We are committed to making biology accessible to all, and our researchers participate in events around the University and externally to engage with school-aged students and our wider communities.
We aren't able to facilitate individual school visits to the Department, however we have a close relationship with the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and the Oxford Botanic Garden. Both run superb school workshops as well as activities for families and young people which our researchers often contribute to. We have also contributed to festivals like the Oxford Science and Ideas Festival.
We run the Biology UNIQ Summer School each year. UNIQ is the University of Oxford’s access programme for UK state school students; they prioritise places for students with good grades from backgrounds that are under-represented at Oxford and other universities.
We also take part in the Primary Science Day each June, organised by the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division. This is an invitation-only full day science event for state primary schools in the City of Oxford twinned with Oxford Colleges. It includes exciting hands‐on workshops, a curriculum-relevant lecture-demonstration, and opportunities to meet scientists. Local schools can request an invitation via their twinned College or the Oxford Hub.
UNIQ Summer School
The UNIQ programme is aimed at students studying in their first year of further education at UK state schools and colleges. The Biology course will give you an insight into what being an undergraduate biologist at Oxford is like.
Many Oxford colleges engage with schools. Colleges are organised by region, each linked to different areas of the UK, and generally prioritise helping the local communities currently under-represented in higher education.
Resources
Oxford Sparks
Many of our researchers have worked with the fantastic science communication team at Oxford Sparks to share more about their research in an accessible way. We've curated a YouTube playlist featuring a wide range of our work with Oxford Sparks, suitable for home learning, and anyone keen to find out more about just how broad biology is.
Professor Lindsay Turnbull has published a book which explores fundamental concepts in biology, and has created a video for every chapter for those who prefer to learn via this format.
Back Garden Biology
In this fun and informative series Professor Lindsay Turnbull, Professor of Plant Ecology, looks at the biology of the back garden. This series is recorded in a normal garden in England beginning in March 2020 and would be of interest to anyone from age 5+. The series is particularly useful for children missing school who would like to carry on practical work in their own garden and have an expert help them understand the theory behind everyday biology. Packed with things to see right now, take the edge off your enforced boredom by venturing into the back garden. You can listen to it as a podcast here, or check out the YouTube playlist below.
