Long-distance collaboration makes scientific breakthroughs more likely, suggests Oxford University research

In an analysis of data for over ten million research teams, across eleven academic fields from 1961 to 2020, a new working paper from the Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Work has determined that over the past decade remote collaboration between academic teams has led to more scientific breakthroughs.

‘Managing Future Shocks’ in focus for two new research programmes

The Oxford Martin School has launched two new solutions-focused programmes aiming to support greater resilience in global economic, social and environmental governance in the face of future shocks and crises of all types.

Policy action from world leaders can accelerate a Just energy transition

The 2022 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report insists that we have options in all sectors to at least halve emissions by 2030, but the aim to limit global warming to less than 1.5 degrees is not going to happen unless radical steps are taken.

African Governance: economic, social and political governance challenges explored in new event series.

The economic, social and political governance challenges for sub-Saharan Africa remain immense. In 2018 40% of the population were living below the US$1.90-a-day poverty line, a situation which will have only become worse due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the area is expecting to experience a youth bulge, in the face of growing economic uncertainties.

Can news help? New evidence on the links between news use and misinformation

"Our findings challenge the notion that, by drawing attention to false content, news leave people more misinformed," writes Rasmus Nielsen

Can a creative approach help fix the plastics problem?

In a recent exhibition at The Design Museum, London, a new generation of designers sought to rethink our relationship to everyday things – with a little help from polymer science.

Professor Sir Paul Collier appointed to UK Government's Levelling Up Advisory Council

The Advisory Council will be charged with providing independent expert advice to the Government on matters relating to the design and delivery of levelling up.

COP26: successes, lessons and what’s next explored in new event series

Many people believed that the 26th meeting of the UN’s global climate summit (COP26) hosted in Glasgow in November 2021 was the world’s last best chance to get runaway climate change under control.

UK encourages UN Member States to undertake national cybersecurity capacity assessment

The call was made in a statement by the UK delegation to the United Nations Open Ended Working Group on Developments in the Field of ICTs in the Context of International Security at its first substantive session at the UN headquarters in New York.

Climate Failure and Social Crisis Top Global Risks 2022

Climate risks dominate global concerns as the world enters the third year of the pandemic.

Our World in Data awarded Covid Innovation Heroes Award

Our World in Data has been celebrated for its work on the global COVID-19 pandemic, receiving one of The Oxford Trust’s Covid Innovation Heroes Awards for­ 2021, part of the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire’s Covid Heroes programme.

How to revive left-behind regions explored in ‘Levelling-Up’ events

Closing the gaps between economic strongholds and left-behind places is major policy challenge for nations around the world.