Jesus College runs several programmes of events and talks throughout the academic year, covering a diverse range of topics and aimed at a wide range of audiences.
Many of these events are recorded, so you can watch and enjoy them at a time that suits you. We have listed many of our recent event films below, in order of the topic they cover. We also produce films about our projects, our Access work, College tours and our Fellow’s research.
Click on the relevant box below to find further information and links to our film archive.
You can also watch past videos and recorded alumni events on the Jesus College YouTube channel. If you subscribe to the YouTube channel, you will receive a notification message when new films are published.
In 2021, Jesus College celebrates it’s 450th Anniversary. Below are links to recorded online events that have taken place so far and this list will be added to throughout the year.
450th Anniversary Message from Jesus College Principal Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt FRS FREng
An introduction to the 450th Anniversary by our Principal.
Jesus College: The First 450 Years
Zeitlyn Fellow and Tutor in History, Professor Patricia Clavin FBA, leads an informal lunchtime discussion with the editor of the new College history, Emeritus Fellow Dr Felicity Heal, alongside three of its major contributors – Emeritus Fellow Professor Richard Bosworth, College Archivist, Dr Robin Darwall-Smith, and alumnus Dr Colin Haydon (1975, History). The contributors will explore what makes this version different from previous College histories, as well as some of the source material used to assemble this comprehensive examination of Jesus College life over the last four and a half centuries.
Dr Norman Jones, Elizabethan historian and former Senior Research Fellow at Jesus College, talks about the creation of the College’s Charter in 1571.
Little Wales beyond England: Welsh and Welsh Speakers in Oxford in the Twentieth Century
Professor David Willis, Jesus Chair of Celtic at the University of Oxford, and Dr Lowri Hughes, Jesus alumna and Head of Policy and Development at Canolfan Bedwyr, Bangor University’s Centre for Welsh Language Services, Research and Technology. Please note that there were occasional problems with the connection that impacted on the audio quality of this event.
Welsh language version of a poem for Jesus College 450th Anniversary by Llŷr Gwyn Lewis (2009, MSt Celtic Studies), with videography by Rhydian Lewis.
Thomas Vaughan, Henry Vaughan, Magic and Alchemy
Dr Mark Williams, Associate Professor of Global Medieval Literature, and Fellow and Tutor in English at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, introduces the literary and philosophical works of the twin brothers Henry and Thomas Vaughan, focusing largely on Thomas’s mysterious and abstruse works, and also explaining the influence of magic on Henry’s poetry.
Celebrating the Elizabethan College: Music in the Elizabethan Universities
On 11th February 2021 we opened our event series Celebrating the Elizabethan College. In this event, Professor Suzanne Aspden (Associate Professor of Music and Fellow of Jesus College), discussed the music that would have been performed and listened to within the College communities of Elizabethan Oxford with Elizabeth Kenny (lute player, Director of Theatre of the Ayre and Dean of Students at the Royal Academy of Music). The event was hosted by Helen Morag Fellow of English and curator of the Celebrating the Elizabethan College series, Professor Paulina Kewes.
Celebrating the Elizabethan College: Books and histories in the reign of Elizabeth 1
Featuring DPhil student Jenyth Evans (2015, Classics) speaking on King Arthur Tudor: Adapting and Co-Opting Geoffrey of Monmouth in Wales and England. The event was chaired by Professor Dirk van Hulle, Professor of Bibliography and Modern Book History at Jesus College.
What Really Matters (WRM) is a Jesus College initiative which aims to engage people in some of society’s most pressing issues through discussions with high-profile speakers in related subjects.
It is a collaborative series overseen by Patricia Daley (Vice Principal, Equality & Diversity Fellow and Professor of the Human Geography of Africa at the University of Oxford), Paulina Kewes (Professor of English Literature and Fellow), and originator Dr Matthew Williams (Access Fellow).
The first WRM series ran in 2020. Click on the event title to link to the recording of each discussion.
Discussion 1 – FORUM ON RACE AND EDUCATION
The discussion covered the role of education in bringing about societal change in the UK, anti-racism in the context of white privilege and what needs to happen now to bring about racial equality? The black experience participants gave moving personal testimonies of their journeys and the online audience were able to ask questions.
