Throwback to the solar eclipse in 2015...where you here with us then?
Many of us went outside as we were arriving to work, about 8am, to prepare and find a good spot...not everybody had proper eclipse glasses, so some used old equipment to make tools safe and good enough to look at it...
One of our (then) technicians used an old telescope with a 90 degree prism put on to the eyepiece (with blue tack!) next to a white paper (in this case it was a box) then, the image was projected, and you can see it reflected on the box.
Others used a ND filter (neutral density) and you can see the result in one of the slides.
The Total Solar Eclipse of March 20, 2015 was a total solar eclipse visible solely within the North Atlantic, the Faroe Islands, and Svalbard, Norway, while a partial eclipse spanned across Europe, northern Africa, and parts of Asia. It famously coincided with both the March equinox and a supermoon. We saw about 84% coverage in the UK.
At the back of these photos you can see our Clarendon Lab, which now sits behind the newest physics building, the Beecroft Building, which did not exist in 2015, and was build on the car park we are standing on these pictures.
What a great way to remember that day, with students (now alumni) and colleagues.
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This is the official page for Alumni & Friends of the Department of Physics at the University of Oxfo Many thanks for your cooperation.
The Department of Physics Alumni Relations Office works to develop, nurture and promote a continuing relationship between the Department and its alumni. We also work with current students, staff, researchers and friends of the Department, aiming and enhancing the experience of being part of one of the largest and most successful Departments of Physics in the world. We will be working in developing
11/08/2026
'Quantum Universe: Less than Nothing, More than Everything' - Public lecture by Dr Rakhat-Bi Abdyssagin. Join us on 25 September from 5pm, Martin Wood Lecture Theatre.
We are delighted to welcome pianist, composer, author and quantum musician, Rakhat-Bi Abdyssagin, to discuss his recent books ‘Quantum Mechanics and Avant-Garde Music: Shadows of the Void’ (Springer Nature, 2024) and ‘Logic of Sound and Silence: Chaos and Order’ (London: World Scientific, 2026), as well as about his ‘Quantum Universe’ Symphony for Organ, Quantum Guitar and Electronics (2025), the first ever quantum music composition.
Read more and register via link in bio, https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/events/quantum-universe-less-nothing-more-everything , or scan the QR code on the image.
11/08/2026
Meeting Minds 2026 - The Oxford Alumni yearly event.
Join us in Oxford to talk about how we are turning today's biggest challenges into tomorrow's boldest breakthroughs
Held across three days, Meeting Minds offers a unique opportunity to experience the Life and Mind Building, Oxford's newest world-class centre for teaching and research.
Click the link in bio or scan the QR code to book your tickets today. Among the many interesting talks, Professor Myles Allen will give his on Saturday 19 at 9:30am, in the Life & Mind Building (South Parks Road). https://web.cvent.com/event/abac3c5b-d4db-4962-898d-01a3108ad825/summary
10/08/2026
🌘 Mark your calendars! On Wednesday 12 August, up to 90% of the Sun will disappear behind the Moon. The next total solar eclipse visible from Britain isn't until 2090. See below through for timings, viewing tips, and why you really shouldn't skip your eclipse glasses 🕶️
The teaching labs are moving from DWB / Keble Road to Mansfield Road...still a bit of work to finish but all will be ready to welcome our students in October.
28/07/2026
Oxford physics student Esme Somerside Gregory recently brought mathematician Emmy Noether’s remarkable story to the stage in a original play, Noether. Staged at the Mathematical Institute by Cartesian Productions, the drama drew on archival documents to highlight Noether’s foundational physics research and resilience against discrimination. The successful run concluded with a panel discussion hosted by the Oxford Physics Gender Equity Network. Watch the play via link in bio or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oMuV9XW-CQ
The 1951 Festival of Britain’s Festival Pattern Group pioneered a collaboration between X-ray crystallography and manufacturing. Initiated by Helen Megaw, the project turned atomic structures into designs for textiles, wallpaper, and glassware. Oxford scientist Dorothy Hodgkin contributed key diagrams, including her 1938 insulin structure, which inspired iconic wallpaper patterns.
Designers embraced these molecular layouts as a symbol of modernist, post-war progress. Though many prototypes were never mass-produced, the initiative remains a unique intersection of scientific research and decorative art. Use the links at the end of the video to explore current Oxford physics research and view the patterns.
23/07/2026
If you are looking for things to do over the summer and school holidays, the University of Oxford opens up many of its museums, libraries, and local places of interest across the city and surrounding areas.
Scan the QR code on the image or visit https://www.ox.ac.uk/about/visit-us/what-to-see to find out more.
22/07/2026
As part of Oxford’s inaugural Women in AI campaign, Dr Heloise Stevance (Schmidt AI in Science Fellow) shares her work on building virtual research assistants that help astronomers find exploding stars. With seven million sources changing every night from just one data set, AI is helping speed up the process. Find out more: Scan the QR codes on the last slide or visit https://www.mpls.ox.ac.uk/women-in-ai/index.html
21/07/2026
Meet the women who are shaping the future of AI. At Oxford. Around the world. At the frontier of AI, curiosity, passion and self-belief define your potential
Find out more: https://www.mpls.ox.ac.uk/women-in-ai/
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