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Mechanobiology: the stress of life
We often think of our bodies in terms of cells and genes, but we shouldn’t forget that they’re also complex mechanical structures. From an Achilles tendon – that can carry half the weight of a Mini – to our constantly pulsing blood vessels, they’re feats of meticulous engineering. Scientists at the University of Oxford are showing how research...
Brian Sheil
My interest in underground construction stems from my long-standing fascination with civil engineering ‘mega projects’ such as Crossrail and the Thames Tideway Tunnel, to take recent examples. I studied Civil Engineering for my undergraduate degree at the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG). In 2014 I joined University of Oxford as a...
Sebastian Bonilla
I am an electronics engineer and scientist working on the improvement of solar energy generation. Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time and I firmly believe that we must do everything possible to achieve a low-carbon future. This is why I am committed to working on materials and technologies that can result in better...
Lockdown Walks - What's that solar panel doing?
Have you ever walked down the street and seen a rooftop covered in black shiny panels? Ever wondered exactly what they are and what they're doing? In this episode of 'Lockdown Walks' we're talking SOLAR PANELS. Sit back, relax, and let Sebastian Bonilla tell you all about them...Then why not see if you can spot some on your next walk?
How do you build a super sewer?
What do you do when a city outgrows its 150 year old sewer system? Build a super sewer of course! Join University of Oxford engineer Dr Brian Sheil as we go underground, and learn how his innovative sensors are revolutionising the Thames Tideway Tunnel Project – and the construction industry.
Matters of Scale 2 - Biology and the Problem with Scale
Dr Sylvia MacLain talks about how water creates a problem when researching biology. Structures can be studied when they are in solid form, but approximately 60% of our bodies are made of water.
Proteins, essential for life, are especially problematic as their entire function is related to their structure, which is different in solution...
Tony Watts
My passion for Geology began at school in the Mendip Hills where I collected fossils and minerals. After school, I completed a BSc. in Geology and Physics at University College, London and a Ph.D in Geophysics at the University of Durham. My research project at Durham involved a study of the sea floor and what lay beneath it north of Scotland....
Our mysterious ocean floor
Oceans cover more than 70% of the Earth's surface, yet only 15% of the ocean floor has been mapped in detail. Much remains unknown, including the location of potentially hundreds of thousands of seamounts, which can be hazardous to navigation. Scientists at the University of Oxford are working with others to compile the most comprehensive...
Mark S Thompson
I studied Engineering Science at the University of Oxford, where my inspirational tutor at Magdalen College, Brian Bellhouse, encouraged me to seek engineering applications in medicine. I completed a PhD in hip replacement biomechanics at the University of London, co-supervised and given extensive theatre experience by a surgeon, and won an EC...
