Departmental Term Theme: Sustainability
This term, the department is focusing on the theme of Sustainability.
Sustainable Travel
The way we choose to travel is one of the biggest climate decisions individuals face.
Local Travel
In England, around 60% of 1-2 mile trips are made by car, which produces the equivalent of 123-180g CO2/km. Reducing the number of short trips made by car within the city and further afield, by walking, cycling and using public transport, can have a significant impact on our carbon footprint (and local air quality). Oxford has a strong walking and cycling culture, and the department and university support cycling by:
The availability of a shower on the lower ground floor, a bike pump available at reception, an interest-free bike loan scheme, up to 6 hours of free training, and Bike Doctor mobile mechanic sessions are available weekly as well as discounted locks and lights.
There are also discounts available for travel by public transport.
International Travel
2.4% of global CO2 emissions come from aviation, with a return flight from London to San Francisco emitting around 5.5 tonnes of CO2e per person, about half of the average carbon footprint of someone living in Britain. When planning travel further afield, it is useful to bear in mind the travel hierarchy for international travel.
Ultimately, collectively being more mindful of our travel choices can make a big impact.
Departmental Community
Welcome to Niamh Jones
Niamh has been at the department since August 2022 fulfilling a temporary Administrative Assistant role. We are delighted that Niamh officially started with us as a permanent member of staff on Monday 6th February as our new Research Support and Data Administrator. Niamh will be continuing with most of her previous duties as well as taking on other responsibilities in relation to grants, finance and much more. Niamh is located in G.10 and works on-site Monday-Friday.
I am thrilled to continue working at the department and in the Support Team, it's such a great work environment to be a part of and I am looking forward to my varied role and new challenges!
For Students
Imperial Summer Research Programme for Women Studying Maths, Deadline 28 February
Fully-Funded Summer Research Programme at Imperial College London for Women Studying Mathematics or Statistics
Are you a woman who will be in your final year of a master’s degree in mathematics or statistics in the academic year 2023/24?
The Mary Lister McCammon Summer Research Fellowship is a funded opportunity to spend the summer before your final year at university working in research with a leading mathematician or statistician. This is an opportunity to experience working in research and to find out if a PhD is something you would like to do. By gaining research experience, you’ll also make your PhD application more competitive.
Key Features
- 10-week research project starting 3 July 2023.
- Stipend of £380 per week - the same as a PhD student.
- Working with a supervisor at Imperial College London, or for some students in pure maths at King's College London or University College London.
- Up to 14 places are available across many areas of mathematics and statistics.
- Cohort activities include communications training, PhD briefings, and social activities.
Click here for more information, and to apply. Or see this by one of our 2019 fellows who has gone on to a PhD.
For Academics & Researchers
MPLS Impact Awards - Call for Nominations, Submit by 24 April
This is the tenth year for MPLS Impact Awards, which celebrate, recognise and reward impacts achieved by our researchers. Department of Statistics has previously nominated 13 academics and researchers at different career stages and their achievements have been recognised at the annual impact awards. Over the past 10 years, our department has won 7 impact awards.
We are keen to increase nominations to MPLS Impact Awards from departments and would encourage you to identify and nominate promising individuals or teams to one of the many impact categories. The Panel aims to recognise and reward those who have achieved an impact, as well as those who are likely to achieve an impact in the future.
Further details, nomination form (submitted by Monday 24 April), and guidance can be found at MPLS Impact Awards, and the awards will be presented at the MPLS Reception in 2023, with a pay award of £1,000 (minus taxes) made to the individual.
For Staff
New Digital Productivity Sessions
Looking to optimise your use of technology to maximise your productivity? The Centre for Teaching and Learning is running free online sessions for all staff this term relating to digital productivity, accessibility and assistive technologies. Find out more about the sessions and book your spot.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Race Equality Week 2023, 6-12 February
6 to 12 February is Race Equality Week, an opportunity for us all to recognise the barriers to race equality and affirm our commitment to breaking these down. To mark the week, staff and students from across the university share their views on why race equality matters and what we can do to make it a reality.
Talks & Events
BDI/WHG (Gen)omics Theme Seminar, 14 February
Title: “Ancestral Recombination Graphs for SARS-Cov-2: a comprehensive map of recombination and mutational processes over millions of samples”.
Bio: Jerome is a group leader and Robertson Fellow at the Big Data Institute, and works on computational methods and software for large-scale genomics. He will also include a wider introduction to his research team and their work. The (gen)omics seminar series runs every other Tuesday morning and is intended to increase interaction between individuals working in genomics across Oxford.
When: 9.30-10.30am, Tuesday 14th February
Where: Big Data Institute, LG 0 Seminar Room
Hybrid Option: Please note, these meetings are closed meetings and only open to members of the University of Oxford to encourage sharing of new and unpublished data. Please respect our speakers and do not share the link with anyone outside of the university.
The aim of these seminars is to increase interaction between people working in Genomics across the university so we encourage in-person attendance wherever possible!
LGBTQIA+ Forced Migration Panel, 18 February
Join us at St Edmund Hall College (Doctrow Hall) on Saturday 18th February for a panel discussion exploring the intersection between LGBTQIA+ identities and experiences of forced migration.
We'll be joined by panellists from a variety of NGOs supporting LGBTQIA+ migrants in the UK, who'll be exploring topics ranging from discrimination within the asylum system and legal frameworks to support LGBTQIA+ forced migrants, to homonationalism.
The ticket price of £2.50 covers a glass of Prosecco at the drinks reception which will follow the panel talk. Since this is an educational event which we want to make accessible to all, please do email us (beth@solidaritee.org.uk) or message the SolidariTee Oxford Facebook page for a free ticket.
You can also opt to add a donation to SolidariTee onto the price of your ticket, or a t-shirt (all proceeds go directly to funding NGOs providing legal and psychological aid for refugees and asylum seekers in Greece). We'll also be selling SolidariTees at the event!
LGBT+ History Month 2023
February is LGBT+ History Month, a month-long annual celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history and an opportunity to raise the visibility of these lives and experiences. In this 2023 guide, you’ll find everything going on around the University to mark the month, including a range of stories, resources, events and support. View the LGBT+ History Month guide.
Professor David Steinsaltz on Ageing, 23 February
David Steinsaltz will be giving the talk Ageing: What is it? Why is it? Where is it going? at 5pm (refreshments from 4:30pm) in the Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre at Worcester College, on 23rd February. Registration is free. The lecture can also be viewed online; contact omevents@worc.ox.ac.uk, and a Zoom link will be sent nearer the time.
International Women’s Day Event, 7 March
Join the Vice-Chancellor 12.30–1.30pm on 7 March to discuss how Oxford can foster conditions that will enable more women to become leaders and entrepreneurs. Tea and coffee will be served at the event until 2pm, and there will be a chance to put your questions to the panel during a Q&A. Register to attend the panel discussion by 3 March.
Training & Opportunities
IT Learning Centre - Digital Skills Courses
The IT Learning Centre offers an extensive collection of IT-related courses, taught in-person and online.
Bodleian iSkills
The *free* Bodleian iSkills workshops cover managing your references, data management and more! Please see the iSkills workshops page for upcoming workshops which you may be interested in. Keep an eye on this page for workshops taking place throughout the year and for our workshop handouts, live webinar recordings and pre-recorded video tutorials.