OxNet Seminar 6 – History

Our final seminar of the OxNet series took place last week, led by Giles Gasper. Thady Fox reflects on the session: Professor Giles Gasper portrayed history as a story of change and thus illuminated the centrality of the narrator. Therefore, history is a study of perspective before a study of reality: two concepts proved toContinue reading “OxNet Seminar 6 – History”

OxNet Seminar 5 – Psychology and Perception

In our penultimate seminar, Professor Hannah Smithson took us through the fascinating process of how our eyes and brains process visual information. Thady Fox has shared his reflections below: Seeing is believing. Our sight is held almost as a pure portrayal of reality, celebrated for truth in law and life. However, my trust in thisContinue reading “OxNet Seminar 5 – Psychology and Perception”

OxNet Seminar 4 – Alchemy

This week we delved into the mystical realms of Alchemy with Walker Christian, Durham University. Here are some student reflections on the session:   Alchemy is undoubtedly mysterious yet not indecipherable. Walker Christian depicted how, with the right foundations and perspectives, one might distil the swathes of allegory and illustration. Adopting his approach allowed meContinue reading “OxNet Seminar 4 – Alchemy”

OxNet Seminar 3 – Cosmology

Last week, Tom McLeish, York University, took our students on a tour of the cosmos, past and present. Here are their reflections: The seminar on cosmology was very compelling, bringing to light many concepts I was unaware of and were of great interest to me. I thoroughly enjoyed this lecture, as we were shown interactiveContinue reading “OxNet Seminar 3 – Cosmology”

OxNet Seminar 2 – Cultural Transmission

Our second seminar was led by Dr Ana Dias, and discussed the notion of cultural transmission in the medieval world. Below are some of our students’ thoughts on the session: The seminar focused on how the social, cultural and religious fabric of the Iberian Peninsula of Europe changed significantly in the early medieval period due toContinue reading “OxNet Seminar 2 – Cultural Transmission”

OxNet Seminar 1 – Physics

We’ve kicked off this year’s OxNet Ordered Universe seminar series with a session on Physics run by Emeritus Professor Brian Tanner, Durham University. Some of our students have shared their reflections on the topic: “Professor Tanner’s seminar was on the subject of physics in the medieval period. Beforehand we were given information to read throughContinue reading “OxNet Seminar 1 – Physics”

Grosseteste and the English Franciscans

Later today, Giles Gasper will be talking on Robert Grosseteste and the early Franciscan community at Oxford, as part of the series on the English Franciscans, organised by Dr Lydia Schumacher and her team at the Authority and Innovation in Early Franciscan Thought (c.1220-1245) project. This is the last webinar in a fascinating series, and alsoContinue reading “Grosseteste and the English Franciscans”

Summer School Complete

  A sincere and heartfelt thank you and congratulations to all of the OxNet students who participated in the Access Week Summer School over the last week, and in the case of Ordered Universe, over the last fortnight. It was wonderful to be at the virtual programme graduation and prize-giving session, to hear about theContinue reading “Summer School Complete”

Live in Lockdown @ Durham University: Giles Gasper on Ordered Universe

This coming Thursday, 6th August, Giles will be talking about the Ordered Universe project. He will introduce Grosseteste and medieval science and the extended collaborations within the project over its now 11-year span. Inspired by the 13th-century past, the project has grown considerably since its beginnings bringing together modern scientists and medieval specialists from a wholeContinue reading “Live in Lockdown @ Durham University: Giles Gasper on Ordered Universe”

Elemental: OxNet Access Week – Ordered Universe Summer School

Next week is the beginning of the OxNet Access Week – a summer school, which under normal circumstances takes place at Pembroke College, University of Oxford, and brings together all of the hub-schools within the OxNet programme: from the North-West, London, and the North-East of the UK, and students from the Karta Initiative as well.Continue reading “Elemental: OxNet Access Week – Ordered Universe Summer School”