The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities (TORCH)

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TORCH is a nucleus of intellectual energy for the humanities and a place to develop new ideas and collaborations both within and beyond academia. Since its creation, TORCH has raised over £3 million in grants and philanthropy to support researchers to develop research projects. Launched in May 2013, TORCH provides an important opportunity for Oxford’s humanities scholars to collaborate with researchers across other disciplines, and institutions; work with academics across all stages of their academic careers; develop partnerships with public and private institutions; engage with wider audiences; and bring together academic research, diverse industries, and the performing arts. Public engagement with research is at the heart of TORCH's aims.
During 2018-19, TORCH hosted almost 400 events, with audiences of over 20,000 people. During 2019-20, TORCH hosted online events during COVID-restrictions, reaching audiences in person and then online of over 50,000 globally. Since 2013, TORCH has supported 400 researchers each year; 62 Knowledge Exchange Fellowships; over 50 seed-funded research networks and 10 research programmes.
The TORCH Director, Professor Wes Williams (wes.williams@seh.ox.ac.uk), welcomes questions about the centre and suggestions for research and wider engagement activities.
Series associated with The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities (TORCH)
# | Episode Title | Description | People | Date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
305 | Creative Commons | Transforming The Operatic Voice | Looking at the relationships between philosophy and the creative practice of music. | Kirsten Shepherd-Barr, Toby Young | 23 Jun 2017 |
304 | How the Mouse Lost its Tail, Or, Lamarck's Dangerous Idea | Speaker: Jessica Riskin (University of Stanford) | Jessica Riskin | 19 Jun 2017 | |
303 | Progress, Providence, Eschaton: Löwith, Blumenberg, and After | Speaker: Jean-Claude Monond (ENS) | Jean-Claude Monond | 19 Jun 2017 | |
302 | Rescue in the Face of Danger: Benjamin, Goethe, Sebald | Speaker: Carolin Duttlinger (University of Oxford) | Carolin Duttlinger | 19 Jun 2017 | |
301 | The Modern Epimetheus. Carl Schmitt's Marian Katechontism | Speaker: Hjalmar Falk (Oxford/Gothenburg) | Hjalmar Falk | 19 Jun 2017 | |
300 | Ernst Kantorowicz and the Politics of Political Theology | Speaker: Martin Ruehl (University of Cambridge) | Martin Ruehl | 19 Jun 2017 | |
299 | On Real and Imagined Catastrophes: Gershom Scholem's Sabbatinism | Speaker: Amir Engel (Hebrew University) | Amir Engel | 19 Jun 2017 | |
298 | Surrealism’s Political-Theological Afterlife: Benjamin—Blumenberg—Taubes | Speaker: Julia Ng (Goldsmith's) | Julia Ng | 19 Jun 2017 | |
297 | Creative Commons | Humanities Knowledge Exchange Showcase | Knowledge Exchange is the mutually beneficial sharing of ideas, data, experience, and expertise, and involves collaboration between researchers and external organisations or the public. | Kirsten Shepherd-Barr, Toby Young, Kate McLoughlin | 19 Jun 2017 |
296 | Between Historiography and Literature: "Gershom Sholem's Intellectual Biography" | Speaker: Amir Engel (Hebrew University) | Amir Engel | 19 Jun 2017 | |
295 | Performance of 'Night Dance (Fantasy)' | Musicians Dan Hulme and Nick Fowler perform Night Dance (Fantasy) at a recent Live Friday event, held at the Ashmolean Museum on March 3rd 2017. | Dan Hulme, Nick Fowler | 13 Jun 2017 | |
