Talks of Interest to the School of Geography and the Environment
Description: The School undertakes world-class interdisciplinary research, addresses societal and environmental problems, and advances knowledge within an intellectually vibrant, interdisciplinary research environment that combines natural and social sciences and has geography at its core.

In addition to world leading education and research in the School, we host three internationally recognised research centres and lead cross-university initiatives and collaborative networks:
Environmental Change Institute
Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment
Transport Studies Unit
Talks:

Tuesday 10 February 2026

Communicating with Non Academic Audiences: Workshop with David Shukman
Date: 10 February 2026, 13:15 - 14:45
Speaker : David Shukman (British journalist, and former science editor of the BBC)
Venue: Dyson Perrins Building, off South Parks Road OX1 3QY
Venue Details: Desert room
Organiser: SoGE Early Career Researcher (ECR) Network
Hosts: TBA

Follow the Money: Can Climate Finance Compete with Extractive Land Investments?
Date: 10 February 2026, 15:10 - 16:10
Speaker : Dr Niak Sian Koh (University of Oxford)
Venue: Dyson Perrins Building, off South Parks Road OX1 3QY
Venue Details: Desert Room (ECI) and online.
Organiser: Andrey Levitskiy (University of Oxford)
Host: Environmental Change Institute (University of Oxford)

HT26 Energy Seminar – Week 4: The Fairness Factor
Date: 10 February 2026, 17:00 - 18:15
Speaker : Fiona Brocklehurst (Independent Energy Consultant)
Venue Details: Diversity Room, School of Geography
Organisers: Dr Tina Fawcett (ECI, University of Oxford), Karen Parry (Coordinator, Oxford Energy Network)
Hosts: Dr Tina Fawcett (ECI, University of Oxford), Karen Parry (Coordinator, Oxford Energy Network)

Panel Discussion: 'Measuring what matters: biodiversity metrics for business and finance'
Date: 10 February 2026, 17:00 - 18:30
Speaker s: Prof Nathalie Seddon (Director, Nature-based Solutions Initiative), Dr Elizabeth Boakes (RSPB Conservation Science Monitoring Team), Prof Andy Purvis (Natural History Museum, London), Prof Kate Jones (University College London), Prof Mark Blaxter (Wellcome Sanger Institute), Prof Anjali Goswami (DEFRA)
Venue: Oxford Martin School, 34 Broad Street OX1 3BD
Venue Details: Lecture Theatre (and Online)
Organiser: Oxford Martin School (University of Oxford)
Hosts: TBA

Oxford Green Fuel Innovators
Date: 10 February 2026, 17:30 - 18:45
Speaker Various Speakers
Venue: New College, Holywell Street OX1 3BN
Venue Details: McGregor Matthews Room
Organiser: OPTICS
Hosts: TBA

Wednesday 11 February 2026

Can queering ecology help us address environmental destruction?
Date: 11 February 2026, 15:00 - 17:00
Speaker : Cannelle Gueguen-Teil (University of Oxford)
Venue: Queen Elizabeth House, 3 Mansfield Road OX1 3TB
Venue Details: Meeting Room A
Organiser: Professor Laura Rival (University of Oxford)
Hosts: TBA

The major challenges facing climate journalism
Date: 11 February 2026, 16:00 - 17:00
Speaker : Dr James Painter (University of Oxford)
Venue: Dyson Perrins Building, off South Parks Road OX1 3QY
Venue Details: Diversity Room
Organiser: Dr Avidesh Seenath (Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford)
Host: Dr Avidesh Seenath (Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford)

Thursday 12 February 2026

Publishing the Environmental Humanities
Date: 12 February 2026, 12:00 - 13:30
Speaker s: Professor Jamie Lorimer (University of Oxford), Professor Amanda Power (University of Oxford), Rebecca Brennan (Princeton University Press), Dr Anna Henderson (ARC Humanities Press)
Venue Details: Seminar Room 63, Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities
Organisers: TBA
Hosts: TBA

REACH Alumni Webinar – New perspectives on water security
Date: 12 February 2026, 12:00 - 13:00
Speaker s: Dr Florence Tanui (UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa), Dr Engdasew Feleke (Water, Land and Resources Centre, Ethiopia), Dennis Ochieng Onyango Ong'ech (University of Nairobi)
Venue Details: Online
Organiser: Oxford Water Network
Hosts: TBA

