Talk About Your Thesis 2026

Posted on 15 April 2026 by kharris

On 20 March 2026, the Radcliffe Science Library hosted Talk About Your Thesis, a new event developed in response to graduate student feedback. The aim was to give graduate students the opportunity to practise presenting their research in a friendly environment, while also meeting fellow students from across departments.

The session brought together just under 30 students from across MPLS, MSD and beyond for seven short talks followed by an informal lunch. With speakers presenting on a wide range of topics, attendees had the chance to hear about research far beyond their own specialism, while speakers gained valuable experience of presenting to a broader audience.

The RSL thanks Rueben College for use of their Lecture theatre to support the event.

The speakers sit in the front row of the lecture theatre waiting for the event to get underway — Talk about your Thesis 2026 is about to begin

Why we ran the event

Postgraduate students need to present their research at different stages of their careers, from conferences to transfer workshops to public engagement, but many have said there are limited opportunities to practise outside their own research groups or departments. Students also expressed interest in connecting with other graduate researchers across the University.

Talk About Your Thesis was created to support both of these aims: building confidence in presenting and creating opportunities for conversation and connection.

A broad and engaging programme

One of the strengths of the event was the variety of subjects represented. Rather than focusing on a single theme, speakers were invited to talk about their DPhil research in a style suitable for a general audience. This created a programme that was varied, accessible and engaging.

The talks covered topics including social media and social anxiety, ocean mixing caused by icebergs, battery design, atomic structure modelling, HIV-1 molecular epidemiology, irradiation damage in fusion reactors and smartwatch training. The diversity of topics helped make the event lively and gave everyone the chance to learn something new and the speakers did an excellent job making the topics understandable.

Nora stands at the lectern besides a large screen where a cartoon man is depicted weighed down by a globe full of social media commentary — Nora presents on Social Media & Social Anxiety

The opening slide of Oscar's presentation displayed on the big screen. It shows a graphic of ice breaking off into the sea and the caption reads "Modelling ocean mixing by capsizing icebergs in Greenlandic fjords" — Nora presents on Social Media & Social Anxiety

A welcoming atmosphere

Feedback from both speakers and attendees was very positive. Students appreciated the chance to practise their speaking skills in a supportive setting and valued the opportunity to meet researchers from outside their own departments.

“It is a great opportunity to practice presenting skills in a friendly environment”

“It’s a great event to practice speaking in an informal manner”

“This crowd was so friendly and engaged it was a really positive environment to practice in”

That welcoming atmosphere came through strongly in the feedback.

“Everyone was really friendly! It was great and I hope the library considers doing it again :)”

“Doing a DPhil can be very isolating, this is a great opportunity to meet other DPhil students”

One attendee reflected on both aspects of the event:

“I most enjoyed meeting people over lunch, but the whole event was great! The broad range of subject areas was good for learning about topics outside my specialism and for meeting interesting people who I might not otherwise have met. Everyone was very friendly, especially the library staff”

Looking ahead

The event was very well received, and feedback showed that there is interest in a similar event in the future. We are looking into possibilities of running a comparable event next year, which would incorporate feedback such as including a short Q&A after the talks.

Overall, Talk About Your Thesis offered exactly what many graduate students had been asking for: a chance to share research, practise speaking and connect with others in a welcoming environment.

Speakers and guests enjoy their pizza lunch. 9 Post grads eat at a round table in the RSL Social Study area — Discussing presentations over lunch

Table full of pizza. A sign marks the food as being suitable for vegetarians — Discussing presentations over lunch

The full list of speakers from Talk About Your Thesis 2026

Nora Skjerdingstad (Experimental Psychology) – Social media and social anxiety: Reconceptualising cognitive and behavioural processes

Oscar Tovey Garcia (Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics) – Ocean mixing by capsizing icebergs may enhance glacier melt rates

Neave Taylor (Chemistry) – Designing better batteries through watching interphases grow

Yuxuan presenting at the Talk About Your Thesis event

Zhang Yuxuan (Materials Science) – Simplified model to resolve three-dimensional atomic structure from 4D-STEM data

Ayisha Khalid (Nuffield Department of Population Health)- Global molecular epidemiology of HIV-1 during 1990-2024

Benoit presents from the lectern and draws our attention to something on the screen

Benoit Jaudun (Physics) – Understanding Irradiation damage in superconducting magnet for fusion reactors

Firas Darwish (Statistics) – How to Train a Smartwatch Without Living 10,000 Lives

RSL Wellbeing Week 2026

Posted on 25 February 2026 by kharris

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

The Michaelmas Wrap

Posted on 20 January 2026 by kharris

The first chapter of the 25/26 academic year has been written and a new one is underway here at the Radcliffe Science Library. We thought that it would be a nice opportunity to revisit some of the highlights of the Michaelmas term and to give you a heads up on some things to keep an eye out for during Hilary.

