Department of Biology, University of Oxford

Department of University of Oxford

Department of BiologyFormation| 2022

|

Merger of| Department of Zoology
Department of Plant Sciences
Headquarters| Department of Biology, 11a Mansfield Road

Parent organization

| University of Oxford
Website| www.biology.ox.ac.uk

The Department of Biology, established in 2022, is a science department in the University of Oxford's Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division.[1] It was formed on 1 August 2022[2] after a merger between the Department of Plant Sciences and Department of Zoology.[3]

The department has two main buildings: Department of Biology (Mansfield Road) and Department of Biology (South Parks Road).[4] It also has an additional field station, The John Krebs Field Station, based in Wytham.[5]

## Overview

[edit]

The Department's research spans levels from molecules to ecosystems in order to address fundamental questions relating to food security, plant molecular biology, disease biology, evolutionary mechanisms, conservation biology, biodiversity, evolutionary developmental biology, climate change and animal behaviour. This department also delivers the teaching of an undergraduate MBiol degree in biology.[6][7] Within its research portfolio, the department incorporates several research institutes such as the Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology (EGI), the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU); as well as housing the Oxford University Herbaria. Several members of academic staff work within the Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research[8] and were involved in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.[9][10]

Additional partnerships and resources of the Department include the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, the Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum, the John Krebs Field Station and Wytham Woods.

## Research themes

[edit]

Research at the Department of Biology is grouped into five broad and cross-cutting themes:[11]

* Behaviour & Biomechanics
* Ecology & Conservation
* Evolutionary Biology
* Microbiology & Infectious Disease
* Molecular Plant Biology

## Notable staff

[edit]

The following people of note are or have been associated with the Department:

* Roy M. Anderson
* Timothy Coulson (Former Head of Department)
* Richard Dawkins
* Liam Dolan
* Charles Elton
* E S Goodrich
* Sunetra Gupta
* John Gurdon
* Bill Hamilton
* Nicholas Harberd
* Sir Alistair Hardy
* Paul Harvey (Former Head of Department)
* Steven A. Hill
* Peter Holland (Former Head of Department)
* John Krebs
* David Lack
* Jane A. Langdale
* Sir E Ray Lankester
* Chris J. Leaver
* Bob May
* Angela McLean
* E.J. Milner-Gulland (Former Head of Department)
* Desmond Morris
* Chris Perrins
* John Pringle
* Ben Sheldon (Former Head of Department)
* Sir Richard Southwood
* Niko Tinbergen
* Katherine Willis, Baroness Willis of Summertown

## History

[edit]

The Department of Biology was formed from the merging of the former Departments of Plant Sciences and Zoology on the 1 August 2022.[3]

The former Department of Zoology, founded in 1860, was housed in the Tinbergen Building until it was demolished in Spring 2022.[12] Designed in 1965 by Sir Leslie Martin (who also designed the Royal Festival Hall) and opened in 1971, the Tinbergen Building was a large Modernist building housing over 1,600 staff and students.[13] It was Oxford University's largest building at the time. In February 2017, university officials announced that the Tinbergen Building would be closed for two years and all research and teaching activities of the Department would be moved elsewhere. This was due to the discovery of more asbestos than had been previously known; too much than could be removed during necessary maintenance with the building remaining occupied.[14][12]

The former Department of Plant Sciences was formed from the Imperial Forestry Institute. The 'Imperial Forestry Institute' was formed from in 1924,;[15][16] later it became the Commonwealth Forestry Institute from 1939.[17][18] The Oxford Forestry Institute was incorporated and became the Department of Plant Sciences in 2002.[19]

In January 2021, the Oxford City Council approved the £200m construction of the Life and Mind Building, which will be the university's largest building project and house the Departments of Experimental Psychology and Biology.[20][21] It will replace the Tinbergen Building on South Parks Road. The building will feature multiple laboratories, teaching and testing spaces providing research facilities for 800 students and 1200 researchers. Work started in 2021, with the building expected to open in 2025.[22][23]

## External links

[edit]

* Life and Mind Building website

* v
* t
* e

University of Oxford

Leadership|

* Chancellor
* William Hague
* Vice-Chancellor
* Irene Tracey
* Registrar
* Heads of houses

Colleges|

* All Souls
* Balliol
* Brasenose
* Christ Church
* Corpus Christi
* Exeter
* Green Templeton
* Harris Manchester
* Hertford
* Jesus
* Keble
* Kellogg
* Lady Margaret Hall
* Linacre
* Lincoln
* Magdalen
* Mansfield
* Merton
* New College
* Nuffield
* Oriel
* Pembroke
* Queen's
* Reuben
* St Anne's
* St Antony's
* St Catherine's
* St Cross
* St Edmund Hall
* St Hilda's
* St Hugh's
* St John's
* St Peter's
* Somerville
* Trinity
* University College
* Wadham
* Wolfson
* Worcester

