The Oxford Forum for Medical Humanities presents a talk on effective altruism and the true impact of a doctor, by (medical doctor) Dr Gregory Lewis.

Doctors have a pretty solid reputation as do-gooders, and many students go into medicine for altruistic reasons. But how much good do doctors do? If you are deciding whether to become a doctor in the UK, how many lives can you expect to save over the course of your career?

Dr Gregory Lewis, a full-time doctor and ex-Cambridge medical student, will present some of his research into these very questions. This talk should be of interest to medics and non-medics alike who are serious about the impact of their career.

Date: Saturday 24 October (Week 2)
Time: 4:30pm-5:30pm
Venue: Blue Boar Lecture Theatre, Christ Church

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WHY DOCTORS DON’T DO MUCH GOOD

If you want to save lives, should you study medicine? Probably not.

The conclusion of our research is that most people skilled enough to make it in a field as challenging as medicine could have a bigger social impact through an alternative career.

The best research suggests that doctors do much less to improve the health of their patients than you might naturally expect. Health is more determined by lifestyle factors, and most of the treatments that work particularly well could be delivered with a smaller number of doctors than already work in the UK or USA.

However, medicine is high earning and highly fulfilling, and we expect there are more promising opportunities to help others through biomedical research, public health, health policy and (e.g. hospital) management.

Overall, we think going to medical school would be the best way to have a social impact only if someone felt they were a significantly better fit for medicine than the other options we recommend.

Source: 80,000 Hours https://80000hours.org/2012/08/how-many-lives-does-a-doctor-save/

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BIOGRAPHY

Dr Gregory Lewis, a full-time public health doctor training in the east of England. He studied Medicine at Cambridge, where he volunteered for Giving What We Can and 80,000 Hours, and he did his FY1 at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

He will present some of his research into these very questions. This talk should be of interest to medics and non-medics alike who are serious about the impact of their career

A talk by Seán Donlon, the former Irish ambassador to the United States.

Come listen to a curator with the Smithsonian Institute, Dr. Ellen Feingold, talk about the ongoing fascinating ‘Money in Arica’ project at the British Museum, which aims to piece together African monetary history and its cultural and political impact. Dr. Feingold will also speak on her own focus of counterfeit currencies in colonial East and West Africa. The lecture will be held at the Ioannou (Classics) Centre on St. Giles.

This event should interest you if:

• you wish to know more about various numismatics research projects;
• you wish to know more about a unique and rare field of numismatics (African numismatics);
• you wish to know more about using numismatics as a source for research.

Speaker profile: http://americanhistory.si.edu/profile/1159
Abstract:

During the interwar period, international counterfeiting schemes originating in West Africa presented a new threat to British colonial and national currencies. The institutions responsible for the West African monetary system – the Colonial Office and West African Currency Board – believed these plots had the potential to generate high quality forged currency and thus considered them to present a greater risk than local counterfeiting practices. This paper argues that colonial officials were also alert to this illicit activity because the schemes presented a new challenge to British law enforcement in the colonies, set off disputes between national and imperial institutions in London, and required the British to collaborate with other nations to thwart. The emergence of these international counterfeiting schemes demonstrates that while the creation of a colonial monetary system for West Africa facilitated British imperial economic aims, it also created new and unanticipated challenges to British rule.

Please contact qaleeda.talib@some.ox.ac.uk for more information.

Free for members; a £2 fee applies for non-members. Please contact the Secretary at kim.zhang@wadh.ox.ac.uk if you wish to be a member and sign up to the mailing-list. Membership is free.

Mr Richard Guy, Mr Roel Hompes and Mr Bobby Bloemendaal from the Colorectal Department at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will be presenting: “Surgery for advanced rectal cancer – crossing the boundaries”.

Mansfield Lecture Series, Convener Baroness Helena Kennedy QC. Gavin Francis is a doctor and award-winning writer. He contributes regularly
to the Guardian, London Review of Books, and New York Review of Books. His most
recent book is Adventures in Human Being.

In this Inaugural Gaza Lecture, Professor Karma Nabulsi, Assiociate Professor in Politics and International Relations from University of Oxford, will explore the politics, history and current predicaments faced by Palestinians in Gaza – particularly in the field of education.

