Oxford Sparks
@oxfordsparks.bsky.social
A place to explore the cutting-edge scientific research taking place at the University of Oxford (@ox.ac.uk) and meet the scientists behind it 🧑🏽🔬🌍🧪🦋
Pinned
Could we develop a cancer vaccine? That's what Prof David Church & his team in the Centre for Human Genetics @ndm.ox.ac.uk are investigating.
📽️ Find out more in our new video: https://bit.ly/CancerVaccineFlags
📽️ Find out more in our new video: https://bit.ly/CancerVaccineFlags
Could we develop a cancer vaccine? That's what Prof David Church & his team in the Centre for Human Genetics @ndm.ox.ac.uk are investigating.
📽️ Find out more in our new video: https://bit.ly/CancerVaccineFlags
📽️ Find out more in our new video: https://bit.ly/CancerVaccineFlags
August 5, 2026 at 10:07 AM
Could we develop a cancer vaccine? That's what Prof David Church & his team in the Centre for Human Genetics @ndm.ox.ac.uk are investigating.
📽️ Find out more in our new video: https://bit.ly/CancerVaccineFlags
📽️ Find out more in our new video: https://bit.ly/CancerVaccineFlags
Reposted by Oxford Sparks
come and join us if you are in Oxford
July 8, 2026 at 1:43 PM
come and join us if you are in Oxford
🎙️ We chat to computational neuroscientist @loopyluppi.bsky.social (@oxfordpsychiatry.bsky.social) about digital brain twins & how they could help guide the best treatment plan for a *specific* patient with a brain condition.
🎧 https://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/what-is-a-digital-brain-twin/
🎧 https://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/what-is-a-digital-brain-twin/
July 8, 2026 at 1:32 PM
🎙️ We chat to computational neuroscientist @loopyluppi.bsky.social (@oxfordpsychiatry.bsky.social) about digital brain twins & how they could help guide the best treatment plan for a *specific* patient with a brain condition.
🎧 https://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/what-is-a-digital-brain-twin/
🎧 https://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/what-is-a-digital-brain-twin/
😎 Join us TOMORROW for Oxford Sparks Live!
📆 4 July 11am-4pm
📍Oxford Uni Science Park, Begbroke
We'll have talks from some of the researchers behind our videos, on topics such as climate justice & Georgian satirical science cartoons!
Book here (it's free): oud.co.uk/wonder26
📆 4 July 11am-4pm
📍Oxford Uni Science Park, Begbroke
We'll have talks from some of the researchers behind our videos, on topics such as climate justice & Georgian satirical science cartoons!
Book here (it's free): oud.co.uk/wonder26
July 3, 2026 at 3:31 PM
😎 Join us TOMORROW for Oxford Sparks Live!
📆 4 July 11am-4pm
📍Oxford Uni Science Park, Begbroke
We'll have talks from some of the researchers behind our videos, on topics such as climate justice & Georgian satirical science cartoons!
Book here (it's free): oud.co.uk/wonder26
📆 4 July 11am-4pm
📍Oxford Uni Science Park, Begbroke
We'll have talks from some of the researchers behind our videos, on topics such as climate justice & Georgian satirical science cartoons!
Book here (it's free): oud.co.uk/wonder26
🎙️How can we use #AI to make drugs?
We chat to @fergusimrie.bsky.social (@oxfordstatistics.bsky.social), whose project OpenBind aims to create the world's largest open-access dataset of protein-ligand interactions.
🎧 https://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/how-can-we-use-ai-to-make-drugs/
We chat to @fergusimrie.bsky.social (@oxfordstatistics.bsky.social), whose project OpenBind aims to create the world's largest open-access dataset of protein-ligand interactions.
🎧 https://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/how-can-we-use-ai-to-make-drugs/
June 17, 2026 at 1:06 PM
🎙️How can we use #AI to make drugs?
We chat to @fergusimrie.bsky.social (@oxfordstatistics.bsky.social), whose project OpenBind aims to create the world's largest open-access dataset of protein-ligand interactions.
🎧 https://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/how-can-we-use-ai-to-make-drugs/
We chat to @fergusimrie.bsky.social (@oxfordstatistics.bsky.social), whose project OpenBind aims to create the world's largest open-access dataset of protein-ligand interactions.
🎧 https://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/how-can-we-use-ai-to-make-drugs/
The human #heart is a biological powerhouse that has the capacity to beat billions of times. But what prompts that very first #heartbeat? And how can #ComputationalArt help us to unravel the mystery? @clcortex.bsky.social explains in our brand new video.