294 | Britain's History and Memory of Transatlantic Slavery | Book at Lunchtime seminar on Britain's History and Memory of Transatlantic Slavery, edited and written by Ryan Hanley (Fellow in History, University of Oxford). | Bob Harris, Ryan Hanley, Padraic Scanlan, Sebabatso Manoeli | 13 Jun 2017 | |
293 | Everything in Everything: Anaxagoras's Metaphysics | Book at Lunchtime discussion | Anna Marmodoro, Elleke Boehmer, Naoya Iwata, Simona Aimar | 06 Jun 2017 | |
292 | Volcanoes: Natural Disaster Narratives and the Environment in Caribbean Literature | A panel discussion | Elleke Boehmer, Imaobong Umoren, Richard Scholar, Anne Castro | 05 Jun 2017 | |
291 | Bruno Latour's Anti-sacrificial Politics | Part of the Sacrifice Revisited event | Martin Crowley | 22 May 2017 | |
290 | Meanings of ‘Sacrifice’ in Brexit Mythology | Part of the Sacrifice Revisited event | Kalypso Nicolaidis | 22 May 2017 | |
289 | Gandhi, Sacrifice and the Ambiguities of Non-Violence | Part of the Sacrifice Revisited event | Faisal Devji | 22 May 2017 | |
288 | Consequentialist Extremism: Present Sacrifices for Future Dreams in the Justification of Violence | Part of the Sacrifice Revisited event | Jonathan Leader Maynard | 22 May 2017 | |
287 | On Violence, Gender, and Sacrifice: Old Stories and New Reflections | Part of the Sacrifice Revisited event | Kimberley Hutchings | 22 May 2017 | |
286 | Creative Commons | Supporting Our Cause | This lecture focuses on how branding and fundraising are fundamental to supporting the National Trust and Oxford University. | Oliver Cox, Jackie Jordan, Susan Foster | 19 May 2017 |
285 | Creative Commons | Heritage as Business | Two speakers give their insights into the business of conservation and heritage. | Hilary McGrady, Pegram Harrsion, Oliver Cox | 17 May 2017 |
284 | A Genre in Crisis: The Novel in 1940s France | Professor Ann Jefferson discusses the French novel. | Ann Jefferson | 17 May 2017 | |
283 | InHabit: People, Places and Possessions | Book at Lunchtime Seminar held on May 3rd 2017. | Antony Buxton, Linda Hulin, Jane Anderson, Cathy Oakes | 10 May 2017 | |
282 | Terminus or Renovation? Francis Bacon and crisis in early modern knowledge | The TORCH Crisis, Extremes, and Apocalypse network hosted a talk on 'Terminus or Renovation? Francis Bacon and Crisis in Early Modern Knowledge' with Dr Richard Serjeantson (University of Cambridge) | Richard Serjeantson | 10 May 2017 | |
281 | Ernst Kantorowicz on Methods and Postage Stamps | The TORCH Crisis, Extremes, and Apocalypse network hosted a talk on ''Ernst Kantorowicz on Methods and Postage Stamps' given by Professor Robert Lerner (Northwestern) | Robert Lerner | 10 May 2017 | |
280 | The Rise of Endless War | The TORCH Crisis, Extremes, and Apocalypse network hosted a talk on 'The Rise of Endless War' with Professor Samuel Moyn (Harvard University). | samuel moyn | 10 May 2017 | |
279 | Robespierre and the Politicians' Terror | The TORCH Crisis, Extremes, and Apocalypse network hosted a talk on 'Robespierre and the Politicians’ Terror' with Marisa Linton (Kingston University). | Marisa Linton | 10 May 2017 | |
278 | Dystopia Today | The TORCH Crisis, Extremes, and Apocalyse network have hosted an event on 'Dystopia Today' with Greg Claeys (Royal Holloway, University of London). | Greg Claeys | 10 May 2017 | |
277 | Germs Revisited | On Thursday 16 March 2017, Dr Emilie Taylor-Brown gave a talk with Dr Jamie Lorimer (School of Geography and the Environment) and Dr Nicola Fawcett (Medical Sciences Division) on the subject of Germs Revisited. | Emilie Taylor-Brown, Jamie Lorimer, Nicola Fawcett, Kirsten Shepherd-Barr | 25 Apr 2017 | |