In doing so, the lecture will illustrate the many extraordinary capacities and qualities of the Palestinian people that have come to the fore despite the extreme situation they are living in and how they have become an exemplar of democratic and universal values.

Gaza is commonly seen as a place of humanitarian catastrophe requiring emergency assistance, but Karma will instead show what the Palestinians of Gaza give to us.

Do we have the means necessary to create the perfect human? Do we have a moral responsibility to do so? Professor Julian Savulescu, Director of the Institute for Science and Ethics, will consider current and potential human enhancement technologies, and look at the ethical arguments surrounding their use.

o mark Inter Faith Week 2015 (15 – 21 November) and the 150th anniversary of Oxford Brookes University, the University Chaplaincy will host a panel discussion on the role of faith, belief, and non-belief in 21st century higher education.
This discussion between some of the university Chaplains will explore the importance of building good relationships and working partnerships between people of different faiths and beliefs and the cultural, social and educational implications.

Mansfield Lecture Series, Convener Baroness Helena Kennedy QC.Laurie Taylor is Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of York and
Visiting Professor in Politics and Sociology at Birkbeck. He is the author of 14
books on crime, deviance, personal identity and the nature of contemporary
celebrity. He presents the weekly social science programme Thinking Allowed
on BBC Radio Four.

‘Slavoj Žižek, Grace, and Contemporary Dance’
Speaker: Renate Braeuninger (Northampton)

In his extensive reflections on German philosophy and German Idealism, particularly in ‘Less than Nothing’ (2012), Žižek alludes to ideas of ‘grace’ on a number of occasions. This talk considers the following questions: What are the concepts and ideas of grace that Žižek is exploring, and to what extent are they useful for research into dance? By looking at German Idealism through the lens of Žižek and by thinking about its relevance to dance we gain a mediated perspective on German Idealism, but one that also reflects contemporary understanding of the term ‘grace’.

Sir David Tang will reflect on recent developments in Chinese society and on the UK’s changing relationship with the Asian super-power. As a pre-eminent figure in fashion, hospitality, media and the arts, in both the UK and across Asia, Sir David will share his unique insights on this complex and fascinating topic.
The evening will be hosted by Ken Hom OBE, chef, author and broadcaster and honorary graduate of Oxford Brookes University.

Society for Dance Research/DANSOX presents a one-day conference on ‘The Role of the Choreographer in the Stage and Screen Musical’.
With distinguished keynote speeches from Dame Gillian Lynne, acclaimed British dancer, choreographer, and theatre/television director; and Professor Millie Taylor (University of Winchester). Dame Gillian Lynne will speak at 2pm. There will be a drinks reception after the conference.

**OxPolicy and #periodpositive are ready to launch their report on the state of menstruation education in the United Kingdom!**

Join us on the evening of November 30th for a bloody good time (haw haw). We’ll be discussing our findings and making suggestions on how to improve the provision of menstruation education in UK schools, ways of teaching period positivity, and how to lessen menstrual stigma both for young people and generally. Featuring the wonderful Chella Quint – comedian and founder of #periodpositive!

Drinks to follow at the Lamb and Flag (St Giles) after the event.

For much of the last nearly 200 years, a huge amount of work has been undertaken to record, analyse and characterise gait – the patterns of movement when we walk. The common objectives were to enlighten clinical understanding and to improve the quality of life of many thousands of children, veterans and people challenged by disability.

An unintended consequence of this work has been its us in the entertainment sectors. Tom will take you on a visual journey into the world of blockbuster movies, music videos and advertisements populated by amazing creatures animated characters and imaginary environments.
He will describe the techniques used to capture human motion and how to place animated characters and objects into real backgrounds.

Ten years after the creation of the world’s first statutory-based national ombudsman service for higher education, Rob Behrens will mark his forthcoming departure from the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) with a frank appraisal of what has been achieved, how universities, student unions and complainants have reacted and what issues remain to be addressed.

He will explore the journey from ‘adjudicator’ to outward-facing ombudsman service and evaluate the OIA’s contribution to the current regulatory scene, assessing the impact of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 which brings private suppliers into the scheme on an equal footing with universities.

Members of AUA are very welcome to attend this event.

Rob Behrens is Independent Adjudicator and Chief Executive of the OIA, the ombudsman service for students in higher education in England and Wales. He is a member of the Regulatory Partnership Group for higher education.

