Seminars
Participants are taught in small seminar groups of up to 12 students, and receive two one-on-one tutorials with their tutor.
Sunday
Seminar 1: Structure of Scientific thought and the beginnings of science
Seminar 2: The earth’s position in the Universe
Monday
Seminar 3: Understanding Gravity
Seminar 4: Early Electricity and Magnetism
Tuesday
Seminar 5: Light and Radiation – is it a particle?
Seminar 6: Light and Radiation – is it a wave?
Vist to the History of Science Museum Oxford
Wednesday
Seminar 7: Aether or No: The Michelson-Morely experiment
Seminar 8: The Structure of the atom – The beginnings of quantum mechanics
Thursday
Seminar 9: Einstein’s folly, Early Big-Bang, Vera Rubin’s galactic observations
Seminar 10: The transistor
Friday
Seminar 10: Ancient Examples: Wine thief/ Assassins tea pot, Timekeeping, Gunpowder etc
Seminar 11: Modern Examples: Powder Metallurgy, Germ theory, crystal oscillators etc
Programme timetable
The daily timetable will normally be as follows:
Saturdays
14.00–16.30 - Registration
16.30–17.00 - Orientation meeting
17.00–17.30 - Classroom orientation for tutor and students
17.30–18.00 - Drinks reception
18.00–20.00 - Welcome dinner
Sundays – Fridays
09.00–10.30 - Seminar
10.30–11.00 - Tea/coffee break
11.00–12.30 - Seminar
12.30–13.30 - Lunch
13.30–18.00 - Afternoons are free for tutorials, individual study, course-related field trips or exploring the many places of interest in and around Oxford.
18.00–19.00 - Dinner (There is a formal gala dinner every Friday to close each week of the programme)
A range of optional social events will be offered throughout the summer school. These are likely to include: a quiz night, visit to historic pubs in Oxford, visit to Christ Church for Evensong and after-dinner talks and discussions.