Postdocs | Science and Medicine

Banish the 5th Week Blues

We hear all the time that the fifth week of Hilary Term (16-20th February) is a tough one. This year the Radcliffe Science Library scheduled our Wellbeing Week in the hope of providing a boost for our students at the point you say you need it most.

Wellbeing Week Events

Overall almost 300 people attended the events, an increase of around 15% from Wellbeing Week 2025.

During the week, the RSL ran both pre-booked and drop in events, mixing the regular staples of our Wellbeing Calendar like Lego Lunch (every Wednesday) with a selection of first time offerings such as ‘Carnivorous Plants’.

This year’s programme of events was put together based on your feedback. We thought the suggestions we received from students were great and saw us introduce ‘Jewellery Making’, which proved a real hit and was one of our best attended events, ‘Painting for Beginners’ and a ‘Boardgames Evening’.

A wide show of a table during the jewellery making session. Five women focus on their pieces and the table is littered with an array of thread and beads as they work — Jewellery making in full swing during Wellbeing Week

A wide shot of the Wellbeing Room showing four tables full of painters. The course instructor is at a table in the far corner offering help and guidance. In total ten painters appear in shot with the tables full of paints, brushes and water pots — Jewellery making in full swing during Wellbeing Week

A wider Wellbeing audience

Although many of our events were student focused, we were delighted to open others up to all members of the University and it was great to see staff joining students in taking a Blind Date with a Book and learning about Carnivorous Plants, from Dr Lauren Baker of the Oxford Botanic Gardens. We’re pleased to report that all participants safely survived this encounter and reports about exactly how high members of RSL staff jumped when the Venus flytrap snapped shut have been greatly exaggerated!

Three female students test out the reactions of the carnivorous plants by gently stimulating them with a stirring stick — Students test the reactions of the carnivorous plants

Set up from the start of the Blind Date with a book event. 11 books are arranged on a circular table, each on wrapped in paper with a descriptive note stuck on the front. Most descriptions cannot be read in the image save one on the book at the front, which says: 'I journal by candlelight and fall in love with inconvenient people. Pick me for crumbling castles, sharp wit, and the kid of slow-burning longing that feels like summer in the English countryside' — Students test the reactions of the carnivorous plants

Thanks for coming

A big thank you to each and every one who joined in this Wellbeing Week. With over 75% of the pre-booked events (including all the new activities) going to waiting lists, we were also grateful to those who cancelled places when their circumstances changed. This allowed those who would otherwise have missed out to fill their spaces and was much appreciated.

Fantastic Feedback

As one student put it as she tucked into her hot chocolate, explained how much she had enjoyed the painting and was looking forward to jewellery making “I am going to be SOOOO well by the end of this week”

We are all different and to help us gauge the overall success of the Wellbeing Week we asked a selection of attendees to carry out subjective assessments of their own wellbeing and to look at how the activities they had chosen impacted how they felt. Across the respondents there was an overwhelming view that taking time out to relax and recharge had a positive impact on their Wellbeing with an average increase of 17% after the event they took part in.

Blind Date with a Book: “Great way to connect with people, especially at this busy time of year” “Super grateful to everyone who organised this… loved the wrapping paper….thank you”

Hot Chocolate: “It’s such a busy week so this is great as a break” “…..this is my reward”

Jewellery Making: “Loved it…” “Thank you, that was so fun” “This was so good. Can we do it again?”

Boardgame night: “Brilliant” “It would be great if you could do this again”

Overall: “I just wanted to say that a group of us physicists have started a friend group just from studying in and using the the Wellbeing Room, so thanks for that!” “I’m feeling very well this week, thanks to this”

Smiling lady shows her completed painting. She has painted a bird on a tree branch with foliage and blossom — Another great Wellbeing Week painting

Two students show off the jewellery pieces that they have just completed. Both have made bracelets with many pieces in a variety of colours — Another great Wellbeing Week painting

Beyond Wellbeing Week

We have further wellbeing activities this term including regular items like our Lego Lunch and DPhil Crafty Connections! Check out our Wellbeing Calendar to see more RSL events or the Bodleian Libraries Wellbeing page. If you’d like to collaborate with the Radcliffe Science Library on a Wellbeing event then please get in touch rsl-wellbeing@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

A smiling student shows off the bracelet that she has made — Here’s one I made earlier

Smiling man shows off his completed painting of a bird on a blossoming tree — Here’s one I made earlier

Whether you are new to Oxford or have been here a while, we thought it would be useful to put together a quick user guide drawing together access points for many of the services and facilities available at the Bodleian Libraries.