🎥 https://bit.ly/HeartsAnew
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🎥 https://bit.ly/HeartsAnew
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June 10, 2026 at 10:03 AM
The human #heart is a biological powerhouse that has the capacity to beat billions of times. But what prompts that very first #heartbeat? And how can #ComputationalArt help us to unravel the mystery? @clcortex.bsky.social explains in our brand new video.
🎥 https://bit.ly/HeartsAnew
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🎥 https://bit.ly/HeartsAnew
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When we jet off on a #aeroplane, a lot of us feel some guilt over our #CarbonFootprint. So, what if we could reduce the emissions associated with air travel? We chat to Dr Tamsin Whitfield @oxfordmaterials.bsky.social about her research developing new alloys for aeroplane engines.
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June 3, 2026 at 1:04 PM
When we jet off on a #aeroplane, a lot of us feel some guilt over our #CarbonFootprint. So, what if we could reduce the emissions associated with air travel? We chat to Dr Tamsin Whitfield @oxfordmaterials.bsky.social about her research developing new alloys for aeroplane engines.
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🎙️Until recently, most of us had never heard of the #hantavirus. Now it's making headlines and - with memories of COVID-19 still fresh in our minds - unsurprisingly causing some anxiety. We chat to Dr Danny Wright @ovg.ox.ac.uk to learn more about the virus & how it spreads.
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May 20, 2026 at 1:04 PM
🎙️Until recently, most of us had never heard of the #hantavirus. Now it's making headlines and - with memories of COVID-19 still fresh in our minds - unsurprisingly causing some anxiety. We chat to Dr Danny Wright @ovg.ox.ac.uk to learn more about the virus & how it spreads.
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Culling & conservation may not seem to go together, but when there are no natural predators and populations are increasing, culling may be the only viable option. We chat to Jess Frater @wildcru.bsky.social about the Scottish #deercull, public perceptions, and conservation messaging.
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May 6, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Culling & conservation may not seem to go together, but when there are no natural predators and populations are increasing, culling may be the only viable option. We chat to Jess Frater @wildcru.bsky.social about the Scottish #deercull, public perceptions, and conservation messaging.
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🎙️ Could #maths help you win that life-changing jackpot? We chat to @jamesmunromaths.bsky.social about probability, chaos theory & our chances of winning the #lottery...
🎧 https://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/can-you-predict-the-lottery/
@oxfordmathematics.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
🎧 https://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/can-you-predict-the-lottery/
@oxfordmathematics.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
April 22, 2026 at 1:06 PM
🎙️ Could #maths help you win that life-changing jackpot? We chat to @jamesmunromaths.bsky.social about probability, chaos theory & our chances of winning the #lottery...
🎧 https://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/can-you-predict-the-lottery/
@oxfordmathematics.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
🎧 https://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/can-you-predict-the-lottery/
@oxfordmathematics.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
📽️ #Phytoplankton: the lungs of the Earth 🌍
Join @arianwenherbert.bsky.social behind-the-scenes on #RSSJamesCook and find out about some carbon-fixing heroes...
👀 Full video: https://bit.ly/Phyto_lungs
#EarthDay2026
@biology.ox.ac.uk @mplsoxford.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
Join @arianwenherbert.bsky.social behind-the-scenes on #RSSJamesCook and find out about some carbon-fixing heroes...
👀 Full video: https://bit.ly/Phyto_lungs
#EarthDay2026
@biology.ox.ac.uk @mplsoxford.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
April 22, 2026 at 9:31 AM
📽️ #Phytoplankton: the lungs of the Earth 🌍
Join @arianwenherbert.bsky.social behind-the-scenes on #RSSJamesCook and find out about some carbon-fixing heroes...
👀 Full video: https://bit.ly/Phyto_lungs
#EarthDay2026
@biology.ox.ac.uk @mplsoxford.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
Join @arianwenherbert.bsky.social behind-the-scenes on #RSSJamesCook and find out about some carbon-fixing heroes...
👀 Full video: https://bit.ly/Phyto_lungs
#EarthDay2026
@biology.ox.ac.uk @mplsoxford.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
🎙️ A lot of us won’t think twice when it comes to #reading, but what #brain processes lie beneath this complex skill? We chat to @olejensen.bsky.social about his research.