RSL in 2025

Throughout 2025, we continued to ask for your feedback on how we could enhance your experience and in Michaelmas term we continued to add to our offering. Based on your comments, we once again increased the number of monitors available in the library. New product lines were added to the ‘items we lend’ with the noise cancelling headphones proving particularly popular.

Alongside these physical items, we have introduced new programmes including the Pomodoro based working groups. These have seen the Subject Librarians chair timed sessions where attendees commit to focused work and regular short breaks during the two or three hour slots. With refreshments available, they have provided a number of our Postgrads with both a highly effective working environment and a peer networking opportunity. 100% of those who attended a session in 2025 stated that they would join future dates when they become available.

The Subject Librarians have introduced new resources and collections to the RSL’s offering including the Global Health archive, the Science of Synthesis and a World Scientific Quantum Technologies Collection.

They have provided direct support (either through leading/contributing to workshops or holding one to one sessions) to over 2500 attendees during the Michaelmas term across our undergraduate, Postgrad and Postdoc reader community.

Inside one of the reading rooms. Close image of a desk featuring four monitors and the cabling that readers can plug in to — Reading room

Combined image of the four RSL subject librarians. Clockwise from the top left Rachel Scanlon, Karine Barker, Alessandra Vetrugno & Oliver Bridle all pictured in situ in the library — Reading room

Michaelmas Wellbeing at the RSL

Michaelmas term saw the Wellbeing Room in constant use, either in its capacity as a drop in space to provide a relaxing change of scene, or as the host venue for a series of events encouraging readers to schedule a break.

Guaranteeing that the space is available every day from 2pm-5pm on weekdays ensures that all readers have the opportunity to use the room. If you haven’t had the chance yet then come explore and enjoy this unique environment and its facilities.

Our weekly Lego Lunch (every Wednesday) and the monthly Craft & Chat afternoon (1st Tuesday each month) continue to draw regular guests but we have plenty of capacity for more of you to join us. Lego Lunch is a drop in event although we do ask you to sign up for the crafting sessions to help us manage the materials that we need.

Michaelmas saw a number of special events including a Mindfulness session to help us with the skills that build resilience into our working lives. There were two lovely ‘Hug in a mug’ Hot Chocolate days where the RSL team served up free drinks with marshmallow trimmings and no one who attended will forget the happiness that the Therapy Dogs bring as they stopped by for lunch in December. We hosted Post Docs for Pizza and DPhils crafted at Christmas as we laid on networking events for different members of our reader community.

We revisited a favourite from previous terms as we collected (and then shredded!) our readers worries. A cathartic event to end the year saw many of you drop in to share a cuppa and a bit of cake as we consigned our concerns to the past and sent them off to enjoy a new life (as part of the fertiliser used to grow some of the beautiful flowers in the University gardens).

Supporting reader wellbeing across the whole library, we have continued to offer weekly free hot drinks every Wednesday between 10am and noon. This self-service facility is set out by the Reader Services team in the vending area and provided over 275 teas, coffees and hot chocolates last term. Running each week during term time, your first date for a free cuppa is this Wednesday, the 21st January.

Student smiling with her craft surrounded by crafting material

Male student smiles with one of the therapy dogs at his feet

What’s Hilary got in store?

Keep your eyes on the posters and screens around the library as we will be continuing to highlight a series of newly added resources throughout the Hilary term. Each month either an all new resource or a selection of new, subject specific, items will be promoted throughout the library.

In addition to this, we will continue to highlight the opportunities presented by existing resources as the Subject Librarians take it in turn to recommend titles, databases or collections from their field of expertise that can aid you in your work.

They will continue to provide support to both the Bodleian Libraries wide iSkills workshop programme as well as other courses offered by specific Divisions and Departments and you can contact them to request one to one support for specific queries such as purchasing a book that we do not currently hold or help using particular resources as the need arises.

The Subject Librarians will also be leading new Focus & Finish sessions for Hilary, built on the success of last year’s work and using the Pomodoro study technique. We will manage the timings to ensure focused work is followed by short breaks to help maintain concentration and support you with the right environment to get that outstanding task done. Spaces on the first two sessions are available now.

