Dr Andrew Bell (1993, History), Senior Tutor. In his talk Andrew highlights how the College has responded to the pandemic so far and what the future may hold for Univ. He also discusses the challenges of remote teaching and how Univ is coping with those challenges and the invaluable lessons we have learnt.

Professor Karen O’Brien (1983, English) is Professorial Fellow, Head of the Humanities Division and Chair of the University’s Michaelmas Coordination Group. In her talk, she addresses the new academic year and what steps the University has taken to manage the coronavirus crisis. She discusses global history and culture in times of epidemics, medical innovations, insights into behaviour, as well as the University’s unique multi-disciplinary approach.

Professor Ngaire Woods is Senior Research Fellow and Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government. In her talk, she shares her views on how governments across the world have handled the pandemic and how some have unexpectedly done so much better than others. She also highlights how important global co-operation is at this time, as well as how the conflict between the US and China may affect the rest of the world.

Professor Naj Rahman (1994, Medicine) is Supernumerary Fellow and Clinical Tutor in Medicine, Professor of Respiratory Medicine and Director of the Oxford Respiratory Trials Unit. In his talk, he discusses healthcare and our plans for the future following Covid-19, educationally, academically and in terms of clinical medicine. He also covers the importance of good quality clinical trials and of collaborative working globally.

Dr Alexander Sturgis (1982, History) is Director of the Ashmolean Museum. He talks about the immediate challenges around reopening museums in a social distant world: a dream for some, more barriers for others? He addresses the longer-term questions of accessibility, sustainability, and the way the digital relates to the work of art. He then goes on to discuss the place of museums in the global inequalities and colonial legacies debate.

For the last nine months Gideon has been the Chief Scientific Advisor at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), tasked with offering advice on the environmental consequences of Covid, the continuation of food supply, and planning for a green recovery. His advice to ministers, at SAGE, and to government more broadly is based on his expertise as an environmental scientist and on interactions with many in the science community. He will explore what the future now holds for environmental policy and the green agenda.