New resource trial at the Radcliffe Science Library
The library is currently trialling a new resource to help researchers locate grey literature across a range of scientific disciplines. Grey literature refers to materials produced by organisations such as charities, governments, and businesses, outside of traditional academic publishing. It includes works such as reports, technical papers, blogs, theses, pamphlets, white papers and clinical guideline documents.Grey literature is often difficult to locate. It is not usually indexed in major databases, is scattered across organisational websites, and can disappear from the web without warning. It can contain valuable data and evidence not published elsewhere that can inform research. Grey literature is often required in systematic reviews and similar comprehensive literature review projects. To address these challenges, the library is trialling several Coherent Digital Applied Science Commons modules.
Coherent Digital Applied Science Modules
Until the 30th of May, all Oxford members have access to Coherent Digital Applied Science Commons modules in ‘Environmental Sciences’, ‘Psychology’, and ‘Computer Science, Data, and AI’. The modules make it easier to search for grey literature by –
Consolidating documents from hundreds of organisations.
Archiving full-text documents at risk of deletion.
Creating stable, permanent links for citing grey literature.
Providing a sophisticated search interface to help pinpoint relevant material efficiently.
We encourage researchers to explore these resources during the trial and provide feedback. This will help inform our decision on subscribing to one or more modules.
Applied PsychologyComputer Science, Data & AIEnvironmental Science
Help & Tutorials
To get started with, and learn more about using, this new resource, you can use the following guide to Coherent Digital Applied Science modules and search tips for using the modules
Please provide your feedback
Please complete our short feedback survey for the trial to share your views. You can share your feedback until the 3rd of June.
If you prefer to send your feedback via email or have any questions about the trial, please contact oliver.bridle@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
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.
Talk about your Thesis 2026 is about to beginSpeakers ready to goAyisha begins her presentation
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 presents on Social Media & Social AnxietyHuge screens aid presentersFiras draws our attention to the screen
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.
Discussing presentations over lunchEveryone loves pizzaA speakers well earned 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
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 Jaudun (Physics) – Understanding Irradiation damage in superconducting magnet for fusion reactors
Firas Darwish (Statistics) – How to Train a Smartwatch Without Living 10,000 Lives
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’.
Jewellery making in full swing during Wellbeing WeekPainting for beginners during RSL Wellbeing WeekThe game is about to get underway
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!
Students test the reactions of the carnivorous plantsA table of prospective matches await their dateTwo students with a Venus flytrap
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”
Another great Wellbeing Week paintingTwo students show us their finished jewelleryCheers!
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
Here’s one I made earlierPainting? Completed itProud as a peacock @ Wellbeing Week Lego Lunch
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.
A group study room in the RSLFilter room facilities in the LibCal booking systemAn individual Study Carrel at 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?
SOLO search exampleScreenshot of the Browzine landing page
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.
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.
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.
Readers meet a Therapy DogItems that we lendStudent at a crafting event
Is time never on your side? Can’t seem to make headway with creating a conference poster or writing your thesis? Then the Radcliffe Science Library’s Focus & Finish sessions might be just the thing!
How does Focus & Finish Work?
The session is dedicated time to focus on your work based on the Pomodoro technique. We’ll set a timer for 25 minutes for you to get your head down and do some work. Then you’ll take a 5 minute break and repeat the process. The sessions are designed to provide a short break just when your concentration will be flagging.
What are the benefits?
You can have protected time in your diary to get your work finished.
Library staff are responsible for all the timing, so you don’t have to worry about scheduling, timing or breaks.
Snacks and drinks will be provided. That’s one less thing to worry about.
At the breaks you can network with other postgrads and get support.
Quotes from attendees
Previously these sessions ran under the name Pomodoro and attendees had some fantastic feedback.
The only thing is the session ended and I wished it had been longer as it was great, I came away with a good amount of work done and feeling focused and motivated.
I really really enjoyed it and can’t wait to attend more. I wish I were always this focused during work hours!
This was my first session, and I found it incredibly useful! I would like to attend more (even weekly)…
Book your place
Focus & Finish sessions run during the first week of each month from February. Booking opens 6 weeks before the date of each session. If the sessions become more popular, we may offer more dates.
As we move past the end of the teaching term, thoughts start to turn to the holidays or, as we know many of you like to call it, working from home!
The RSL is now open in line with the vacation timetable until Sunday 18th January, this includes a Christmas break between the 24th December & 1st January (inclusive) where the library will be closed.
Books borrowed during this period are taken on extended terms and will be due for return or renewal the first week of Hilary Term (exclusions may apply).
Help & assistance
Reader Services remain available to support you either in person or virtually throughout the holiday season when the library is open. The desks will be staffed as usual and, whether you are physically in the library or now working remotely, you can address any queries via e-mail enquiries.rsl@bodleian.ox.ac.uk or use the Live Chat function between 9am – 5pm on weekdays.
Accessing library services from home
Gone are the days when being unable to visit the library meant that you could not access the library….. Using your Oxford University Single Sign On (SSO) you are able to access a huge variety of resources from the RSL at home (or indeed wherever you may find yourself this holiday season).
Solo
Search for the books that you need and apply filters to access those titles that are available online, wherever you are.
You can access E-Journals through SOLO and Browzine. Browzine provides access to all journals licenced by Oxford University from 2005 onwards
Databases
Databases are also accessible through SOLO. You can filter your resources to Databases in your search or use the Database A-Z function on the home page. Overall there are almost 2000 Databases available including our recently publicised new resources – the Global Health Archive and the Science of Synthesis.
Subject & Research guides
Like a dog, Subject & Research guides are not just for Christmas (!) but this a handy time to remind people of these resources at your disposal. The A-Z Subject guides provide a summary of the tools to support your work in each area including details of key journals and Databases.
Guidance for researchers provides insights on services, materials and tools for researchers in all disciplines.
We hope that you all have a fantastic holiday and wish you and all of your families the very best for a happy and prosperous 2026.
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).
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
The theme for this year’s MPLS Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) was community and to reach out and help our community the Radcliffe Science Library hosted 6 different events during 3rd week if term (12-16 May).
This was our first year helping to support this great event organised by the MPLS division but our events seemed popular and we had over 75 attendees at a range of events throughout the week. It was great to see the mixture of staff and students attending, many who were coming to the Radcliffe Science Library for the first time. Two events were particular highlights.
A Blooming Good Time
Our colleague Rodger Caseby from the of the Oxford Botanic Gardenns and Arboretum led an energising planting session. Attendees planted plugs, very young plants, into small post that they could take home with them. Many enjoyed getting to feel real dirt on their hands and the compost we used was created in part from the worries we shred in Michaelmas Term. See or previous blog for more on our worry box. It was great to be able to work with the wider GLAM community to support our readers.
Blind Date with a Book
Don’t judge a book by it’s cover can apply to books and dating so we made it easy for our attendees by covering the books. Wrapped in paper each book had a brief bio on the cover to entice readers to select them. The books chosen for the blind dates were selected form our Wellbeing and Curiosity Collections. Our attendees were allowed to select up to two books and several wished there were more! One participant said “I’ve never been to anything like this, it was so fun”.
More Wellbeing
We have further wellbeing activities this term including regular items like our Lego Lunch and an ice cream event! 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
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