COP28 Expert Comment from across Oxford University
14 December 2023
There has been considerable debate and discussion over the best path forward, but there was general agreement among Oxford researchers about the devastating impact of fossil fuels and the need to phase out their use, while supporting nature-based solutions, developing renewables and switching to clean energy.
OSCAR sets its sights on new horizons after five successful years
13 December 2023
Innovation and Enterprise MPLS
The Oxford Suzhou Centre for Advanced Research (OSCAR), Oxford's first and only engineering and physical sciences research institute located in China, hosted celebratory events on Thursday 7th December to mark its fifth anniversary in Suzhou, China.
Unprecedented conservation triumph: Saiga antelope return from the red list
12 December 2023
Biology Food security & biodiversity
The antelope, which roamed the Eurasian Steppe alongside woolly mammoths, has been restored from near extinction by conservation efforts, including those of Professor E J Milner-Gulland in the Department of Biology.
Oxford scientist to lead international transdisciplinary consortium towards delivering NetZero Healthcare
12 December 2023
Biomedical engineering Climate Funding Medical science
The European Union Horizon Europe (with joint funding from UK Research Innovation) has awarded the NetZeroAICT Consortium major funding to develop a novel technology with great potentials to promote climate neutral and sustainable health care.
Oxford Engineering student wins 'Prototypes for Humanity' innovation award at COP28
12 December 2023
Award Climate Engineering Space
'Prototypes for Humanity' recognises innovators in science and engineering, working on solutions for social and environmental issues.
Antibiotic resistance genes are spread more widely between bacteria than previously thought
7 December 2023
Antimicrobial resistance Biology Medical science Research
Researchers at the Ineos Oxford Institute for antimicrobial research (IOI) at Oxford University and Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University in China have developed a new approach to study the transmission of plasmids containing antibiotic resistance genes between bacteria sampled from hospital wastewater.
Oxford Chemical Engineers win top prize at 2023 IChemE Global Awards
5 December 2023
Award Biomedical engineering COVID-19 Engineering
The collaborative project 'Rapid test for Covid-19' by the University of Oxford and Oxsed Limited clinched the top prize, the 'Outstanding Achievement in Chemical and Process Engineering Award.' The team also secured two additional trophies in the categories of 'Innovative Product Award' and 'Business Start-up Award.'
Armed to the hilt: Study solves mystery behind bacteria’s extensive weaponry
5 December 2023
Antimicrobial resistance Biology Medical science
A new study led by the University of Oxford has shed light on why certain species of bacteria carry astonishing arsenals of weapons. The new findings could help us to engineer microbes that can destroy deadly pathogens, reducing our reliance on antibiotics.
Success for Biology researchers in the NERC Impact Awards
30 November 2023
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) celebrated the finalists of the 2023 NERC Impact Awards on Wednesday 29th November. Two researchers from the Department of Biology received awards, including Dr Sophus Zu Ermgassen who was the winner of the Early Career category.
Unlocking more sustainable futures with green chemistry
28 November 2023
Chemistry Energy Research Sustainability & the environment
A feature article about three Oxford research groups using chemistry to help reach sustainability goals. From solving global plastic pollution to improving the performance of rechargeable batteries found in electric cars, ‘green chemistry’ is a truly promising topic.
Three Oxford academics awarded European Research Council Consolidator Grants
23 November 2023
Award Computer science Funding Physics
Two of those awarded grants are from MPLS Division: Fabrizio Caola, Associate Professor of Theoretical Particle Physics in the Department of Physics, and Aleks Kissinger, Associate Professor of Quantum Computing in the Department of Computer Science.
End-of-the-world scare stories have the opposite effect: celebrated conservationist EJ Milner-Gulland accentuates the positive
22 November 2023
Biology Climate Food security & biodiversity
Professor Milner-Gulland, who leads three programmes at the Oxford Martin School, has been a conservationist for more than 30 years. But, she maintains, end-of-the-world scare stories will make people fear it is too late, there is nothing they can do, and they will bury their heads in the sand.
Oxford-led study shows how AI can detect antibiotic resistance in as little as 30 minutes
21 November 2023
Antimicrobial resistance Research
To mark World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, researchers supported by the Oxford Martin Programme on Antimicrobial Resistance Testing at the University of Oxford have reported advances towards a novel and rapid antimicrobial susceptibility test that can return results within as little as 30 minutes - significantly faster than current gold-standard approaches.
Bees cannot taste even lethal levels of pesticides
21 November 2023
The new study from researchers in the Department of Biology demonstrates that bumblebees are not able to avoid contaminated nectar, putting them at high risk of pesticide exposure and posing a threat to crop pollination.
AI that automatically detects methane plumes from orbit could be a powerful tool in combating climate change
17 November 2023
AI and data science Computer science
University of Oxford researchers, in partnership with Trillium Technologies’ NIO.space, have developed a tool to automatically detect methane plumes on Earth from orbit using machine learning with hyperspectral data. This could help identify excessive ‘super emitters’ of methane and enable more effective action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Oxford Robotics Institute wins prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize
17 November 2023
The Oxford Robotics Institute (ORI) has been awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for innovation in autonomous robotic technologies. This prestigious award is the highest national honour available to universities and further education colleges across the UK.
Professor Charlotte Deane named as Executive Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
16 November 2023
Professor Deane - who will remain affiliated with the Department of Statistics - is expected to take up the role in January 2024.
Extraordinary new space phenomenon mystifies scientists
15 November 2023
Astrophysicists at the University of Oxford have helped to discover a spectacularly bright and unusual explosion in a galaxy 4.4 billion light-years away. Luminous fast blue optical transients are characterized by their intense blue light and are amongst the brightest known optical phenomena in the universe.
From The Conversation: Iceland on high alert for volcanic eruption – what we know so far
15 November 2023
Earth sciences The Conversation
Professors David Pyle and Tamsin Mather from the Department of Earth Sciences discuss what might happen next in a sequence of seismic events that started in early 2020 in Iceland, and which has so far culminated in three eruptions.
Researchers from the INEOS Oxford Institute for antimicrobial research (IOI) bring to life the dangers of AMR
15 November 2023
Ahead of World AMR Awareness Week (18 - 24 November), researchers from the Ineos Oxford Institute for antimicrobial research (IOI) came together to bring to life the dangers of AMR, one of the biggest public health threats facing the world today.