Research on global issues

Oxford has a strong commitment to research on topics related to globalisation and global challenges. Oxford staff and student researchers address many of the major challenges that face our society, from language conservation to new vaccines, ageing to obesity, new energy sources to biodiversity. They use innovative research techniques and modern technology, both to examine problems of the modern world and to understand better the ancient world.

Global challenges

Oxford Martin School: A unique, interdisciplinary research community of over 300 scholars working to address the most pressing global challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. From the governance of geoengineering and the possibilities of quantum physics, to the future of food and the implications of our ageing population, the Martin School supports over 30 individual research teams from across the University of Oxford to consider some of the biggest questions that concern our future.

Global governance

Centre for International Studies: Serves as a focal point for advanced research in International Relations at Oxford, whose Department of Politics & International Relations is ranked among the world’s finest. Current research programmes include Cyber Studies, Intractable Conflict, Power and Region in a Multipolar Order, and the Political Economy of Financial Markets, among others.

Global Economic Governance Programme: Fosters research and debate into how global markets and institutions can better serve the needs of people in developing countries. Their flagship project focuses on Global Banking Standards, and current research themes include aid, trade, finance, intellectual property, institutions and investment.

Global health

Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health: A collection of research groups focused on infectious diseases and who are permanently based in Africa and Asia, as well as within Oxford. Our research in tropical medicine ranges from clinical studies to behavioural sciences, with capacity building integral to all of our activities.

Clinical Trial Service Unit: The unit's work chiefly involves studies of the causes and treatment of both infectious and chronic diseases (such as cancer, heart attack or stroke). Much of the research is carried out overseas, in collaboration with local partners.

The Nuffield Department of Population Health (NDPH): An internationally recognised centre of excellence specialising in areas of population health that are of increasing importance in the 21st century, from health economics to bioethics to the societal costs of cancer. Over 500 staff from a number of world leading research groups work with the NDPH.

Demographics

MigrationOxford: Oxford is a world-leader in terms of innovative research into the causes and effects of all kinds of migration, forced and voluntary. The MigrationOxford initiative has been developed to signpost, highlight and bring together the numerous academics conducting research and teaching on migration within the University of Oxford, including the International Migration Institute, the Centre on Migration, Policy and Society, and the Refugee Studies Centre.

The Oxford Institute of Population Ageing: A multi-disciplinary group focused on understanding the economic, social, political, and other implications of population change.

The developing world

Department of International Development: The centre at Oxford for teaching and research on international development, the understanding of change and inequality in developing countries, and the interaction of these countries with the rest of the world.

School of Interdisciplinary Area Studies: The School is devoted to research and graduate teaching in academic disciplines which attempt to understand the complexity and the interrelatedness of society through anthropology, economics, politics, history, sociology and culture. Members include the African Studies Centre, Contemporary China Studies, the Latin American Centre (including the Brazilian Studies Programme), the Nissan Institute of Japanese Studies, Russian and East European Studies, and South Asian Studies.

The digital world

Oxford Internet Institute: A leading academic centre for the study of the societal implications of the Internet.

Oxford e-Research Centre: A multidisciplinary applied research department which works with research units across the university to enable the use and development of innovative computational and information technology in multidisciplinary collaborations.

Energy and the environment

Environmental Change Institute: Oxford's interdisciplinary institute for research on the complex processes of global environmental change, the exploration of sustainable solutions, and the promotion of change for the better through partnership and education.

Global history

Oxford Centre for Global History: Promotes the study of Global History and facilitates the research of those who are keen to develop a global history dimension in their work.

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