Since 2005, the Oxford Martin School has brought together hundreds of researchers to tackle the biggest challenges of our time. From climate change to AI, from global health to inequality, our research has shaped policy and improved lives across the globe.
The 20th anniversary of the Oxford Martin School occurs at a time of unprecedented geopolitical challenges and a concern that we may be moving backwards in addressing some of the most pressing global issues. Never has the work of the School been more needed, and the School and the University of Oxford gratefully salute James Martin’s inspiring vision and extraordinary generosity.
Our impact is best told through the people and programmes that have shaped change. Watch three stories that highlight the diversity and depth of our work.
Our researchers are tackling one of the biggest drivers of species extinction: the wildlife trade. Evidence from our programme helped countries agree to ban international trade in saiga antelope horn — a species that had lost 95% of its population. Since then, numbers have risen dramatically.
The Future of Plastics programme brings together experts in chemistry, economics and law to tackle the challenges of plastic waste. From developing fully recyclable plastics to shaping regulation and working with industry to grow new markets, the programme is driving change towards a sustainable future.
Fifty million people live with epilepsy worldwide, most in low- and middle-income countries where diagnosis is limited. Our team is closing the diagnostic gap with new portable EEG headsets, training apps for healthcare workers, and a global research database to transform diagnosis and care.
For 20 years, our researchers have been turning bold ideas into real-world solutions. These stories illustrate the breadth of our impact and the way our work has helped shape a better future.
From helping young people find jobs and supporting refugee livelihoods to developing AI-enabled employment tools and identifying opportunities in the green economy, the Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Development has turned research into practical change across Africa. Its work has improved livelihoods, supported private sector development and created solutions that can continue to grow after the programme ends.
By combining genomics, data science and artificial intelligence, researchers are transforming how pandemics are detected, tracked and managed, helping governments respond faster and more effectively to emerging infectious diseases.
From Covid-19 to malaria, researchers at the University of Oxford have developed vaccines and technologies that are transforming global health and preventing millions of deaths each year.
A sustainable global plastics system needs to be created - where demand is reduced, recycling is increased and new biodegradable products are made without the need for fossil fuels. This requires not just changes in manufacturing, but also new legal frameworks and economic incentives.
Artificial intelligence is advancing at unprecedented speed, with growing influence over economies, societies and global security. The Oxford Martin AI Governance Initiative (AIGI) is helping shape how governments and institutions respond, ensuring that the development of advanced AI systems delivers public benefit while managing systemic risk.
From inequality and employment through to pandemics and the energy transition, a multi-disciplinary team of economics researchers at the Institute for New Economic Thinking at the Oxford Martin School have broken new ground over the past decade, changing the way their field can benefit humanity and the planet.
A pioneering approach to tackling the illegal trade in saiga antelope horn is now being rolled out in the fight to protect other endangered species.
The Oxford Martin Programme on Climate Policy and the Oxford Climate Policy Hub are building the most detailed and up-to-date cross-country picture yet of climate-related regulation across 37 major countries, helping governments, regulators and businesses turn net zero pledges into concrete, enforceable rules that support the global net zero transition.
As cooling demand surges worldwide, the Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Cooling is delivering the evidence, policy change and practical, low-carbon solutions needed to protect health, food and productivity while cutting emissions. From quantifying heat’s hidden costs to piloting low-carbon cold storage and advising the UK Parliament and UN, Oxford researchers are shaping heat resilience and sustainable cooling for a zero-carbon, climate-adapted future.
What we eat affects not only our individual health but also the health of the planet. Over the past decade, Oxford Martin School researchers have helped reshape global understanding of the links between diet, sustainability and public health, influencing policy, shifting public opinion, and driving practical change.
“We bring all the available high-quality data on the biggest global issues together, from global health to economic issues to human rights, and make it accessible for people who work on these issues." Professor Max Roser, Founder, Our World in Data.
This work is ensuring that people with epilepsy receive the care they need to lead full and fulfilling lives by making accurate diagnosis more accessible, especially in low-resource settings.
Discover the full collection of stories in our 20th Anniversary Brochure.
The Oxford Martin School was founded on the belief that bold, high-risk, high-reward research can make a difference. Twenty years on, we continue to see the results: new vaccines and diagnostic tools, innovative solutions for biodiversity and climate, pioneering insights into inequality and the future of work.
This collection brings together over two decades of stories that demonstrate how research can inform policy, inspire action, and shape a better future.
Our anniversary collection explores how Oxford Martin School research has helped tackle:
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