Hilary Term will see a number of additional events added to the Wellbeing Calendar, including details of our Wellbeing Week, which will be released shortly, so keep a look out for more information here and across Bodleian libraries to make sure you don’t miss the chance to time your breaks to coincide with some enjoyable and restorative activities.

We would very much encourage you to continue to give us your feedback, both the positive and any constructive criticism, that you think will enable us to develop and enhance your reading experience. You can do so using the whiteboards situated throughout the library, the comments book located outside the main reading room or by speaking to the Reader Services team in person, on live chat or by e-mailing enquiries.rsl@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

Thank you for continuing to use the Radcliffe Science Library, we wish you every success in your work during the Hilary term and beyond.

A whiteboard requesting feedback covered in a variety of comments

Two smiling female readers with their free hot chocolate

Chocca block with happy readers

Posted on 25 November 2025 by kharris

New traditions

Over the last two weeks we hosted the latest events from our Wellbeing Calendar, providing free hot chocolate to any member of the University community who dropped in during the sessions held on the mornings of Thursday 13th and Tuesday 18th November.

As we approach the end of term, and deadlines loom, we know it can seem even more difficult to take the breaks you should so we thought there was no better time to offer an incentive to enjoy a sweet, warming treat on us.

Free Hot Chocolate at the RSL is rapidly becoming amongst the most looked forward to dates in our Wellbeing Calendar and we are well on the way to establishing them as a real winter tradition of our own, almost two years after the inaugural event.

New Records!

Back in 2024, we served almost 90 hot chocolates to grateful readers as part of our Wellbeing week. In 2025 we doubled that filling and giving out almost 200 warming cups over the two days as over 60 people visited us on the 13th November and a whopping 120 waited patiently for their turn between 10.00 & 11.30am on Tuesday 18th. That’s something like 50 litres of hot chocolate (and a whole lot of marshmallows) going out at an average rate quicker than a cup a minute to some very happy students. The efforts of the RSL team were much appreciated by the readers. They made sure that everyone was served promptly but never forgetting that the perfect hot chocolate is always properly stirred (not shaken!)

Some took the opportunity to take five and relax with friends whilst for others it was pour into the takeaway cup, on with the lid and straight out back to work (with that extra warm spring in their step).

Four female students smile with their hot chocolate

A close up shot of a cup of hot chocolate. The cup is full of small marshmallows floating in the top

Old Friends and New…..

The best part of any event is knowing that the people who took the time out to visit enjoyed it. We met everyone from RSL Wellbeing Room regulars to the casual library users. Everyone had a big smile on their face but hey, chocolate and marshmallows are supposed to do that to a person!

For a couple of undergraduates, it was a first ever visit to our library having been rounded up by an RSL regular who had insisted that the provision of free hot chocolate must dictate study location on the groupchat the night before

We received some fantastic feedback including a first time visitor who said that the Wellbeing space was wonderful (and so was the chocolate). A frequent reader noted that the evolving nature of the Wellbeing Room and the different things we are able to offer had them coming back “…to see what great stuff you have added next.” Another commented that they thought the free chocolate was such a lovely idea, thanked the team and said they thought that the “… RSL is the only library doing nice things like this”.

New Chocolate dates, New Events & New ideas

The value of taking regular breaks should never be underestimated so remember that outside of the events calendar, the Wellbeing Room is available to everyone, every day from 2pm – 5pm.

Don’t be blue if you missed out on the free hot chocolate this time, we’ll be back with more dates in the Hilary term. Keep an eye on the events calendar on the RSL website for this and other activities you can be a part of. Enjoy a break and aid your studies by taking the time to look after your own wellbeing.

If you have any ideas for events (or items) that you think would enhance the offering of the RSL Wellbeing Room then why not drop us a line to rsl-wellbeing@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

A group of student women sit on a corner sofa enjoying their hot chocolate. Another student is writing on the desk. Only his arm is in shot

Two smiling female students stand wrapped up ready to go out into the cold with their take away hot chocolate. There is a snowy plastic fir tree in the background behind them

Wellbeing at the Radcliffe Science Library

Posted on 8 October 2025 by kharris

As we start a new term, we wanted to take the opportunity to let both new undergraduates and returning readers know about the facilities and events here at the library to support your personal wellbeing. Making the time to take a break will allow you to be more rested, energised, and prepared for your everyday challenges.