Discussion 2 – THE ECONOMY, SUSTAINABILITY AND THE WORKPLACE IN A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD
In the second of the series, we explored how we might approach the economic and societal challenges we face in a post-pandemic world. ‘The economy, sustainability and the workplace in a post-pandemic world’ brought together a panel of experts in finance, economics, geography, and sustainability, to look at the actual and potential impacts of COVID 19 on the economy and consider whether they are likely to be short or long-term.
Discussion 3 – THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME
This discussion focused on a new initiative that aims to promote and celebrate the social sciences, humanities and arts. SHAPE (Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts for People and the Economy) aims to emulate the influence and reputation held by STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering and maths – in secondary education and academic research.
Discussion 4 – ARE WE ALONE IN THE UNIVERSE?
It’s the perennial question that has challenged scientists for decades and inspired a plethora of science fiction writers and filmmakers. Our panel discussed the scientific advances being made in our search to answer this age old question and touched on the philosophical implications of such a detection on contextualizing our place in the Cosmos.
Discussion 5 – AN EXTINCTION CRISIS?
Did you know that many biologists consider that we are in the midst of a mass extinction: and one where humanity is the cataclysm? In this conversation, our experts in the histories of past mass extinctions, conservation biologists trying to save species that are at risk of extinction, and experts on how one day we may be able to bring extinct species back to life, discussed whether we should care, and how much?
The College’s Access YouTube channel has a huge number of useful videos for prospective students, made by our Access Fellow Dr Matt Williams, our lecturers and current or past Jesus students. Find out how to write a personal statement, what it’s like to come for an interview at Oxford, information on subject courses and more.
Join students and staff in a virtual tour of our 450-year-old Oxford College.
Take a tour around Jesus College
Third year Philosophy & Linguistics undergraduate Jamie takes a tour of the College.
Take a tour around our undergraduate accommodation
Will, Ryan, Tomer, Daisy and Natalie guide you around some second year undergraduate accommodation for Jesus College
Why study at Oxford? Jesus College British Bangladeshi and Pakistani outreach programme
YouTube star @Ibz Mo chairs this panel discussion for the Jesus College British Bangladeshi and Pakistani outreach programme.
Learn more about the Northgate development through our series of films about the project:
NORTHGATE – Shaping the future of learning and interdisciplinary research
NORTHGATE – Jesus College students reflect on their visit to the development site
Exploring Disease and Wildlife in the age of COVID
A podcast by Professor Tim Coulson, Professorial Fellow in Zoology. Recorded in 2020.
Flourishing in a data-enabled society – Jesus College in the Information Age
Jesus College Principal and world-leading AI expert Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt FRS FREng talks to Dr Jeni Tennison OBE on the topic of flourishing in a data-enabled society. Recorded in 2019.
Our Character is on the Ballot: Reflections on the US Presidential Election 2020.
Jesus alumnus and President of ABC News, James Goldston (1986, PPE) alongside Tina Fordham, Partner and Head of Global Political Strategy at Avonhurst, and Dr Stuart White, Fellow and Tutor in Politics at Jesus College, discuss the years of Donald Trump’s presidency, the 2020 election and what the result means for democracy, the media, and the future, not only of America, but of the whole planet. The event was introduced and chaired by our Principal, Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt FRS FREng. Recorded in October 2020.
DPhil alumnus and author Joseph Hone (2012, English) discusses the publication of his first book of narrative non-fiction, The Paper Chase: The Printer, the Spymaster, and the Hunt for the Rebel Pamphleteers. In conversation with his former supervisor Professor Paulina Kewes, Joe takes us through his latest book, examining the scandal caused by an anonymous pamphlet being distributed in eighteenth-century London. Recorded in 2021.
The Life of Pixley ka Isaka Seme
Dr Bongani Ngqulunga talks to Jude Eades, College Communications Manager, about Pixley ka Isaka Seme, Jesus alumnus and founder of the ANC. Recorded as part of Black History Month 2020.
Jesus Graduate student Malavika Nair performs a semi-classical Indian dance piece in the College Chapel, as part of the Diwali celebrations in November 2018.
Black History Month Celebrations 2019
In 2022 we are running a six-part virtual event series, featuring College members past and present, that explores the challenges and opportunities facing the world of tomorrow. All recordings from the events will be hosted here.
The Future of Artificial Intelligence
Principal, Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt FRS FREng FBCS in conversation with Professor John Tasioulas, Director of the Institute of Ethics and AI.