🎧 https://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/how-does-reading-work/
@oxfordpsychiatry.bsky.social @oxexppsy.bsky.social
🎧 https://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/how-does-reading-work/
@oxfordpsychiatry.bsky.social @oxexppsy.bsky.social
April 8, 2026 at 1:31 PM
🎙️ A lot of us won’t think twice when it comes to #reading, but what #brain processes lie beneath this complex skill? We chat to @olejensen.bsky.social about his research.
🎧 https://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/how-does-reading-work/
@oxfordpsychiatry.bsky.social @oxexppsy.bsky.social
🎧 https://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/how-does-reading-work/
@oxfordpsychiatry.bsky.social @oxexppsy.bsky.social
🎙️ We're looking at the extreme #GenderGap that exists in #motorsports. The divide doesn't stop at the track: Dr Kate Bancroft estimates that women fill just 5% of technical roles 🏎️.
🎧 https://pod.fo/e/3bfb9c
@ox.ac.uk
🎧 https://pod.fo/e/3bfb9c
@ox.ac.uk
March 25, 2026 at 2:02 PM
🎙️ We're looking at the extreme #GenderGap that exists in #motorsports. The divide doesn't stop at the track: Dr Kate Bancroft estimates that women fill just 5% of technical roles 🏎️.
🎧 https://pod.fo/e/3bfb9c
@ox.ac.uk
🎧 https://pod.fo/e/3bfb9c
@ox.ac.uk
📽️ Science and the Satirists
According to cultural historian Dr Kate Watson, the #satirical #caricatures of #GeorgianBritain were the social media of their day...
Watch the full video: https://bit.ly/ScienceandtheSatirists
@oxlifelonglearning.bsky.social @mplsoxford.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
According to cultural historian Dr Kate Watson, the #satirical #caricatures of #GeorgianBritain were the social media of their day...
Watch the full video: https://bit.ly/ScienceandtheSatirists
@oxlifelonglearning.bsky.social @mplsoxford.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
March 20, 2026 at 10:32 AM
📽️ Science and the Satirists
According to cultural historian Dr Kate Watson, the #satirical #caricatures of #GeorgianBritain were the social media of their day...
Watch the full video: https://bit.ly/ScienceandtheSatirists
@oxlifelonglearning.bsky.social @mplsoxford.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
According to cultural historian Dr Kate Watson, the #satirical #caricatures of #GeorgianBritain were the social media of their day...
Watch the full video: https://bit.ly/ScienceandtheSatirists
@oxlifelonglearning.bsky.social @mplsoxford.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
🎙️ How do you convert CO2 to rock?
We often hear about #CarbonCapture as a potential aid to reducing #CO2 in the atmosphere. But how could we store it securely & sustainably? We chat to @shuruimiao.bsky.social
🎧 https://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/how-do-you-convert-co2-to-rock/
@ox.ac.uk
We often hear about #CarbonCapture as a potential aid to reducing #CO2 in the atmosphere. But how could we store it securely & sustainably? We chat to @shuruimiao.bsky.social
🎧 https://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/how-do-you-convert-co2-to-rock/
@ox.ac.uk
March 11, 2026 at 2:03 PM
🎙️ How do you convert CO2 to rock?
We often hear about #CarbonCapture as a potential aid to reducing #CO2 in the atmosphere. But how could we store it securely & sustainably? We chat to @shuruimiao.bsky.social
🎧 https://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/how-do-you-convert-co2-to-rock/
@ox.ac.uk
We often hear about #CarbonCapture as a potential aid to reducing #CO2 in the atmosphere. But how could we store it securely & sustainably? We chat to @shuruimiao.bsky.social
🎧 https://www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/how-do-you-convert-co2-to-rock/
@ox.ac.uk
📽️ #Meteorites: the magnetic key to the early #SolarSystem
How can we begin to understand events that happened billions of years ago? Fortunately, there are clues, as planetary scientist @han-san-planets.bsky.social explains...🧲
👀 https://bit.ly/MagneticKey
@oxuniearthsci.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
How can we begin to understand events that happened billions of years ago? Fortunately, there are clues, as planetary scientist @han-san-planets.bsky.social explains...🧲
👀 https://bit.ly/MagneticKey
@oxuniearthsci.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
March 4, 2026 at 10:31 AM
📽️ #Meteorites: the magnetic key to the early #SolarSystem
How can we begin to understand events that happened billions of years ago? Fortunately, there are clues, as planetary scientist @han-san-planets.bsky.social explains...🧲
👀 https://bit.ly/MagneticKey
@oxuniearthsci.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
How can we begin to understand events that happened billions of years ago? Fortunately, there are clues, as planetary scientist @han-san-planets.bsky.social explains...🧲
👀 https://bit.ly/MagneticKey
@oxuniearthsci.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
🎙️ If you've visited @hsmoxford.bsky.social, you may have seen Einstein's blackboard. But what was #Einstein doing in #Oxford in the 1930s? We chat to @jcniala.bsky.social to find out...