He is also a non-executive member of the Bar Standards Board (BSB) in England and Wales, and Chair of the BSB Qualifications Committee.

Join us for a conversation with cultural thinker Roman Krznaric as we decide which are the best books on ‘the Art of Living.’ The event is hosted by website www.fivebooks.com and Prosecco will be served…

The use of data capture and visualisation technologies has grown dramatically, embracing the needs of researchers, stakeholder communities, cultural resource managers, tourists and the general public. This paper previews the types of techniques being used by Australian archaeologists and collaborators in a range of study areas. The digital acquisition and visualisation of archaeological sites using photographic techniques (hardware and software), 3D reconstruction, laser scanning and other methods, along with novel methods for presentation provide us with opportunities not available even 5 years ago. The challenge for researchers is to maintain the theoretical impetus in the face of a plethora of new technologies and opportunities. Methods to enhance recording and to facilitate research methodologies are explored and the potentials for cultural resource managers and stakeholder communities to manage their heritage (e.g. with tourists in interpretive displays, websites and other virtual media) are highlighted.

Professor Alistair Paterson is an archaeologist at the University of Western Australia where he has been Head of the School of Social Sciences (2013-15) and Archaeology Discipline Chair (2010-2012). He is currently a visiting researcher at the Institute of Archaeology, University of Oxford. His research and teaching covers culture contact, historical archaeology in maritime and terrestrial settings, European colonization, historical rock art, digital scholarship, and archaeological and historical methodology. Much of his work is located in Western Australia and the Indian Ocean exploring the uses of coast and offshore islands in colonial and pre-colonial settings, and early colonial settlements across the state (in collaboration with the Western Australian Museum, iVec@UWA).

“We all have something of each other’s lives in the palms of our hands” (Martinsen 2006).
The connected nature of caring relationships is well-established in nursing theory and indeed nurses in Oxfordshire have historically been at the forefront of much of this theory generation. More recently, nursing education in the UK has been criticised for losing its base essential values of caring, despite a strong person-centred discourse in healthcare policy and strategy.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) have responded with new standards and a code of practice, whilst school of nursing have felt increasingly ‘regulated’ with a focus on compliance

Public meeting. An introductory talk of 20 minutes, followed by an hour’s discussion. All welcome.

When the Fat Lady Sings: Leadership and Creativity in Opera

In the world of opera, many experts work together to create an amazing show: everyone from costume and lighting to singers and conductor need to align their creativity to make a final product that audiences love. There are many valuable lessons to be learned from these relationships that illustrate how leadership works.

Leadership involves coordinating different functions and communicating effectively both inside and outside an organisation. This talk will explore just that: how a system of shifting leadership works to pull together the creativity of the skilled experts in order to generate value for diverse stakeholders.

Expect practical demonstrations from a top-class singer!

Please arrive at 12.15pm for a prompt 12.30pm start. Lunch will then be provided and the lecture will commence at 1pm.

As researchers, we aim to develop knowledge that will improve the human condition. This goal is hampered, however, if research is not consumed, interrogated, and used by those implementing policy. How then does research enter the policy process in practice?

This panel brings together decades of experience working at the intersection of education research and policy and will attempt to answer this key question. Drawing from their considerable experience, the panellists will describe their view of how research informs policy, and share perspectives on how researchers can better communicate and interact with policy makers and what researchers typically miss when thinking about how policy is made.

Featuring:

Tom Mcbride
Head of Strategic Analysis, UK Department for Education

Alex Scharaschkin
Director of Research, AQA; Director, AQA Centre for Education Research and Practice

Ewart Keep
Director, Oxford University Centre on Skills, Knowledge & Organisational Performance (SKOPE)

Nothing is different but everything has changed

While the landscape of marketing is no doubt changing, the importance of cultivating and keeping diverse, creative talent remains as important today as it has been for centuries. This creative talent is at the heart of good marketing and no matter how the world shifts the consumption of media, creativity will remain key to making good ads.

FCB Worldwide CEO Carter Murray will discuss where he thinks the world of advertising is heading and how marketing is breaking new ground by sticking to the basics – awesome creative, great account management and a culture that allows it all to thrive.

The seminar will take place at Saïd Business School on 28 January 2016. Please arrive at the School from 5.15pm for a prompt 5.30pm start.

The talk will be followed by a short networking drinks reception until c19:30 hrs.

