.

Fruit flies reveal their 'unisex' brains

Professor Gero Miesenboeck's work with fruit flies has shown that female flies can be artificially triggered to perform the courting song and behaviour of a male fly. This 'remote control' of fruit flies’ sexual behaviour has revealed that male courtship tricks lie dormant in the female brain.