276 | TORCH Gender and Authority Research Network, Seminar 7, University of Oxford, 22 February 2017 | Gender and Authority Seminar 7: Serena Alessi (British School at Rome) and Rachel Delman (University of Oxford). Music: 'Enigmatic' by bensound.com | Adele Bardazzi, David Bowe, Natalya Din-Kariuki, Julia Caterina Hartley | 06 Apr 2017 | |
275 | Creative Commons | Whither Death? | Helen Swift and Jessica Goodman discuss the one day conference 'Whither Death?' | Helen Swift, jessica Goodman | 28 Mar 2017 |
274 | Creative Commons | Miles Hewstone - What Does Diversity Mean to Me? | Opening event in TORCH Headline Series exploring 'Humanities & Identities' | Miles Hewstone | 28 Mar 2017 |
273 | Creative Commons | Maria Misra - What Does Diversity Mean to Me? | Opening event in TORCH Headline Series exploring 'Humanities & Identities' | Maria Misra | 28 Mar 2017 |
272 | Creative Commons | Marvin Rees - What Does Diversity Mean to Me? | Opening event in TORCH Headline Series exploring 'Humanities & Identities' | Marvin Rees | 28 Mar 2017 |
271 | Creative Commons | Deborah Cameron - What Does Diversity Mean to Me? | Opening event in TORCH Headline Series exploring 'Humanities & Identities | Deborah Cameron | 28 Mar 2017 |
270 | Creative Commons | Ellah Wakatama Allfrey - What Does Diversity Mean to Me? | Opening event in TORCH Headline Series exploring 'Humanities & Identities' | Ellah Wakatama Allfrey | 28 Mar 2017 |
269 | Creative Commons | Jay Stewart - What Does Diversity Mean to Me? | Opening event in TORCH Headline Series exploring 'Humanities & Identities' | Jay Stewart | 28 Mar 2017 |
268 | Politics and Public Space in Contemporary Argentine Poetry | Book at Lunchtime event. | Ben Bollig, Bart van Es, Leigh A Payne, Eduardo Posada-Carbo | 21 Mar 2017 | |
267 | Creative Commons | Land, Outdoors and Nature | Peter Nixon and Professor Heather Viles discuss the challenges and opportunities we face today in caring for and studying the natural environment. | Peter Nixon, Heather Viles, Oliver Cox | 20 Mar 2017 |
266 | Creative Commons | Our Collections and Their Audiences | In this lecture Simon Murray and Dr Xa Sturgis discuss historic collections and their audiences, exploring the need – and means – of making historic collections relevant in the 21st century. | Simon Murray, Xa Sturgis | 20 Mar 2017 |
265 | Creative Commons | History, Vision, Ambition | In this introductory lecture Dame Helen Ghosh and Professor Karen O'Brien discuss the history, current vision and future ambition of their respective organisations. | Dame Helen Ghosh, Karen O’Brien | 20 Mar 2017 |
264 | Exodus, Reckoning, Sacrifice: Three Meanings of Brexit | Lecture with Kalypso Nicolaidis (St Antony’s College). Respondent: Anand Menon (King’s College London) Convenors: Timothy Garton Ash and Kalypso Nicolaidis (St Antony’s College). | Kalypso Nicolaidis, Anand Menon, Timothy Garton Ash | 03 Mar 2017 | |
263 | Walter Benjamin Meets the Cosmics | Professor Richard Wolin (CUNY) delivers a talk on 'Walter Benjamin Meets the Cosmics' for the TORCH Crisis, Extremes, and Apocalypse network. | Richard Wolin | 28 Feb 2017 | |
262 | Language, Crisis, and Affect | The TORCH Crisis, Extremes, and Apocalypse network hosted a talk ‘Language, crisis and affect: Muted emotions in Heinrich von Kleist’s Michael Kohlhaas’ with Dr Tobias Heinrich (University of Oxford). | Tobias Heinrich | 28 Feb 2017 | |
261 | Living Bilingual | Professor Elleke Boehmer (Director of TORCH) delivers a talk as part of the Creative Multilingualism and TORCH Bitesize Talks at Linguamania, Ashmolean Museum. | Elleke Boehmer | 22 Feb 2017 | |
