science is...
For Everyone,
For Enjoyment,
For Enlightenment

About us

Science is for YOU.

Oxford Sparks is the place to explore and discover exciting scientific research from the University of Oxford

The University of Oxford is proud to be home to a huge amount of ground-breaking scientific research. Here at Oxford Sparks we aim to share this amazing science with everyone, and to shine a spotlight on the brilliant researchers themselves, through open, fun and accessible content.

Engaging science from across the University
Oxford Sparks aims to share a wide diversity of scientific content, focusing not only on ‘pure science’ but also the ethics of science, history of science, and even ‘how science works’.
If you’re interested in a particular subject, simply search for it in the ‘Topic’ dropdown menu on our homepage. Looking for something more specific? Just type your query into the search bar. You’ll find lots of inspiration at the bottom of each of our media pages too!
You can also get to know some of the faces behind the research in our ‘Meet the Scientists’ section.

What we do
Here at Oxford Sparks we work with researchers to create content just for you. Our Big Questions Podcast – which includes episodes such as “Could chocolate go extinct?” and “When did dogs become our best friends?” – is released every fortnight. Check out our archive of podcast episodes on PodFollow, and don’t forget to subscribe! We also enjoy creating short, fun and quirky videos such as “Why do I always spill my coffee?” (we’ve all been there, right?), and longer micro-documentaries that delve deeper into a topic, such as “A New View on Cancer“.

Behind the scenes support for researchers
We support our researchers to share their stories by providing information, training and mentoring about what public engagement is and how to do it. If you are a researcher at the University of Oxford who would like to get involved, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Est. 2011
This University of Oxford project was created in 2011 by the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences (MPLS) Division in partnership with the Medical Sciences Division (MSD) and Continuing Education.

We’d love to hear from you
Have a burning question? Something you’d like to hear about or see on our website or social media channels? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with any comments and questions!