Friday 13 February 2026

Embracing the change: evaluating the evolving use of Green Infrastructure in policy and practice in England and internationally
Date: 13 February 2026, 16:15 - 17:30
Speaker : Prof Ian Mell (University of Manchester)
Venue: Dyson Perrins Building, off South Parks Road OX1 3QY
Venue Details: Main lecture theatre, 1st floor (lift available)
Organisers: Carlyn Samuel (University of Oxford), Jane Applegarth (University of Oxford, Oxford University Centre for the Environment)
Host: Professor Yadvinder Malhi (University of Oxford)

Monday 16 February 2026

Rural Water Security in Asia and the Pacific: New Insights from AWDO 2025
Date: 16 February 2026, 17:00 - 18:00
Speaker s: Professor Katrina Charles (University of Oxford), Dr Sonia Hoque (University of Oxford), Irina Gribanenkova
Venue: Dyson Perrins Building, off South Parks Road OX1 3QY
Venue Details: The Atmosphere Room, First Floor, School of Geography and the Environment. This building has a ramp at the entrance and a lift.
Organiser: Oxford Water Network
Host: Oxford Water Network

Tuesday 17 February 2026

Serious games for future food systems
Date: 17 February 2026, 15:00 - 17:00
Speaker s: Dr Tamsin Blaxter (University of Oxford), Federico Andreotti (Wageningen University & Research)
Venue: Oxford Martin School, 34 Broad Street OX1 3BD
Venue Details: Seminar Room 1
Organiser: Jacquelyn Turner (TABLE, University of Oxford)
Hosts: TBA

HT26 Energy Seminar – Week 5: MircroGrids: opportunities for microgrids to increase renewable energy deployment and overcome grid constraints for real estate developments
Date: 17 February 2026, 17:00 - 18:15
Speaker : Henry Leivers (SNRG)
Venue Details: Diversity Room, School of Geography
Organisers: Dr Tina Fawcett (ECI, University of Oxford), Karen Parry (Coordinator, Oxford Energy Network)
Hosts: Dr Tina Fawcett (ECI, University of Oxford), Karen Parry (Coordinator, Oxford Energy Network)

Wednesday 18 February 2026

Master class: Nature and modes of law making
Date: 18 February 2026, 15:00 - 17:00
Speaker : Professor Laura Rival (University of Oxford)
Venue: Queen Elizabeth House, 3 Mansfield Road OX1 3TB
Venue Details: Meeting Room A
Organiser: Professor Laura Rival (University of Oxford)
Hosts: TBA

Examining the value of mixed qualitative methods for understanding change in urban environments
Date: 18 February 2026, 16:00 - 17:00
Speaker : Dr Nathan Salvidge (University of Reading)
Venue: Dyson Perrins Building, off South Parks Road OX1 3QY
Venue Details: Diversity Room
Organiser: Dr Avidesh Seenath (Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford)
Host: Dr Avidesh Seenath (Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford)

Thursday 19 February 2026

Explaining Environmental Successes and Failures: Climate Change in Comparative Perspective
Date: 19 February 2026, 16:00 - 17:30
Speaker : Professor Malcolm Fairbrother (Uppsala University)
Venue: 32-42 Wellington Square (Barnett House), 32-42 Wellington Square OX1 2ER
Venue Details: VBR Department of Social Policy and Intervention, 32 Wellington Square OX1 2ER/ Microsoft Teams
Organisers: Professor Kenneth Nelson (University of Oxford), Professor Jane Gingrich (University of Oxford)
Hosts: TBA

Friday 20 February 2026

The Orphan Chimpanzee’s Brother: Who Speaks for Nature?
Date: 20 February 2026, 16:15 - 17:30
Speaker : Prof Lee White (Pangea Climate Partners)
Venue: Dyson Perrins Building, off South Parks Road OX1 3QY
Venue Details: Main lecture theatre, 1st floor (lift available)
Organisers: Carlyn Samuel (University of Oxford), Jane Applegarth (University of Oxford, Oxford University Centre for the Environment)
Host: Professor Yadvinder Malhi (University of Oxford)

Tuesday 24 February 2026

HT26 Energy Seminar – Week 6: Delivering 100% renewable energy system for the UK
Date: 24 February 2026, 17:00 - 18:15
Speaker : Doug Parr (Greenpeace)
Venue Details: Diversity Room, School of Geography
Organisers: Dr Tina Fawcett (ECI, University of Oxford), Karen Parry (Coordinator, Oxford Energy Network)
Hosts: Dr Tina Fawcett (ECI, University of Oxford), Karen Parry (Coordinator, Oxford Energy Network)