260 | Bilingualism and the Internet | Scott Hale (Senior Data Scientist) delivers a talk as part of the Creative Multilingualism and TORCH Bitesize Talks at Linguamania, Ashmolean Museum. | Scott Hale | 22 Feb 2017 | |
259 | A Tristan Tile in the Ashmolean | Henrike Lähnemann (Professor of Medieval German Literature) delivers a talk as part of the Creative Multilingualism and TORCH Bitesize Talks at Linguamania, Ashmolean Museum. | Henrike Lähnemann | 21 Feb 2017 | |
258 | Do Objects Speak? | Wen-chin Ouyang (Professor of Arabic and Comparative Literature at the School of Oriental and African Studies) delivers a talk as part of the Creative Multilingualism and TORCH Bitesize Talks at Lingumania. | Wen-Chin Ouyang | 21 Feb 2017 | |
257 | Musings from Cloud Cuckoo Land | Dr Karen Park delivers a Creative Multilingualism and TORCH Bitesize talk as part of Linguamania | Karen Park | 21 Feb 2017 | |
256 | The Spirits of Crossbones Graveyard | The book's author Sondra Hausner (Professor of Anthropology, University of Oxford) will explore the issues raised in her book. | Sondra Hausner, Bridget Anderson, Diane Watt, Antonia Fitzpatrick | 10 Feb 2017 | |
255 | Literature and the Public Good | Part of the Book at Lunchtime series | Rick Rylance, Jane Hiddleston, Timothy Michael, Ankhi Mukherjee | 01 Feb 2017 | |
254 | #NeverHillary vs #NeverTrump | The US Election on Social Media Panel Discussion | Philip N Howard, Gemma Joyce, Matthew Lee Anderson, Yin Yin Lu | 01 Feb 2017 | |
253 | Equity and commissioning - Richard Sullivan | Session 4: Equity and commissioning - Richard Sullivan | Mark Sheehan, Richard Sullivan | 19 Jan 2017 | |
252 | Equity and commissioning - Muir Gray | Session 4: Equity and commissioning - Muir Gray | Muir Gray, Mark Sheehan | 19 Jan 2017 | |
251 | Data sharing and participation - Jonathan Montgomery | Session 3: Data sharing and participation - Jonathan Montgomery | Ingrid Slade, Jonathan Montgomery | 19 Jan 2017 | |
250 | Data sharing and participation - Anna Middleton | Session 3: Data sharing and participation - Anna Middleton | Ingrid Slade, Anna Middleton | 19 Jan 2017 | |
249 | Data sharing and participation - Mark Lawler | Session 3: Data sharing and participation - Mark Lawler | Mark Lawler, Ingrid Slade | 19 Jan 2017 | |
248 | The human person and the communication of risk - Sian Rees | Session 2: The human person and the communication of risk - Sian Rees | Rob Horne, Sian Rees | 19 Jan 2017 | |
247 | The human person and the communication of risk - Alastair Kent | Session 2: The human person and the communication of risk - Alastair Kent | Rob Horne, Alastair Kent | 19 Jan 2017 | |
246 | The human person and the communication of risk - Joshua Hordern | Session 2: The human person and the communication of risk - Joshua Hordern | Joshua Hordern, Rob Horne | 19 Jan 2017 | |
245 | The promise and the hype of 'personalised medicine' - John Tooke | Session 1: The promise and the hype of 'personalised medicine' - John Tooke | Joshua Hordern, John Tooke | 19 Jan 2017 | |
244 | The promise and the hype of 'personalised medicine' - Steve Sturdy | Session 1: The promise and the hype of 'personalised medicine' - Steve Sturdy | Steve Sturdy, Joshua Horden | 19 Jan 2017 | |
243 | The promise and the hype of 'personalised medicine' - Tim Maughan | Session 1: The promise and the hype of 'personalised medicine' - Tim Maughan | Tim Maughan, Joshua Hordern | 19 Jan 2017 | |
242 | Highlights of Personalised Medicine | Highlights of Personalised Medicine: the promise, the hype and the pitfalls | Alastair Kent, Anna Middleton, Marion Lynch, Muir Gray | 19 Jan 2017 | |