RSL Wellbeing Room

The Wellbeing Room is located on the lower ground floor of the library and can be accessed using your library card. The room is spacious, calm and full of diversions to help clear the mind of ever growing to-do lists. From jigsaws and board games to bean bags and soft toys, there’s something for pretty much everyone who just wants to enjoy that bit of quiet time. We have a selection of wellbeing books, which are available to borrow, and the room itself can be booked by e-mailing rsl-wellbeing@bodleian.ox.ac.uk. The Wellbeing Room is kept free for drop in visitors every weekday from 2-5pm so you can be sure that, in the event of a stressful morning, there is always some respite available in the sanctuary of this space.

Photograph. A wide shot of the interior of the Wellbeing Room. It shows shelving full of books and games with a large screen in the centre. There are comfy armchairs and potted plants in the foreground

Photograph of a colouring book and a set of coloured pencils on a table top. One page of the book is completed and coloured in, the other just the unused outline

The regular building blocks of wellbeing…

As well as the daily drop in slot, the library offers a series of regular events to get your creative juices flowing and help sooth body and mind. Every Wednesday we host a double header, starting with free tea & coffee available from 10am-12 noon in the vending area. After a caffeine hit, remind yourself that everything is awesome with Lego Lunch from 1-2pm in the Wellbeing Room. There are various sets to choose from – will you follow instructions or simply freeform your way to master builder status? No bookings are required for either of these weekly sessions.

Need to slow the pace and chill with like minded others? On the 1st Tuesday of every month the Wellbeing Room hosts ‘Craft & Chat’ where you can wax lyrical about wool or let off some steam with a good old chunter as you crochet. You can book these sessions through our Wellbeing calendar here.

Things get on top of all of us from time to time and we are here to help you shed those nagging woes as the Wellbeing Room houses the RSL Worry Box. Pour in your concerns, big or small, throughout the course of term and we’ll get together for an extremely cathartic shredding event at year end.

Photograph of a Peacock made out of Lego. The colourful Lego feathers are on full display

Image features a desk top post box. Red in colour featuring the words 'Worry Box' above the letter slot. A female had is posing a piece of paper into the box

Can we interest you in one of our specials?

Keep a regular eye on the Wellbeing calendar as additional events are added throughout the year. Highlights this term include a warming winter treat where we’ll be dishing out free Hot Chocolate and a Mindfulness session with Susan Hargreaves (helping us with the tools to gather scattered thoughts and train our attention). Registration for these special events will open a few weeks prior to the date of the activity.

Stylised image of a blue and white mug in the snow. Steam is coming off the brown liquid and a caption reads 'Get a warm hug in a mug'

Suggestions

What’s missing? The current offering in the Wellbeing Room was developed through the feedback of library users and it will be you that helps us with the next steps. There is a whiteboard in the Wellbeing Room where you can jot down anything that occurs to you or use the rsl-wellbeing e-mail to share your thoughts on the facilities themselves or any ideas for potential new events.

Wider wellbeing

The commitment to supporting you and your wellbeing extends beyond the RSL, throughout the Bodleian libraries estate and across the wider University. Find details of what the Bodleian has to offer and explore the University of Oxford student Welfare & Wellbeing hub.

Focus Fix: Pomodoro Sessions for Science Researchers

Posted on 16 June 2025 by rachelscanlon

Photograph of woman staring at a laptop looking stressed biting down on a pecil so that it is out either side of her mouth.

Do you find it hard to focus on your thesis writing without interruptions? Procrastinating over finishing a conference poster? Never enough time to read that new paper? If you’re having issues like these a library pomodoro session might be just the thing for you!

What is a pomodoro session?

A pomodoro session is a study technique that aims to create protected, distraction free time for you to work. Many people find maintaining focus on a task for more than 25 – 30 minutes at a time challenging. In a pomodoro session, work is broken into 25-minute chunks, separated by 5-minute breaks. These 5-minute breaks allow your concentration to ‘reset’ meaning you can be more focused and productive across the session. Pomodoro sessions usually last between 2 – 3 hours.

Why is it called ‘Pomodoro’?

Photograph of a tomato shaped timer — Il pomodoro by Francesco Cirillo via Wikicommons CC BY-SA 3.0

The original creator of the pomodoro technique was Francesco Cirillo. He used a mechanical, tomato shaped kitchen timer. ‘Pomodoro’ is the Italian word for ‘tomato’.