Wednesday 25 February 2026

Transport, Traffic, and Mobility Issues and Challenges in Post-War Homs, Syria
Date: 25 February 2026, 12:00 - 13:00
Speaker : Dr. Abd al Hamid al Masri (Homs University)
Venue Details: Online only
Organisers: TBA
Host: Transport Studies Unit (TSU) (Transport Studies Unit (TSU))

Master class: Priceless or unmarketable? Nature and its free gifts
Date: 25 February 2026, 15:00 - 17:00
Speaker : Professor Laura Rival (University of Oxford)
Venue: Queen Elizabeth House, 3 Mansfield Road OX1 3TB
Venue Details: Meeting Room A
Organiser: Professor Laura Rival (University of Oxford)
Hosts: TBA

Improving resilience to urban flooding: Innovations and future directions for surface water flood warning services
Date: 25 February 2026, 16:00 - 17:00
Speaker : Dr Linda Speight (School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford)
Venue: Dyson Perrins Building, off South Parks Road OX1 3QY
Venue Details: Diversity Room
Organiser: Dr Avidesh Seenath (Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford)
Host: Dr Avidesh Seenath (Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford)

Thursday 26 February 2026

Why water risks are becoming a material risk for companies - and the challenges of assessing exposure correctly
Date: 26 February 2026, 12:00 - 13:00
Speaker : Jennifer Moeller-Gulland (Water Security Collective)
Venue Details: Online
Organiser: Oxford Water Network
Hosts: TBA

Cities in Action: Organizations, Institutions, and Urban Climate Strategies
Date: 26 February 2026, 16:00 - 17:30
Speaker : Dr Christof Brandtner (Emlyon Business School)
Venue: 32-42 Wellington Square (Barnett House), 32-42 Wellington Square OX1 2ER
Venue Details: VBR Department of Social Policy and Intervention, 32 Wellington Square OX1 2ER/ Microsoft Teams
Organisers: Professor Kenneth Nelson (University of Oxford), Professor Jane Gingrich (University of Oxford)
Hosts: TBA

Friday 27 February 2026

AI for Nature Recovery – Improving the Journey from Data to Decisions
Date: 27 February 2026, 16:15 - 17:30
Speaker : Prof Kate Jones (University College London)
Venue: Dyson Perrins Building, off South Parks Road OX1 3QY
Venue Details: Main lecture theatre, 1st floor (lift available)
Organisers: Carlyn Samuel (University of Oxford), Jane Applegarth (University of Oxford, Oxford University Centre for the Environment)
Host: Professor Yadvinder Malhi (University of Oxford)

Tuesday 3 March 2026

HT26 Energy Seminar – Week 7: Women led: Clean energy transitions in rural Kenya
Date: 3 March 2026, 17:00 - 18:15
Speaker s: TBC, Dr Ayse Demir (University of Roehampton)
Venue Details: Desert Room, School of Geography
Organisers: Dr Tina Fawcett (ECI, University of Oxford), Karen Parry (Coordinator, Oxford Energy Network)
Hosts: Dr Tina Fawcett (ECI, University of Oxford), Karen Parry (Coordinator, Oxford Energy Network)

Women, Water, and Systems Change: Insights and Actions from the WASH Field
Date: 3 March 2026, 17:00 - 18:00
Speaker : Dr Marielle Snel (WASH for Solidarités International in Yemen)
Venue: Dyson Perrins Building, off South Parks Road OX1 3QY
Venue Details: Diversity Room, ground floor
Organiser: Oxford Water Network
Host: Professor Katrina Charles (University of Oxford)

Wednesday 4 March 2026

Thinking Urban Mobility in Damascus: Challenges, Solutions, and Pathways
Date: 4 March 2026, 12:00 - 13:00
Speaker : Dr Mohammad Hayan Saffour (University of Damascus)
Venue Details: Online only
Organiser: Transport Studies Unit (TSU) (Transport Studies Unit (TSU))
Hosts: TBA

Master class: If Nature was the question, would biomimicry be the answer?
Date: 4 March 2026, 15:00 - 17:00
Speaker : Professor Laura Rival (University of Oxford)
Venue: Queen Elizabeth House, 3 Mansfield Road OX1 3TB
Venue Details: Meeting Room A
Organiser: Professor Laura Rival (University of Oxford)
Hosts: TBA

Putting nature on a path to recovery: how are we doing?
Date: 4 March 2026, 17:00 - 18:15
Speaker : Dr David Cooper (Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery)
Venue: Oxford Martin School, 34 Broad Street OX1 3BD
Venue Details: Lecture Theatre (and Online)
Organiser: Oxford Martin School (University of Oxford)
Hosts: TBA