Guest speaker: Dr Mike Macnair, Tutor in Law at St Hugh’s, Oxford. Introductory talk, followed by about an hour’s discussion among the audience. All welcome.

Driving Business Performance

Peter Tufano and Antony Jenkins will discuss how leadership and culture drives business performance, including the tools that leaders can deploy to improve performance. They will also examine how technology is profoundly affecting business and society, including how to win in a new and very different world.

The seminar will take place at Saïd Business School on 4 Febrauary 2016. Please arrive at the School from 5pm for a prompt 5.30pm start.

The talk will be followed by a short networking drinks reception until c19:30 hrs.

Millions of people worldwide are affected by natural hazards ranging from devastating but localised events such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis to the more subtle but global effects of climate change. It is therefore in our interests to be able to accurately predict these hazards, assess their risks and communicate this information quickly and effectively to those affected so that major loss of life can be avoided. Exactly how this should be done, and the extent to which certain natural hazards can even be predicted are key questions that need to be addressed. Less obvious but of equal importance are the roles that governments and charities should play in communication and prevention, and how different communities perceive the risks associated with natural hazards in the first place. These questions will be debated by a diverse panel of speakers from a variety of different backgrounds to be announced shortly. There will be a free drinks reception afterwards. So come on down, you might just learn something*!

*Or you can just come for the free wine

This is a free event, please register at the link below

Join us in a discussion with University of Chicago evolutionary biologist and author of Why Evolution is True, Jerry Coyne, about why science and religion are completely incompatible. He’ll be recommending five books that back up his case.

A public meeting featuring veteran peace campaigner Bruce Kent plus speakers from CND and Momentum. There will also be questions and discussion.

Parliament will soon be making a decision on Trident replacement. Come and hear the facts.

All welcome – feel free to join in the discussion or just listen.

Organised by Oxford CND and Momentum Oxford

Workshop with writer and performer Ahmed Masoud.
It follows his reading and performance of Home/Less.You can book tickets for the performance here.

Dabke (Arabic: دبكة‎) is a modern Levantine Arab folk circle dance of possible Canaanite or Phoenician origin. It is a dance performed in the Palestinian Territories, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, and north Saudi Arabia . It is a form of both circle dance and line dancing and is widely performed at weddings and joyous occasions. The line forms from right to left. The leader of the dabke heads the line, alternating between facing the audience and the other dancers.

‘How to feed 9 billion people?’ is a free public seminar as part of the NERC Environmental Research DTP Grand Challenges Seminar Series.

FREE TICKETS: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/grand-challenges-seminar-series-tickets-19857062007?aff=ebrowse

By the year 2050, it is estimated that the global population will exceed 9 billion. Much of this population growth will occur in the poorest regions of the world, placing intense pressure on the supply of food to these regions. Changes in dietary preferences are likely to place additional pressure on the planet’s food supply. This increasing requirement for food is occurring at the same time as we become increasingly aware of factors reducing the productivity of agriculture such as: soil erosion, disease, extreme climate, and pollution. An increased awareness of the negative environmental impacts of intensive agriculture further highlights the range of pressures facing food security. In order to tackle these issues, different groups involved in the maintenance of food security need to cooperate effectively.

This panel discussion will bring together leading figures with different roles in the food supply network. We aim to provoke a stimulating and engaging debate with input from individuals with a variety of perspectives.
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CONFIRMED SPEAKERS:
Chair: Julain Cottee, Environmental Change Institute
http://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/people/jcottee.html

Tara Garnett, Food Climate Research Network, Oxford
http://www.futureoffood.ox.ac.uk/people/tara-garnett

Mike Bonsall
http://www.futureoffood.ox.ac.uk/people/mike-bonsall

Mark Buckingham, Monsanto
http://monsantoblog.eu/category/news-views/#.Vp9Vp_mLTIU
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Date: Tuesday 16th February 2016
Time: 5pm sharp, followed by a drinks reception.
Location: TS Eliot Lecture Theatre, Merton College, Oxford, OX1 4JD
FREE TICKETS available here (please ensure you choose the correct date):
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/grand-challenges-seminar-series-tickets-19857062007?aff=ebrowse

Please ensure you reserve a place on eventbrite if you intend to come as it would greatly aid us in our organisation of the event. Thank you in advance