Enjoy our lectures - wherever you are

Our anniversary lecture series is a celebration of diverse interests and ideas. From a former director of GCHQ to a founding member of the Pogues, there is a broad spectrum of perspectives designed to appeal to the open minded and intellectually curious.

Professor Sir David Omand will examine the challenges of reconciling security and privacy online, in ‘Intelligence in the digital age’. And futurist Mark Stevenson will look at change on a grander scale in ‘The future is up for grabs’.

The emotional impact on journalists who cover difficult events forms the basis of ‘Shock, horror’ by Sian Williams, journalist, Brookes alumna and MSc Psychology student (University of Westminster). Sian covered the Hillsborough disaster, Asian tsunami and other harrowing events.

As well as inspirational external speakers, our 'best lecturers' - as voted by Brookes students in their 2013 awards - will be speaking about their specialist subjects throughout the year.

How to book - and enjoying the lectures if you're unable to be there

All anniversary events now appear on our web pages - take a look and book some thinking time.

Twitter discussions during the lectures are encouraged to use #brookes150 – check out the hashtag during the lectures to see snippets and opinions of the lecture.

All lectures are being recorded using lecture capture. If you’re unable to make the presentation but would like to catch up with it afterwards, visit our lecture capture site.

How to find out more

Find out more about the anniversary through Twitter @brookes_is_150; at our web pages; or via email at 150years@brookes.ac.uk.

How are we doing?
We want to provide you with information about the anniversary in a way that works for you. Let us know how we're doing with the poll on the right hand menu, and by contacting us via the email address above.

Stepping back in time

150 years ago a small art school opened its doors to students in a single room of the Taylorian Institute in Oxford’s historic city centre. Our anniversary celebrations are an opportunity to join us as we mark Oxford Brookes’ journey from that room, through its years as a technology college and later a polytechnic, partnering with other like-minded institutions and becoming a university.

Starting this autumn, you’ll be able to take a trip through our interactive digital archive and discover a rich history, marked by personal stories, written contributions, fascinating archive material, photographs, videos and interviews. You’ll also be able to visit our campus exhibition in person.

You might discover the story, as told by the local press, of Brookes’ battle to move from scattered rooms around the city centre to its Gipsy Lane site at Headington; or you might encounter an interview with honorary graduate Benjamin Zephaniah, explaining why he preferred the honour to an OBE.

Who were the bands playing the SU in the seventies? What made the front page of the Polytechnic’s student magazine?

Who was John Henry Brookes and what exactly is his legacy?

You’ll be able to explore and discover more about Oxford Brookes, its students, values, staff and faculties, buildings, challenges and changes since 1865. From October, either drop in to our exhibition space in the Abercrombie building on Headington Campus, or visit our interactive digital archive. Follow our twitter feed and web pages to be notified when the timeline and exhibition go live.

How to find out more

Find out more about the anniversary through Twitter @brookes_is_150; at our web pages; or via email at 150years@brookes.ac.uk.

How are we doing?
We want to provide you with information about the anniversary in a way that works for you. Let us know how we're doing with the poll on the right hand menu, and by contacting us via the email address above.

Books for sale to mark our 150th anniversary

Next year is such a special moment in the journey of Oxford Brookes that we’ll be marking the occasion with two new books. Whether you’d like to learn more about the inspirational man we are now named after, or would like something which commemorates our journey to date, there is a book for you.

Did you know that the Duckworth-Lewis method was developed at Brookes, or that we have a piece of college pudding in our archive from 1897? Perhaps you knew that we have a reputation for excellent learning and teaching, but were unaware that at Brookes we were the pioneers of the modular degree programme? Whatever your interest in the University – our prestigious research achievements, the people who have defined our character throughout the years, our role in the Oxford music scene and more – look out for this book. ‘Wisdom, Wonders & Wickets: 150 tales from 150 years’ will be a beautiful collection of shorter and longer articles – perfect for dipping into, or reading longer pieces when you have a few moments to spare.

If you’d like to get to grips with a biography of our modern spiritual founder, and find out more about his connection with our institution, I’d recommend ‘John Henry Brookes: A man who inspired a University’. This account of his life, achievements and contribution to the growth of Oxford Brookes has been written by alumnus Bryan Brown. To give you an insight into the many works of art produced by John Henry Brookes throughout his life, it is beautifully illustrated with photographs of his work.

Both books will be on sale in the autumn, both on campus and online.

How to find out more
Find out more about the anniversary through Twitter @brookes_is_150; at our web pages; or via email at 150years@brookes.ac.uk.

How are we doing?
We want to provide you with information about the anniversary in a way that works for you. Let us know how we're doing with the poll on the right hand menu, and by contacting us via the email address above.

Where can I get one of those anniversary mugs you were giving away?

By Anna Myers, 150th Anniversary Project Manager


This is a question I get asked a lot. Those mugs we gave away at the campus launch of our anniversary back in March are lovely, practical, waste-saving and thrifty.

They’re one of several anniversary items you’ll soon be able to buy, including:

• anniversary beer – developed by a local beer company run by a Brookes alumnus
• anniversary tea – refreshing beverages in our Brookes colours!
• framed prints and cards – beautiful drawings by our modern founder, John Henry Brookes
• first day covers – special edition Brookes stamps, to be issued from Bletchley Park, where our teacher training began in the 1940s
• our anniversary books – more on those in my next blog.

All these will be on sale from September this year and reasonably priced for our students, staff and visitors. All profits will be used to create exciting opportunities for our students during their time at Brookes.

How to find out more
Find out more about the anniversary through Twitter @brookes_is_150; at our web pages; or via email at 150years@brookes.ac.uk.

How are we doing?
We want to provide you with information about the anniversary in a way that works for you. Let us know how we're doing with the poll on the right hand menu, and in the comments box below.

What's next for the 150th anniversary?

by Anna Myers, 150th Anniversary Project Manager

Welcome to the blog for Oxford Brookes’ 150^th anniversary. Here you’ll find updates on the celebrations, from now until the end of the anniversary.

So far we've had our launch event which over 5,600 people attended, at the Ashmolean Museum, right next door to the Taylorian where we held our first class in 1865.

This space will tell you more about what’s happening during the anniversary, who’s involved, and information on upcoming events and products going on sale.

What’s next?

From September this year, there will be events and activities to mark the anniversary – here are a few to look out for.

The anniversary lecture series – confirmed speakers so far include journalist and current affairs presenter Sian Williams, author and futurologist Mark Stevenson, and Dame Tessa Jowell. The series begins on 8 October this year with Professor Cary Cooper, distinguished Professor of Organizational Psychology and Health at Lancaster University.

Oxford Open Doors – this annual event in Oxford’s calendar will provide an opportunity to see our fantastic new teaching and learning buildings. Everyone is welcome to visit us on the weekend of 13th and 14th September this year to find out more about Brookes.

Exhibitions of Brookes’ history and people – a fascinating, interactive digital timeline will be available online, and there will be an exhibition which all are welcome to visit on campus. Starting in September this year, you can explore the stories of our history – through video, articles, audio recordings, press cuttings, and more. Hear from our current student whose grandfather led the protest against the council’s original decision in 1950 to refuse planning permission for the site at Headington; along with interviews from our honorary graduates, our alumni and our current students.

How to find out more

Find out more about the anniversary through Twitter @brookes_is_150; at our web pages; or via email at 150years@brookes.ac.uk

How are we doing?

We want to provide you with the information you need in a way that works for you. Let us know how we're doing with the poll on the right hand menu, and in the comments box below.