After a very rainy morning, we had a glorious afternoon for our 2.3 mile walk.
Eight of us join at the war memorial to find the first clue. Soon afterwards two students went ahead and the remaining six joined forces to find the clues and solve this mystery.
After a couple of hours walking through backstreets around famous Colleges, admiring Oxford architecture and much networking (chatting!) only two students completed the walk. The group had so much fun that run out of time and went home as it was dark. Some came back later in the week to finish the trail with family and friends.
Join us next time, you will be surprised!
A very holly jolly time was had from all the students attending the Postgraduate Research Degrees Christmas party at the Brookes Student Union Bar. There were bubbles, snacks, crafts and games with prizes for the winners (pictured is the winner of 'best bauble'). There was lots of festive fun and it was a great opportunity for all PGRs to get to know each other better. We are hoping to plan more social events next year. Thank you to the Brookes Union Bar for allowing us to use the venue. And thank you to everyone who attended! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
23 January 2024
The guided tour of the Ashmolean Museum's highlight exhibits was fantastic. Starting with a marble candelabra restored in the 18th century by Piranesi. Everyone loves a mummy, so off to early Roman period (CE 130-140) to see elegantly wrapped individuals with death masks giving good insight into style and fashion of the time. We were privileged to see the costumes worn by renowned Kabuki actor Bandō Tamasaburō V, each a work of art and lent to the museum by Tamasaburō himself. Next, Powhatan's Mantle, a deer hide with shell beadwork, started an interesting conversation about how the museum acquired pieces and if they should be returned. Whilst it is said the mantle was a gift from the Powhatan Chief Wahunsenacawh to Christopher Newport for King James I, as our tour guide described we will never truly know the details of “the gift exchange”. We made a stop at Alfred Jewel; a remarkably beautiful piece used to point and follow text in a manuscript. Finally, we admired the great art work of William Holman Hunt as part of the pre-Raphaelite brotherhood founded in Oxford in the mid 1800’s. Overall the tour is a highly recommended afternoon out! Thanks to one of our students for this great summary!
13 February 2024
Sixteen students enjoyed another fantastic tour at the museum, the staff was exceptional as always showing us their treasures and giving so much of their time at an extremely busy period during half term.
We were taken to the entomology section where we saw type specimens collected and labelled by Darwin himself (a real treasure to see), the largest bee which is now assumed to be extinct and the tsetse fly. Next to see the remains of the Dodo and other birds now extinct. In the conservation department everybody had the chance to try some basic cleaning techniques and to learn how the conservator uses artistic tools and science together to repair/mend very old museum specimens. Finally we spent sometime holding the oldest piece of our earth mantel, meteorites and possibly a small piece of Mars and enjoyed some fluorescent stones.
We are very grateful to all the museum staff for organising this event. Join us next time if you were unable to attend.
Tuesday 30 April 2024, 10:00 - 17:00 at The Forum JHB.
Compete with your fellow research students for a chance to win a range of cash prizes and have an opportunity to showcase your work to the wider University and external visitors.
All research students, at master's and doctoral level, are invited to submit and showcase their work at the Graduate College Research Student Exhibition.
We will run it in the carpeted area of The Forum (John Henry Brookes) to properly showcase your submissions, not only to students and staff, but to visitors of the University. This will be a fantastic opportunity and a worthwhile experience for any of you who choose to get involved.
Tuesday 7 May from 3-5pm
The Oxford Botanic Garden is the oldest in the UK with 5000 different plant species. The gardens have seven display glasshouses with plants from around the world, ranging from tropical to arid plant species. The first greenhouse was built more than 300 years ago to host exotic species such as citrus plants. The oldest part of the gardens is the Walled Garden, dating from 1621, housing Geographic Beds, Medicinal Plants and the Literary Garden. The Lower Garden holds several ornamental collections such as plants that have changed the world and the Gin Border please visit the garden pages
We will be guided through the gardens by our fantastic guide Dr Andrew Lack, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Biology at Oxford Brookes.
Entry to the gardens is free for Oxford Brookes staff and students (please bring your ID card).
Meeting point: garden entrance at 2.50pm