Why do a pomodoro session at the library?

Photograph of several students in the RSL reading room. — Photograph by John Cairns.

All you need for a pomodoro session on your own is a quiet space and a timer. However, when doing pomodoro on your own, you can be more susceptible to distractions or not following the timings. In a library pomodoro, you will be working in a quiet group study area with other people. A librarian will run the session and manage the timing. Working around other people may help you stay motivated and focused. At the end of the library session, there is an opportunity for you to socialise with colleagues over free tea and coffee.

Top tips for getting the most out of pomodoro

Set a goal – decide what you want to achieve at the session before you come. Make a to-do list if you have several tasks.
Kill distractions – no phones, no e-mail or social media notifications and switch devices to ‘Do not disturb’ and silent mode.
Review – at the end of the pomodoro take a few minutes to review what you’ve achieved and update your to-do list.

You’ll find further tips on our guides: Getting the most out of a pomodoro and a Pomodoro etiquette.

Getting_the_most_out_of_a_pomodoro_session Download

Pomodoro_Etiquette_Guide Download

Where can I find more information about the Pomodoro technique?

YouTube Video from the Open University on the Pomodoro technique
Background information with further literature links from Derby University
Book ‘Pomodoro Technique Illustrated’ / Francesco Cirillo

Can I come to a pomodoro session at the library?

We are offering Pomodoro sessions in the first week of each month from July to December. You can book online using the link below. Booking opens 6 weeks before the date of each session. We offer a choice of 2 or 3-hour sessions.

Book a pomodoro study session space

Wellbeing in the RSL over Trinity Term

Posted on 7 May 2025 by rachelscanlon

We Trinity term can be particularly stressful with exams and projects due. Even so, taking a break is important for your mental health and overall wellbeing. To help with this the Radcliffe Science Library has a range of activities available for students as part of our Wellbeing Programme. Below we’ve listed some of our upcoming

Yoga for students

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of student life and treat yourself to some well-deserved self-care. Our expert instructor Hinny Wass will lead you through an energising and stress relieving yoga session suitable for beginners.

Friday 9 May or Tuesday 20 May

Book your place on our calendar.

Photograph of three women in a row performing a yoga pose. They are facing away from the camera.

Mental Health Awareness Week

The Radcliffe Science Library (RSL) is working with the MPLS division to help support Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 (Week 3 Trinity Term, 12—16 May). There are a range of great events taking place in the RSL including: A Blooming Good Time, our planting event, and Blind Date with a Book. All members of the University of Oxford are welcome to book on events.

Find booking and information on the MPLS website.

Photograph of two young women putting young plants in pots and smiling.

Free Ice Cream

Whether you’ve finished your exams or are still studying hard, you deserve a break! Pop in to the Radcliffe Science Library and pick up a free ice-cream on us. There are vegan and gluten free options, so something to please nearly everyone.

We’ll serve 10am-12pm or until it is gone.

Photograph of three female unioversity students smiling and holding ice cream cones.

Regular events

We will continue to arrange our regular events including Lego Lunch, every Wednesday 1-2pm, Craft & Chat, 1^st Tuesday of the Month, free tea and coffee every Wednesday morning in term and making our Worry Box available all term. Check our Wellbeing Calendar for more.

Photograph of two male students with hot chocolate smiling.

The Worry Box

Posted on 20 December 2024 by rachelscanlon

What is a worry box?

Photograph of the worry box. It resembles a small wooden post/mail box.

A worry box is a tool used to manage anxiety and stress by providing a place to “store” worries. The idea is to write down your worries, fears, or concerns on a piece of paper and place them inside the box, symbolically setting them aside. The activity helps people to release their worries and stresses. It can be helpful to know that the worry is gone and is aiding in the growth of something new.

Launching the worry box

Near the start of November we launched a worry box in the Wellbeing Room in the Radcliffe Science Library. Whilst eating some cake to celebrate the launch, students wrote down their worries and posted them in the worry box.

Throughout the term students and staff continued to add their worries to the box.

Two smiling female students posting worry in worry box.

Shredding the worries

In 8th week of Michaelmas Term we had a little ceremony to shred the worries. With more cake, tea and coffee, naturally.

We kept the the worries anonymous but had a lot of fun shredding them. Students gave some very positive feedback on the worry box.

This is great. I wrote a really long note and felt so much better once I posted it.
Student feedback

The shredding was then taken by Rodger Caseby from the team at the Oxford Botanic Gardens and Arboretum. The worries that people released during the term will become fertiliser helping plants in the Botanic Gardens grow. The paper chosen for the worries was specially selected to be be biodegradeable.