Spaces for every requirement

The Bodleian is made up of 23 libraries and all of these libraries may be used by members of the University. In addition to more traditional reading rooms, a number of our libraries are able to offer a range of accessible spaces that can be booked in line with your needs. Here are some examples from a selection of libraries with Group study rooms or individual study carrels through to larger seminar and discussion spaces, the booking system enables you to specify both the capacity and facilities needed to meet your requirements.

Interior long shot of a study room. Shows a table with 8 chairs with a large screen at the end of the room — **A group study room in the RSL**

Screenshot of Room Booking system with facility filters — **A group study room in the RSL**

Get the literature you need, when you need it

The first thing to get acquainted with when arriving at Oxford is SOLO. Search Oxford Libraries Online is your digital gateway to the Bodleian Libraries. Find and request physical books, access ebooks and link to everything from special collections catalogues or conference proceedings to specific subject & research guides. SOLO is home to an A-Z of databases to support your work and a huge archive of journals can be accessed either directly or through the University access to the Browzine platform. In the event that you are unable to find the publication you need, you can attempt an Inter Library loan to secure a copy held elsewhere or why not place a purchase request to add it to the Bodleian’s collection permanently?

Screenshot of the search engine of the SOLO system — **SOLO search example**

Free training & skills workshops every term

Bodleian Libraries provide a variety of courses throughout the academic year. All offered completely free of charge, a diverse range of topics to support Post Docs include Copyright, Reference Management, the use of generative AI, Sourcing papers & articles and navigating research metrics. Use the iSkills website to view and book upcoming workshops.

You can also benefit from one to one information and skills support consultations with your Subject Librarian.

Help with Open Access

Whatever your queries regarding Open Access, from funding requirements to article processing charges (APC) the Open Research team is here to provide support.

The Open Access Oxford website has advice and guidance, details of upcoming training and helpdesk contact details for those who have more general questions. There is also a directory of subject and departmental leads who can assist with subject specific Open Access queries.

Research data management services

We know that data is at the heart of everything you do and the Research Data Oxford website is your go to tool to assist you managing your data effectively. From a starters guide, through data management planning, legal & ethical concerns right up to post-project data preservation and data sharing, this site can be your companion every step of the way. If you feel you need more support, the team will answer your queries and if necessary, arrange a meeting to assist with the enquiry.

That’s not all…

Bodleian Libraries always look to provide an environment conducive to you producing your very best work. In addition to our spaces and access to academic materials, we want our readers to feel their needs are met across the board. In practical terms this can mean our ongoing commitment to equal access to services and facilities for all users or by providing short term assistance, such as lending out charging cables or power banks to make sure that piece of work gets finished.

Knowing when to take a break is key to working effectively and the Bodleian Libraries provide a number of spaces and activities to enable readers to take some regular time to focus on their own wellbeing. Remember that as a member of the University, you are entitled to make the most of everything that the estate has to offer from the exhibitions and associated programmes that run in the Weston library throughout the museums and the gardens.

Photograph of a group of six people sitting at a table knitting and creating other crafts. — Group crafting in the Wellbeing Room

Help at the libraries & Subject specialist support

If you have any questions about the library then our Reader Services teams are here to help you. In person on the desks from open to close each day and remotely using Live Chat from Monday – Friday until at least 5pm.

For more detailed questions relating to how the library can assist you in your work – like the sourcing of new database or some guidance on using an existing resource then remember that you can always make contact with your subject or outreach librarian directly. They can assist via e-mail or arrange Teams based (or in person) one to one sessions to make sure that you are getting all the help and support to make the most out of what the Bodleian libraries has to offer.

Science and Medicine

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Category Archives: Postdocs

RSL Wellbeing Week 2026