🎧 www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/wha...
@ox.ac.uk
🎧 www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/wha...
@ox.ac.uk
February 25, 2026 at 12:38 PM
🎙️ If you've visited @hsmoxford.bsky.social, you may have seen Einstein's blackboard. But what was #Einstein doing in #Oxford in the 1930s? We chat to @jcniala.bsky.social to find out...
🎧 www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/wha...
@ox.ac.uk
🎧 www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/wha...
@ox.ac.uk
📢 We need your votes! We're so excited to announce that our #ClimateJustice film has been shortlisted for the Audience Award at the #LabMeCrazy Science Film Festival! Please pop along to https://www.unav.edu/web/labmecrazy/proyecciones-online & vote - we'd be so grateful of your support! 🙏 @ox.ac.uk
February 19, 2026 at 9:16 AM
📢 We need your votes! We're so excited to announce that our #ClimateJustice film has been shortlisted for the Audience Award at the #LabMeCrazy Science Film Festival! Please pop along to https://www.unav.edu/web/labmecrazy/proyecciones-online & vote - we'd be so grateful of your support! 🙏 @ox.ac.uk
🎙️ Where do baby penguins come from?
We're joined by #penguinologists Dr Ignacio Juarez Martinez & Dr Fiona Suttle to learn all about the breeding habits of #penguins, for our #Valentines special 🐧💕
🎧 pod.fo/e/38d8ea
@biology.ox.ac.uk @mplsoxford.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
We're joined by #penguinologists Dr Ignacio Juarez Martinez & Dr Fiona Suttle to learn all about the breeding habits of #penguins, for our #Valentines special 🐧💕
🎧 pod.fo/e/38d8ea
@biology.ox.ac.uk @mplsoxford.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
February 11, 2026 at 2:53 PM
🎙️ Where do baby penguins come from?
We're joined by #penguinologists Dr Ignacio Juarez Martinez & Dr Fiona Suttle to learn all about the breeding habits of #penguins, for our #Valentines special 🐧💕
🎧 pod.fo/e/38d8ea
@biology.ox.ac.uk @mplsoxford.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
We're joined by #penguinologists Dr Ignacio Juarez Martinez & Dr Fiona Suttle to learn all about the breeding habits of #penguins, for our #Valentines special 🐧💕
🎧 pod.fo/e/38d8ea
@biology.ox.ac.uk @mplsoxford.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
📽️ #Santorini might be better known for its beaches & archaeological sites, but did you know it's also a #volcano? 🌋
Join @sofiadellasala.bsky.social as she takes us behind-the-scenes on her first #fieldwork #expedition, exploring the world of #hydrothermal systems...
@oxuniearthsci.bsky.social 1/2
Join @sofiadellasala.bsky.social as she takes us behind-the-scenes on her first #fieldwork #expedition, exploring the world of #hydrothermal systems...
@oxuniearthsci.bsky.social 1/2
January 30, 2026 at 11:36 AM
📽️ #Santorini might be better known for its beaches & archaeological sites, but did you know it's also a #volcano? 🌋
Join @sofiadellasala.bsky.social as she takes us behind-the-scenes on her first #fieldwork #expedition, exploring the world of #hydrothermal systems...
@oxuniearthsci.bsky.social 1/2
Join @sofiadellasala.bsky.social as she takes us behind-the-scenes on her first #fieldwork #expedition, exploring the world of #hydrothermal systems...
@oxuniearthsci.bsky.social 1/2
🎙️ New #podcast!
Dr Fabian Stephany (@oii.ox.ac.uk) strongly believes that #AI isn't here to steal our jobs, and that actually #AItools can be used to help us secure better jobs and raise our salaries. So...how?
🎧 pod.fo/e/38260e
@ox.ac.uk @mplsoxford.bsky.social
Dr Fabian Stephany (@oii.ox.ac.uk) strongly believes that #AI isn't here to steal our jobs, and that actually #AItools can be used to help us secure better jobs and raise our salaries. So...how?