Rodger Caseby holding plastic bag. — Rodger bringing the shredding to the gardens.

Going forward

Photograph of hand posting worry in worry box .

Our worry box will be in the Wellbeing Room again in Hilary Term. Pop in and try releasing some of your worries.

We’ll have another shredding ceremony on Tuesday 11 March. Join us for some shredding, and more cake. More details are available in our Wellbeing Calendar.

Celebrating Diversity in Science and Medicine – Exhibition and networking event at the Radcliffe Science Library

Posted on 26 June 2024 by thomascorrick

On April 30th, the Radcliffe Science Library hosted an EDI networking event showcasing the “Portraits of Black Female Scientists” exhibition from Cambridge Black Medical Scientific Network. Representatives from local networks, Oxford University Black Medics, OxFemTech, Women in Computing Science were also part of the highlight of the event to promote the support they offer to their peers.

A photograph of a woman looking at an exhibition focused on EDI.

A student inspects the exhibition

The “Portraits of Black Female Scientists” ignited discussions on diversity in science, knowledge sharing and follow-up collaborations.

Attendees enjoyed meeting new people and listening to the guest speakers, Laura Eghobamien, founder of the Cambridge Black Medical Scientific Network (BMSN), and James Bell, the photographer.

Laura Eghobamien networking with a guest

Those who had not visited the library since its renovation took the opportunity to have a tour and view its new inclusive portraiture.

A photo of a woman working in a lab. at a

One of the new portraits on display in the RSL

Laura Eghobamien, James Bell and the Radcliffe Science Library are interested in expanding the exhibit with portraits of black scientists at Oxford.

If you would like to learn more about the exhibit and have photographs taken, please contact BlackMedical and Scientific Network blackmedicalscientificnetwork@gmail.com or karine.barker@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

A photograph of 3 people standing in front of a display

From Left to right: Karine Barker, Laura Eghobamien, James Bell

Feedback from participants:

“It was much more powerful than I expected to see all these beautiful portraits shown together. In principle I’ve always been aware that this kind of representation is important, but such a strong demonstration of the power was really important. Inspiring”

“Thank you for the event, it was really inspiring, I made such amazing connections and got to talk about diversity in medical sciences and diversity.”

You said, we did

Posted on 13 May 2024 by thomascorrick

You said, we did!

The RSL team have been working hard to gather your feedback on the newly reopened library. You may have left a suggested on the feedback whiteboard, or maybe you had a chat with one of us. We received an eclectic range of suggestions and we took it all on board and are pleased to show you some of the cool new stuff you asked for!

(To those who requested it: Sorry, we won’t be getting an RSL cat any time soon…)

Vending machines!

Our new vending machines offer snacks, cold drinks, and hot drinks

There are now two vending machines in the vending area. Here you can purchase a variety of snacks as well as cold and hot drinks. Cards and cash are accepted.

Lids for drinks!

If you’re purchasing a drink from one of the vending machines, please help yourself to a lid from the counter.

Lids can be found on the kitchenette counter

Remember:

Drinking water and drinks contained in a KeepCup or another container with a sealable lid are allowed throughout the RSL. Other food and drinks are not allowed in the reading rooms or on the stairs. Cold food and drinks in sealed cups are allowed in certain spaces; please check the signage.

More seating!

We’re still figuring out some aspects of the new layout, but we’ve found the space to bring in more seating.

Extra tables can be found in the social study space and reading rooms

Laptop stands!

We’ve purchased height adjustable laptop stands for all reading rooms.

Feel free to grab a laptop stand and get settled in

Sanitary products!

There’s now free tampons and pads in all RSL bathrooms for those moments when you need them. Let a member of staff know if we’ve run out or are getting low.

A range of pads and tampons are available in all RSL toilets

Wellbeing goodies!

If you’ve been to the wellbeing room recently (situated on the lower floor, floorplan here) you might have noticed an increase in activities on offer: We’ve added in more of the things you have asked for: markers, chess set, uno, and even more paper for origami.

Think you can do better? Give it a go!

Don’t forget to pop into one of our Lego lunches which run in the Wellbeing Room 1300-1400 on Wednesdays.

We’re continually looking to improve the RSL, so please do drop us a line if you have any comments or suggestions: enquiries.rsl@bodleian.ox.ac.uk