Homepage

Oxford Earth Scientist honoured in the annual Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists

Associate Professor of Palaeobiology, Erin Saupe, is one of 9 UK recipients of the 2022 Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists, in recognition of her work using the fossil record to understand how species respond to environmental changes over both long and short timescales.

Graphic representing censorship of online information

Royal Society cautions against online censorship of scientific misinformation

Governments and social media platforms should not rely on content removal for combatting harmful scientific misinformation online, according to a report today from the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of science. Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt, Oxford Professor of Computing Science, was on the working group for the report.

A plastic bottle on a beach in the Maldives.

Plastic Drawdown tool to help Maldives slash plastic waste by 85 percent, study reveals

A new study published in the journal Global Environmental Change reveals a new policy tool developed by an international team, including scientists at Oxford University, which could slash plastic waste.

Three Physics researchers recognised by the Royal Astronomical Society

New test can identify if a patient has cancer and if it has spread

A publication by University of Oxford researchers describes a new minimally invasive and inexpensive blood test that can identify cancer in patients with non-specific symptoms.

Professor Myles Allen appointed CBE

Congratulations to Professor Myles Allen, Professor of Geosystem Science in the Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment and Department of Physics, who has been appointed CBE in the New Year Honours 2022 for services to climate change attribution, prediction and net zero.

Welcome

We are home to the mathematical, physical, engineering and life sciences at Oxford. The disciplines within the MPLS Division regularly appear at the highest levels in world rankings and have been evaluated as conducting world-leading and internationally excellent research in UK research assessments.

Upcoming events

Brilliant Blunders - Mistakes by Great Physicists that Changed Our Understanding of the Universe

Friday, 25 February 2022, 5pm to 6pm

With astrophysicist Dr Mario Livio (University of Nevada, Las Vegas). William Thomson (Lord Kelvin), Albert Einstein and Fred Hoyle are amongst the greatest physicists in history and some of the mistakes that these towering figures made led to major scientific advances. Dr Mario Livio will analyse these errors and the psychology which made such "brilliant blunders" part of these celebrated scientists' genius and part of the scientific process whereby science thrives on error and advances when erroneous ideas are disproven. St Cross College HAPP online event.

More events

Stay well this Hilary term. Your actions still matter.

Omicron is more contagious than previous variants and can still pose a serious health risk for certain people. Keep being considerate – taking the following actions now will minimise disruption to University life this term.

Test twice a week and if you have symptoms. Remember to report all your LFD results to both the University’s Early Alert Service and the NHS.
Self-isolate if required.
Wear a face covering when moving around University buildings. They are mandated (unless you are exempt) in libraries and departmental study spaces as well as in University teaching and assessment settings.
Let fresh air in indoors: keeping windows and doors open increases ventilation and significantly reduces the spread of COVID-19. Please keep them open, particularly in areas which are poorly ventilated. In University buildings, it will be clearly indicated where additional ventilation is required.
Get your booster jab as soon as you’re eligible, and get a free flu jab if you can.

Remember to continue to follow guidance when travelling on public transport, shopping or mixing with people socially to lessen the chances of COVID-19 infections.

Please see the University's Health pages for full details of the University measures. These pages are updated regularly.

COVID-19 information, guidance and advice for staff and students at Oxford

General coronavirus advice and support for staff and students can be found on the University's 'Oxford and coronavirus' homepage.

Please contact the relevant MPLS Team if you have questions or concerns that are not answered on these pages or can't be answered by your department.

The MPLS Graduate School has also created a webpage with all communications sent out to PGR students and links to other useful resources.

Tweets by mplsoxford