Thursday 5 March 2026

Accumulation, organisation, rearrangement and timing: A few things we have learned in the last 50 years about dryland aeolian landscape geomorphology
Date: 5 March 2026, 16:30 - 18:00
Speaker : Prof David Thomas (School of Geography and the Environment)
Venue: Dyson Perrins Building, off South Parks Road OX1 3QY
Venue Details: City Room
Organiser: Dr Julie Durcan (University of Oxford)
Hosts: TBA

Tuesday 10 March 2026

HT26 Energy Seminar – Week 8: Holistic Energy Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa
Date: 10 March 2026, 17:00 - 18:15
Speaker : Bernie Jones (Smart Villages Research)
Venue Details: Atmosphere Room, School of Geography
Organisers: Dr Tina Fawcett (ECI, University of Oxford), Karen Parry (Coordinator, Oxford Energy Network)
Hosts: Dr Tina Fawcett (ECI, University of Oxford), Karen Parry (Coordinator, Oxford Energy Network)

Wednesday 11 March 2026

When Ground Gives Way: Attentive Responsiveness and Reimagining Scientific Authority
Date: 11 March 2026, 15:00 - 17:00
Speaker : Olga Ulturgasheva (University of Manchester)
Venue: Queen Elizabeth House, 3 Mansfield Road OX1 3TB
Venue Details: tbc
Organiser: Professor Laura Rival (University of Oxford)
Hosts: TBA

Thursday 12 March 2026

(Un)fair to Me, (Un)fair to You? Fairness, Distribution and Policy Support
Date: 12 March 2026, 16:00 - 17:30
Speaker : Dr Liam Beiser-McGrath (London School of Economics and Political Science)
Venue: 32-42 Wellington Square (Barnett House), 32-42 Wellington Square OX1 2ER
Venue Details: VBR Department of Social Policy and Intervention, 32 Wellington Square OX1 2ER/ Microsoft Teams
Organisers: Professor Kenneth Nelson (University of Oxford), Professor Jane Gingrich (University of Oxford)
Hosts: TBA

Friday 13 March 2026

The Challenge of Refugee Camp Removals and Solutions for Sustainable Housing Reconstruction
Date: 13 March 2026, 12:00 - 13:00
Speaker : Dr. Emad al Masri (Damascus University)
Venue Details: Online only
Organiser: Transport Studies Unit (TSU) (Transport Studies Unit (TSU))
Hosts: TBA

This list contains talks from the following series:
Biodiversity Institute talks
Biodiversity Network Coffee Seminar Series
Biodiversity Network Seminars, Michaelmas Term 2015
Climate Careers
Climate Change and the Challenges of Development
ECI Big Ideas Seminar
Energy Colloquia
Energy Colloquia Series
Energy Events
Environmental Change Institute
Food Thinkers Lunches - Trinity Term 2018
Future of Cities Programme
Future of Food Lunchtime Talk Series
Geographies of informal and precarious labour - Transformations & Technological Natures Seminars
Grand Challenges in Environmental Research
Grand Challenges Seminar Series
IFSTAL
IFSTAL Lecture Series
InSIS seminar series: Ecologies of Expertise
Life after the Anthropocene
Model Truths: modelling, evidence, and truth in science and policy?
NatureFinance@Oxford Seminar Series
NEST - New Energy Systems Thinkers
Net Zero Home School
ONE
Oxford Centre for Tropical Forests
Oxford Energy Network Seminars 2025-26
Oxford Interdisciplinary Microbiome Project
Oxford Water Network
Oxford Water Network HT 2026
Oxford Water Networks Water Quality Series (2019-2020)
Sandscapes
School of Geography and the Environment
Smith School Business Fellows
Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment
SoGE Biodiversity, Ecosystems and Conservation Cluster Events
SoGE Climate Systems and Policy Cluster Events
SoGE Economy and Society Cluster Events
SoGE Landscape Dynamics Cluster events
SoGE Political Worlds Cluster Events
SoGE Technological Life Cluster events
Technological Natures & Transformations Hilary 2017 Seminar Series
Technological Natures & Transformations Michaelmas 2016 Seminar Series
The Agile Initiative Research Planning workshop series (online)
Thinking Through Toxicity
Transport Studies Seminar Series 2025
Transport Studies Unit Hilary Term Seminar Series
Transport Studies Unit (TSU) Lunchtime Seminar Series
TSU Seminar Series
TSU Seminar Series, Hilary Term 2017 : Transport & Mobilities Across the Life Course
TSU Seminar Series Trinity 2016