241 | Personalised Medicine, interview with Jonathan Montgomery | Personalised Medicine: the promise, the hype and the pitfalls, a short interview with Jonathan Montgomery | Jonathan Montgomery | 18 Jan 2017 | |
240 | Personalised Medicine, interview with Anna Middleton | Personalised Medicine: the promise, the hype and the pitfalls, a short interview with Anna Middleton | Anna Middleton | 18 Jan 2017 | |
239 | Personalised Medicine, interview with Marion Lynch | Personalised Medicine: the promise, the hype and the pitfalls, a short interview with Marion Lynch | Marion Lynch | 18 Jan 2017 | |
238 | Personalised Medicine, interview with Mark Lawler | Personalised Medicine: the promise, the hype and the pitfalls, a short interview with Mark Lawler | Mark Lawler | 18 Jan 2017 | |
237 | Personalised Medicine, interview with Alastair Kent | Personalised Medicine: the promise, the hype and the pitfalls, a short interview with Alastair Kent | Alastair Kent | 18 Jan 2017 | |
236 | Personalised Medicine, interview with Rick Kaplan | Personalised Medicine: the promise, the hype and the pitfalls, a short interview with Rick Kaplan | Rick Kaplan | 18 Jan 2017 | |
235 | Personalised Medicine, interview with Muir Gray | Personalised Medicine: the promise, the hype and the pitfalls, a short interview with Muir Gray | Muir Gray | 18 Jan 2017 | |
234 | Drawing the Line: Toward an Aesthetic of Transitional Justice | This Postcolonial Writing and Theory Seminar is on 'Drawing the Line: Toward an Aesthetic of Transitional Justice' with speaker Carrol Clarkson (University of Amsterdam). | Carrol Clarkson | 06 Jan 2017 | |
233 | FRIGHT Friday - Stretched to Breaking Point | Dan Holloway gives a talk for the FRIGHT Friday series of talks, held in the Ashmolean Museum on 25th November 2016. | Dan Holloway | 12 Dec 2016 | |
232 | FRIGHT Friday - Gothic Horror: Medicine and Monsters | Dr Andrew Papanikitas gives a talk for the FRIGHT Friday series of talks, held in the Ashmolean Museum on 25th November 2016. | Andrew Papanikitas | 12 Dec 2016 | |
231 | FRIGHT Friday - Fear and Flesh: Gothic Medicine | Dr Barry Murname gives a talk for the FRIGHT Friday series of talks, held in the Ashmolean Museum on 25th November 2016. | Barry Murname | 12 Dec 2016 | |
230 | FRIGHT Friday - Fear of Cats and Other Phobias | Professor Sally Shuttleworth gives a talk for the FRIGHT Friday series of talks, held in the Ashmolean Museum on 25th November 2016. | Sally Shuttleworth | 12 Dec 2016 | |
229 | FRIGHT Friday - Parenting, Fear, Hope and Salvation | Dr Joshua Hordern gives a talk for the FRIGHT Friday series of talks, held in the Ashmolean Museum on 25th November 2016. | Joshua Hordern | 12 Dec 2016 | |
228 | FRIGHT Friday - Embodying Life and Death | Professor Cathy Morgan gives a talk for the FRIGHT Friday series of talks, held in the Ashmolean Museum on 25th November 2016. | Cathy Morgan | 12 Dec 2016 | |
227 | Women’s Studies and Gender Studies Roundtable | The Gender and Authority TORCH Network, in collaboration with the Centre for Gender, Identity, and Subjectivity, hosted a roundtable discussion at Balliol College on 2 November 2016. | Mara Keire, Maria Jaschok, Khin Mar Mar Kyi, Joana Serrado | 18 Nov 2016 | |
226 | Martin Luther - Renegade and Prophet | Part of the Book at Lunchtime series | Lyndal Roper, Laura Marcus, Simeon Zahl, Jas Elsner | 08 Nov 2016 | |
225 | Creative Commons | TORCH Gender and Authority Research Network, Seminar 4, University of Oxford, 19 October 2016 | Gender and Authority Seminar 4: Sahba Shayani (University of Oxford) and Victoria Van Hyning (University of Oxford). | Adele Bardazzi, David Bowe, Natalya Din-Kariuki, Julia Caterina Hartley | 22 Oct 2016 |
