Oxford is world-famous for research excellence and home to some of the most talented people from across the globe. Our work helps the lives of millions, solving real-world problems through a huge network of partnerships and collaborations. The breadth and interdisciplinary nature of our research sparks imaginative and inventive insights and solutions.

Shared bad experiences at the hands of hostile outsiders can lead to 'identity fusion'.

'Shared bad memories' bind fighters and terrorists to their groups

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Previous research has shown that such extreme behaviour can be driven by 'identity fusion', a strong sense of ‘oneness’ with their group.

Songs and games learned at children's centres were adopted in the home.

Children's centres 'improve parenting skills of disadvantaged families'

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An Oxford University study says children’s centres across England have successfully reached out to support vulnerable families in disadvantaged communities, especially in supporting parenting...
US dollars

‘$20 billion of hidden fees charged by private equity firms’

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Dr Ludovic Phalippou, Associate Professor of Finance at the Saïd Business School, and his coauthors Dr Christian Rauch and Professor Dr Mark Umber examined the portfolio fees of 592 US companies worth $1.1 trillion in total.

Children in care did better than children 'in need' who stayed with their families.

Being in foster care found to benefit vulnerable young people's education

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A new research study launched today identifies the key factors that influence how well children in care do in schools in England and finds children who are fostered make better educational...
Female migrant workers

The health toll on female migrant workers in Gulf countries

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New research reveals the huge physical and mental health toll suffered by migrant women from poorer Asian countries like Sri Lanka who go to the Gulf countries to work as cleaners and maids. 
Corporal punishment 300

Children hit by their teachers linked with lower test scores later

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Researchers found that corporal punishment experienced by eight-year-old children is linked with lower maths scores when the same children reach the age of 12 as compared with their peers who did not report being hit.

White working class boys from poor neighbourhoods face a ‘double disadvantage’ of low family income and place poverty linked to their wider community

Why so few poor, white working class boys go on to take A levels

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Just 29% of this group will continue to take AS, A levels or another qualification after GCSE, compared with around half (45%) of white working class boys living in more affluent areas and two-thirds (68%) of boys from more advantaged families.

Researchers studied arts-based projects at Pegasus Theatre

'Art activities help children disaffected with school'

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Researchers from the University's Department of Education observed a range of programmes and carried out interviews with staff and the young people who attended them.

Violin lessons

UK children play musical instruments as part of family tradition and not to boost social status

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Dr Aaron Reeves from Oxford University's Department of Sociology found that British parents did not see musical achievement by their children as character building or useful in getting university places or jobs.

The Oxford-Emirates Data Science Lab will streamline air travel

Oxford-Emirates Data Science Lab will streamline air travel

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Oxford University has today opened a new Data Science Lab in collaboration with Emirates. It will see experts from around the University use cutting-edge analysis to help the airline make its...
White Plymouth Rock chickens

Chicken study reveals evolution can happen much faster than thought

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By studying individual chickens that were part of a long-term pedigree, the scientists, led by Professor Greger Larson at Oxford University's Research Laboratory for Archaeology, found two mutations that had occurred in the mitochondrial genomes of the birds in only 50 years.

The research identified the ‘holy grail’ of nature-based apps as one that could identify a bird call or animal noises,

Are nature apps interesting enough?

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The research, which appears in the journal Ambio, says while there are some good examples of imaginative products, far more could be done to interpret visits to nature reserves or link up with central biodiversity sites using apps.

US Ambassador on partnership working and high-technology innovation in Oxford

US Ambassador on partnership working and high-technology innovation in Oxford

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US Ambassador Matthew W. Barzun visited Oxford in September 2015 to meet with representatives of the city’s universities, Oxford City Council, social entrepreneurship leads and high-technology businesses.

math problems on graph paper with pencil

Chris Hollings

Ada Lovelace

I could see there were certain things that she was good at: big, overarching ideas. But the nitty gritty of doing algebra, actually manipulating symbols on a page – she wasn't great at that!
Babbage’s Analytical Engine, Science Museum London. Source: Science and Society Picture Library

Ursula Martin

Ada Lovelace

To really understand Lovelace’s paper you need to put it in the context of contemporary ideas of literature and science... Where did these ideas of abstract computing come from? What bigger cultural forces were in play?
The Paternal Age Effect: Identifying reproductive risks

The Paternal Age Effect: Identifying reproductive risks

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Research from the University of Oxford's Clinical Genetics Laboratory initiated the introduction of an upper age limit of 40 years for sperm donors in the UK and internationally, and led to increased public awareness of the effect of paternal age in the transmission of inherited disease.

Watercolor portrait of Ada King, Countess of Lovelace (Ada Lovelace)

Drummond Bone

Ada Lovelace

Ada's mother encouraged her interest in mathematics, partly after her own interests but partly to stop her being interested in poetry like her father, the infamous Lord Byron. The interesting thing is that Ada talks about the ‘poetry of mathematics’ – she talks about the two not being in opposition and in some ways being the same thing.
Introducing the Oxford Climate Research Network

Introducing the Oxford Climate Research Network

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The Oxford Climate Research Network is a cross-divisional research community, harnessing Oxford’s diverse strengths to address the challenge of managing climate change in a complex and uncertain world. The network aims to develop a research agenda to address key challenges of a changing climate, deepen knowledge to inform policy and planning, and develop instruments to improve practice in partnership with government, research and business communities.

Professor Tom Higham takes a sample from finger bone attributed to St John the Baptist.

Launch of Oxford centre for the study of religious relics

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Ancient Christian relics are objects that survive from ancient times, often associated with a saint's body or their belongings, and usually kept as objects of historical interest or spiritual devotion.

The Wandsworth Shield recovered from the Thames (British Museum) and a wooden roundel from Tuetka I, Altai Republic, Russian Federation (State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg) date from Iron Age.

Does Celtic art have links with Asia?

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One of the most intriguing questions researchers hope to answer is whether Celtic art had links into the wider Eurasian world.

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