Events for Schools
Welcome to the MPLS Division’s events for schools webpages.
We have a dedicated Schools Liaison Officer whose role it is to organise events and activities that enthuse and inspire young students in science, engineering and maths, and that help potential applicants find out more about studying at Oxford University.
If you are a teacher, student or parent and want to find out more about the many initiatives taking place across the collegiate university to help schools then please contact
Dr Zareen Ahmed-Stewart (Mrs)
Schools Liaison Officer
MPLS Divisional Office
University of Oxford
9 Parks Road
Oxford, OX1 3PD
Tel: 01865 282184
Fax: 01865 282571
Email: zareen.ahmed-stewart@mpls.ox.ac.uk
Programme of events for 2011 - 2012
Date: 12-15 December 2011
Venue: Oxford University Museum of National History
Audience: Year 9 Students (Age 14+)
Year 9 students from schools across Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties were invited to attend a series of science lectures at the Museum of Natural History.
The lectures took place on Monday 12 to Thursday 15 December 2011 and, like the popular Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, the aim of these lectures was to to inspire and encourage students towards science.
Following each lecture students took part in a Science Quiz around the Museum. There was also an opportunity for participants to handle the Museum's collection of Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches with Museum staff.
The lectures this year ranged from 'Why Should Robots Play Football?', the 'Accelerate! Show', 'Hot Stuff: How Volcanoes Work', and the popular 'Chemistry Show'. Please click on the titles to view the lectures.
If your school is interested in taking part in December 2012 please contact Dr Zareen Ahmed-Stewart.
Date: 7 Oct-31 Dec 2011
Venue: Oxford University Botanic Garden
Audience: General Public
An exhibition to celebrate the International Year of Chemistry 2011was organised by the Department of Chemistry and the Botanic Garden.
Jesus College Maths & Physics Subject Day for Teachers
Date: 25 February 2012
Venue: Jesus College
Audience: Teachers
For further information and an application form please click on the link above.
Date: 3-18 March 2012
The Oxfordshire Science Festival is an opportunity for organisations throughout the county to engage the public in their work through lectures, discussions, debates and interactive activities.
National Science and Engineering Week
Date: 9-18 March 2012
In 2012, National Science & Engineering Week explores "our world in motion."
National Science & Engineering Week shines the spotlight each March on how the sciences and engineering relate to our everyday lives and helps to inspire the next generation of scientists with fun and participative activities.
With over 4,500 events and activities attended by 1.7 million people in 2011, this is the UK's widest grass roots celebration of all things science and engineering.
Oxford University Science Roadshow
Date: 12-16 March 2012
Venue: Schools across Oxfordshire
Audience: Secondary Schools
The Roadshow sends Oxford University scientists to selected schools around Oxfordshire to give workshops or talks. The Roadshow is an opportunity for local schools to learn about cutting edge science from experts in their field who have a flair for communicating the excitement of scientific discovery and explaining how their research relates to everyday life.
If your school is interested in taking part please contact Dr Zareen Ahmed-Stewart.
Date: 19-29 March 2012
Venue: Various locations
Audience: Year 12 Students (Age 17+)
The Student Conferences offer students in Year 12 (or equivalent) a locally based opportunity to find out more about Oxford and Cambridge. The events include a large number of subject specific sessions, as well as detailed information about the admissions process, student life, making a competitive application and student finance. Admissions tutors, University staff and current undergraduates will be present to provide clear advice to students considering making an application to one of the two universities.
The website for bookings will be live in early January 2012 at www.studentconferences.org.uk
The Oxford Chemistry Show
Date: 28 March 2012
Venue: Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory
Audience: Primary Schools (Age 9+)
The MPLS Division invite local Oxford Primary Schools to a Chemistry Show presented by Dr Malcolm Stewart and Dr Fabrice Birembaut from the Department of Chemistry.
The 45 minute show is designed to show pupils aged 9 upwards just how much fun chemistry can be. Pupils will see the kind of chemistry they don't come across at school; inexplicable, tantalising and LOUD!
If your school is interested in taking part please contact Dr Zareen Ahmed-Stewart.
Corpus Christi Schools Science Prize 2012
Deadline: 30 March 2012
Audience: The competition is open to students who will be applying to University in 2012 or 2013
Corpus Christi is looking for bright and talented students to enter their annual science competition.The categories this year are Biochemistry and Chemistry. If you enjoy solving interesting, yet challenging, problems then enter their competition, discussing either stem cells or isotopes.
For further details please visit: http://www.ccc.ox.ac.uk/schools-science-prize/
Women in Science Easter Residential
Date: 2-4 April 2012
Venue: Jesus College and MPLS Departments
Audience: Year 12 Female Students (Age 17+)
This three day residential course is for female students in Year-12 from UK state schools. The residential will give participants a taste of university life and information on studying science at university. Participants will stay in Jesus College, follow an academic programme in MPLS departments, and take part in social activities in the evenings. There will also be sessions on applying to university, studying science degrees at university and careers in science.
Applications for this event are open. Please click on the heading above for further information and an application form.
Biological Sciences Teachers' Day
Date: 2 July 2012
Venue: Departments of Zoology and Plant Sciences and the Botanic Garden
Audience: Science Teachers
The MPLS Division, together with the Departments of Zoology & Plant Sciences, are organising a free one-day programme for A-level/ GCSE (or equivalent) science teachers from schools across the UK. The teachers' day aims to provide teachers with the opportunity to find out about Oxford’s Biological Sciences degree course and admissions procedures, as well as make contacts within the University. There will also be a visit to the Oxford University Botanic Garden. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
For further information and for an application form please contact Dr Zareen Ahmed-Stewart.
Maths and Science Teachers' Conference in Bristol
Date: 4 July 2010
Venue: At-Bristol Science learning Centre
Audience: Science Teachers
The conference aims to provide admissions information, advice and guidance to subject teachers who are not able to attend Regional Teachers’ Conferences (usually Head of Sixth Form or UCAS Coordinators). To offer a programme of engaging STEM seminars to help subject teachers to support, enthuse and stretch their gifted and talented cohort. And to reignite STEM subject teachers interests in their field by offering high quality, up to date seminars delivered by Oxford academics.
For click the link above for further details.
Date: 27-28 June 2012 and mid-September 2012
Venue: Oxford Colleges and Departments
Audience: Year 12 Students (Age 17+), Teachers, Parents
Open Days are one of the best ways to see what our departments are like. The main Open Days are in late June and mid-September.
What's New
- Oxford Sparks! Oxford's online public science website is launched (April 2012)
- First Lady Michelle Obama visits Oxford University (21 May 2011)
The University of Oxford is committed to attracting the brightest and best students regardless of background. Therefore we were honoured that Michelle Obama visited the University earlier this year to reinforce the message that a student’s background does not affect their ability to secure a place at universities like Oxford. Her words inspired young women from Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School in Islington to aim high. Watch a short film about her visit
MPLS Departmental events
For a flavour of the outreach programmes run by MPLS departments:
Other useful links from around the University
- Bang! Oxford Science Magazine - is a science magazine produced by members of Oxford University