224 | Creative Commons | TORCH Gender and Authority Research Network, Seminar 3, University of Oxford, 1 June 2016 | Gender and Authority Seminar 3: Lynn Ellen Burkett (Western Caroline University) and Alexis Brown (University of Oxford). | Adele Bardazzi, David Bowe, Natalya Din-Kariuki, Julia Caterina Hartley | 22 Oct 2016 |
223 | Creative Commons | Sharing Sacred Spaces in Early Modern Germany | With David Lubeke (University of Oregon) | David Lubeke | 21 Oct 2016 |
222 | What We Cannot Know | Part of the TORCH Book at Lunchtime series | Marcus du Sautoy, Anita Avramides, Chrystalina Antoniades, Ben Morgan | 21 Oct 2016 | |
221 | The Prelude | Part of the TORCH Book at Lunchtime series | James Engell, Fiona Stafford, Emily Knight, Steven Matthews | 21 Oct 2016 | |
220 | Women in Oxford's History: Rose Potter Clarributt | Exploring the life of Rose Potter Clarributt: long-serving matron of the Radcliffe Infirmary | Olivia Robinson, Alison Moulds, Hannah Newson | 19 Oct 2016 | |
219 | Women in Oxford's History: Elizabeth Wordsworth | Exploring the life of Elizabeth Wordsworth: founding principal of Lady Margaret Hall and founder of St Hugh's College | Olivia Robinson, Alison Moulds | 19 Oct 2016 | |
218 | Women in Oxford's History: Maria Czaplicka | Exploring the life of Maria Czaplicka: Polish anthropologist of Siberian indigenous people | Olivia Robinson, Alison Moulds, Jaanika Vider | 19 Oct 2016 | |
217 | Women in Oxford's History: Ida Busbridge | Exploring the life of Ida Busbridge: promoter of women's education at St Hugh's College | Olivia Robinson, Alison Moulds, Bethany White | 19 Oct 2016 | |
216 | Women in Oxford's History: Kofoworola Moore | Exploring the life of Kofoworola Moore: first black woman to graduate from the University of Oxford | Olivia Robinson, Alison Moulds, JC Niala | 19 Oct 2016 | |
215 | Women in Oxford's History: C. Violet Butler | Exploring the life of C. Violet Buter: philanthropist, social researcher, and educator | Olivia Robinson, Alison Moulds, Kathryne Crossley | 19 Oct 2016 | |
214 | Interview with Neil MacGregor | Neil MacGregor talks about the public engagement at the British Museum. | Neil MacGregor | 12 Oct 2016 | |
213 | Unlocking Late Schumann Episode 4 | Schumann and literature (opp. 132 and 133) | Laura Tunbridge, Barry Murnane, Tim Horton | 12 Oct 2016 | |
212 | Unlocking Late Schumann Episode 3 | Schumann's Maria Stuart songs | Laura Tunbridge, Sarah Connolly, Eugene Asti, Richard Wigmore | 12 Oct 2016 | |
211 | Unlocking Late Schumann Episode 1 | Schumann in 1849 | Laura Tunbridge, Frankie Perry, Richard Wigmore, Roger Vignoles | 12 Oct 2016 | |
210 | Unlocking Late Schumann Episode 2 | Schumann's Lenau lieder | Laura Tunbridge, James Gilchrist, Richard Wigmore, Roger Vignoles | 12 Oct 2016 | |
209 | The Fires of Faith | The Babsybanoo, Machionness of Winchester Lecture with Neil MacGregor | Neil MacGregor | 07 Sep 2016 | |
208 | Digital Unwrapping: Homer, Herculaneum, and the Scroll from Ein Gedi | With Dirk Obbink (Associate Professor in Papyrology and Greek Literature, Faculty of Classics, University of Oxford) | Dirk Obbink | 19 Aug 2016 | |
207 | Digital Unwrapping: Homer, Herculaneum, and the Scroll from Ein Gedi | With Brent Seales (Professor of Computer Science, University of Kentucky) | Brent Seales | 19 Aug 2016 | |
206 | Digital Unwrapping: Homer, Herculaneum, and the Scroll from Ein Gedi | With Brent Seales and Dirk Obbink | Brent Seales, Dirk Obbink | 19 Aug 2016 |
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