🎧 pod.fo/e/38260e
@ox.ac.uk @mplsoxford.bsky.social
January 28, 2026 at 2:17 PM
🎙️ New #podcast!
Dr Fabian Stephany (@oii.ox.ac.uk) strongly believes that #AI isn't here to steal our jobs, and that actually #AItools can be used to help us secure better jobs and raise our salaries. So...how?
🎧 pod.fo/e/38260e
@ox.ac.uk @mplsoxford.bsky.social
Dr Fabian Stephany (@oii.ox.ac.uk) strongly believes that #AI isn't here to steal our jobs, and that actually #AItools can be used to help us secure better jobs and raise our salaries. So...how?
🎧 pod.fo/e/38260e
@ox.ac.uk @mplsoxford.bsky.social
We chat to space instrumentation specialist Dr Carly Howett about the search for life in the outer Solar System, and why #Saturn's icy moon #Enceladus could be a great place to look...
🎧 www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/cou...
@oxfordphysics.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
🎧 www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/cou...
@oxfordphysics.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
January 14, 2026 at 3:14 PM
We chat to space instrumentation specialist Dr Carly Howett about the search for life in the outer Solar System, and why #Saturn's icy moon #Enceladus could be a great place to look...
🎧 www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/cou...
@oxfordphysics.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
🎧 www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/cou...
@oxfordphysics.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk
📽️ "I willingly contracted #malaria..."
Malaria ‘challenge’ studies teach us more about how the body responds to malaria infection and how we can improve malaria vaccines and treatments. But how does a malaria ‘challenge’ work and what is it like to take part in these studies? 1/2
Malaria ‘challenge’ studies teach us more about how the body responds to malaria infection and how we can improve malaria vaccines and treatments. But how does a malaria ‘challenge’ work and what is it like to take part in these studies? 1/2
December 17, 2025 at 3:58 PM
📽️ "I willingly contracted #malaria..."
Malaria ‘challenge’ studies teach us more about how the body responds to malaria infection and how we can improve malaria vaccines and treatments. But how does a malaria ‘challenge’ work and what is it like to take part in these studies? 1/2
Malaria ‘challenge’ studies teach us more about how the body responds to malaria infection and how we can improve malaria vaccines and treatments. But how does a malaria ‘challenge’ work and what is it like to take part in these studies? 1/2
🎙️ What happened to the #birds in #TheTwelveDaysOfChristmas? 🦢🎶
We take a look at one of our favourite #ChristmasCarols with Prof Andy Gosler.
🎧 Listen here! pod.fo/e/3638a8
@egioxford.bsky.social @biology.ox.ac.uk @oxfordhumsci.bsky.social @oxford-anthro.bsky.social
We take a look at one of our favourite #ChristmasCarols with Prof Andy Gosler.
🎧 Listen here! pod.fo/e/3638a8
@egioxford.bsky.social @biology.ox.ac.uk @oxfordhumsci.bsky.social @oxford-anthro.bsky.social
December 10, 2025 at 2:40 PM
🎙️ What happened to the #birds in #TheTwelveDaysOfChristmas? 🦢🎶
We take a look at one of our favourite #ChristmasCarols with Prof Andy Gosler.
🎧 Listen here! pod.fo/e/3638a8
@egioxford.bsky.social @biology.ox.ac.uk @oxfordhumsci.bsky.social @oxford-anthro.bsky.social
We take a look at one of our favourite #ChristmasCarols with Prof Andy Gosler.
🎧 Listen here! pod.fo/e/3638a8
@egioxford.bsky.social @biology.ox.ac.uk @oxfordhumsci.bsky.social @oxford-anthro.bsky.social
🎙️ As we near the end of the International Year of Quantum, we ask experimental physicist William Cutler to break it down for us...what exactly is quantum computing?
🎧 www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/wha...
@oxfordphysics.bsky.social @mplsoxford.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk @ukri.org #QuantumComputing
🎧 www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/wha...
@oxfordphysics.bsky.social @mplsoxford.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk @ukri.org #QuantumComputing
November 26, 2025 at 3:17 PM
🎙️ As we near the end of the International Year of Quantum, we ask experimental physicist William Cutler to break it down for us...what exactly is quantum computing?
🎧 www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/wha...
@oxfordphysics.bsky.social @mplsoxford.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk @ukri.org #QuantumComputing
🎧 www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/podcasts/wha...
@oxfordphysics.bsky.social @mplsoxford.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk @ukri.org #QuantumComputing