Permanent private halls|

* Blackfriars Hall
* Campion Hall
* Regent's Park
* Wycliffe Hall

Divisions and departments|

| Humanities|

* Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
* American Institute
* Art
* Classics
* History
* Linguistics, Philology & Phonetics
* Medieval and Modern Languages
* Music
* Philosophy
* Theology and Religion

|

Medical Sciences|

* Biochemistry
* Human Genetics
* Medical School
* Pathology
* Population Health

Mathematical, Physical
and Life Sciences|

* Biology
* Chemistry
* Computer Science
* Earth Sciences
* Engineering Science
* Materials
* Mathematical Institute
* Physics

Social Sciences|

* Archaeology
* Business
* Continuing Education
* Economics
* Government
* International Development
* Law
* Politics & International Relations
* Social Policy and Intervention

Gardens, Libraries
and Museums|

* Ashmolean Museum
* Bodleian Libraries
* Botanic Garden
* History of Science
* Natural History
* Pitt Rivers

Institutes and affiliates|

* Begbroke Science Park
* Big Data Institute
* Ineos Oxford Institute
* Jenner Institute
* Internet Institute
* Oxford-Man Institute
* Martin School
* Oxford University Innovation
* Oxford University Press
* Ripon College Cuddesdon
* Smith School

Independent centres|

* Buddhist Studies
* Energy Studies
* Hebrew and Jewish Studies
* Hindu Studies
* Islamic Studies

Sports|

* Australian rules football
* Boxing
* Cricket
* Cycling
* Dancesport
* Football
* Women's
* Handball
* Ice hockey
* Mountaineering
* Quidditch
* Polo
* Rowing
* Men's
* Women's
* Men's Lightweight
* Women's Lightweight
* Rugby

* Competitions
* Cuppers
* The Boat Race
* Women's Boat Race
* Henley Boat Races
* Polo Varsity Match
* Rugby League Varsity Match
* Rugby Union Varsity Match
* University Cricket Match
* University Golf Match

* Venues
* Bullingdon Green
* Christ Church Ground
* Magdalen Ground
* New College Ground
* Roger Bannister running track
* University Parks

Student life|

* Cherwell
* The Isis Magazine
* The Mays
* The Oxford Student
* Oxford Union
* Student Union

Related|

* People
* fictional colleges
* fictional people
* First women graduates
* Association for the Education of Women
* Delegacy for Women Students
* The Oxford Magazine
* Oxford University Gazette

* Category
* Portal

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Divisions and Departments | University of Oxford". www.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
2. ^ Admin, India Education Diary Bureau. "Oxford launches new department to further bioscience teaching and research | India Education | Latest Education News | Global Educational News | Recent Educational News". Retrieved 2022-08-15.
3. ^ a b "Oxford launches new department to further bioscience teaching and research | University of Oxford". www.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
4. ^ "Contact Us". www.biology.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
5. ^ "The John Krebs Field Station, Oxford University · The John Krebs Field Station, Wytham, Oxford OX2 8QJ, United Kingdom". The John Krebs Field Station, Oxford University · The John Krebs Field Station, Wytham, Oxford OX2 8QJ, United Kingdom. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
6. ^ "Biology | University of Oxford". www.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
7. ^ "Undergraduate Study". www.biology.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
8. ^ "People". www.biology.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
9. ^ "COVID-19 Research". www.biology.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
10. ^ Riley, Duncan (28 February 2021). "Oxford University lab studying COVID-19 targeted by cyberattack". SiliconANGLE. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
11. ^ "Research Sections". www.biology.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
12. ^ a b "Asbestos find closes Oxford University building for two years". BBC News. 2017-02-10. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
13. ^ "The Tinbergen Building — Department of Experimental Psychology". www.psy.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
14. ^ "Oxford University buildings to close for two years due to asbestos". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
15. ^ "Imperial Forestry Institute, Oxford". Nature. 137 (3466): 573. 1936-04-01. doi:10.1038/137573a0. ISSN 1476-4687. S2CID 46407833.
16. ^ "The Imperial Forestry Institute, Oxford". Nature. 139 (3522): 731–732\. 1937-05-01. doi:10.1038/139731a0. ISSN 1476-4687. S2CID 4070262.
17. ^ Harrison, Brian Howard, ed. (1994). The History of the University of Oxford. Vol. VIII: The Twentieth Century. Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 260\. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198229742.001.0001. ISBN 9780198229742.
18. ^ United States Department for Agriculture Making Our Forests and Rangelands More Productive: 1985 Research Accomplishments, p. 149, at Google Books
19. ^ Burley, Jeffery; Mills, Roger A; Plumptre, Robert A; Savill, Peter S; Wood, Peter J; Wright, Howard L (March 2009). "A History of Forestry at Oxford University". British Scholar. 1 (2): 236–261\. doi:10.3366/brs.2009.0007. ISSN 1941-6105.
20. ^ "Life and Mind Building | University of Oxford". www.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
21. ^ Marshall, Jordan (15 January 2020). "O'Rourke joins chase for Oxford university's largest ever building project". Building. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
22. ^ "University of Oxford's £200m life sciences building plan approved". BBC News. 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
23. ^ "Current Progress". lifeandmind.web.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-07-29.

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template