Astronomy for All Lectures
The Astronomy For All Lecture Series was started by Associate Fellow Charles Barclay in 2006 as a way of strengthening and reinforcing the link between Green Templeton, home of the Radcliffe Observatory, and astronomy and the Oxford Astrophysics Department in particular.
In 2003, Charles joined the Common Room of Green College (which merged with Templeton College five years later) as the first Astronomer since the Observatory moved in 1935. This arose from the discovery by Anne Charles (who worked at the Radcliffe Infirmary, then-next door) that the Victorian telescope which had been restored at Marlborough College in Wiltshire and opened by Professor Joe Silk, the Savilian Professor, had come from the Radcliffe Observatory in 1935.
It also transpired that, by chance, the original owner of the telescope, Joseph Gurney Barclay, was Charles’ great-grandfather’s first cousin. The telescope had been given to the Radcliffe Observatory and the Observer, Edward Stone, in 1885 and named the Barclay equatorial telescope.
Charles joined the astrophysics sub-department at the University of Oxford, first as a joint lead for an outreach project with Professor Roger Davies, the Philip Wetton Professor of Astrophysics, and then formally in 2004 as an Academic Visitor and member of the Department. He is also an Associate Fellow of Green Templeton, Outreach Astronomer and Director of the Blackett Observatory at Marlborough College.
The lecture series, is aimed at giving the college an astronomical focus and the three lectures now takes place at Green Templeton every year. Charles maintains consistency by delivering one talk himself, while the others are given by notable astronomers and young post-docs from the Department.
Contact
Please direct any questions about the Astronomy For All Lectures to events@gtc.ox.ac.uk.
Forthcoming events
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Previous events
Astronomy for All Lecture 2025
Wednesday 24 September 2025
Charles Barclay
Black holes in the Universe
Wednesday 10 May 2023
Professor Rob Fender, Head of Astrophysics, University of Oxford
A tale of two telescopes: the Vera C. Rubin Observatory and the Extremely Large Telescope
Thursday 26 May 2022
Aprajita Verma, Senior Researcher, Department of Physics, University of Oxford
Introduced by Michael Dixon, Principal, Green Templeton College
Illuminating the Dark Ages – the era of James Webb
Thursday 19 May 2022
Charles Barclay, Associate Fellow, Green Templeton College
Introduced by Rebecca Surender, Vice Principal, Green Templeton College
Spacecraft exploration of our solar system
Thursday 12 May 2022
John Zarnecki, Emeritus Professor, Department of Physical Sciences, The Open University
Introduced by Charles Barclay, Associate Fellow, Green Templeton College
The ‘computer’ who unlocked the Universe: celebrating pivotal women in astronomy
Thursday 20 May 2021
Introduced by Dr Rebecca Surender, Vice-Principal, Green Templeton
Charles Barclay. Associate Fellow, Green Templeton; Outreach Astronomer; Director of the Blackett Observatory at Marlborough College; and Academic Visitor in the Astrophysics sub-department at the University of Oxford.
Stories in the Sky – Cultural interpretations of visible patterns and rhythms
Thursday 28 May 2020
Charles Barclay, Associate Fellow, Green Templeton College, University of Oxford and convener of the annual Astronomy for All Lectures
Galaxy Zoo: from the lab to your living room
Wednesday 27 February 2019
Dr Becky Smethurst, Department of Astrophysics, University of Oxford
The gravitational sky
Wednesday 20 February 2019
Professor Mike Cruise, President of the Royal Astronomical Society
Reaching young stars: British Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad
Wednesday 23 January 2019
Charles Barclay, Vice President of the Royal Astronomical Society and Green Templeton Associate Fellow
‘The future is not a destination but a responsibility.’
Earlier this month, the Principal’s Circle hosted Massimiano Tellini from @intesasanpaolo in conversation with DPhil candidate Stephanie Walton on the theme ‘rethinking the global economy’.
From circular economy systems designed to eliminate waste and regenerate nature, to challenging the market logics behind food systems and stranded assets, the message was clear: incremental change is not enough.
A small group of students joined the speakers for dinner later that evening, continuing the conversation in an informal setting and asking big questions about resilience, responsibility and leadership.
Green Templeton’s partnership with Intesa Sanpaolo has supported women from around the world to pursue the Oxford MBA since 2017, combining access with responsible leadership.
What does a truly sustainable economy look like to you?
We are delighted to see the careful relocation of the John Radcliffe statue successfully completed in partnership with Kingerlee and Hadingham Kirk.
At 04:00 on Saturday 14 February the statue was moved to its new location. The early morning move was a complex and meticulously planned operation, enabling work to progress on the south side of the Radcliffe Observatory with minimal disruption.
We are grateful to the teams involved for their expertise and precision in handling such an important piece of the college’s heritage.
This project will introduce new access ramps and a thoughtfully redesigned landscape, creating a more welcoming and accessible setting that reflects the landscape opposite the Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities.
We look forward to seeing this next phase take shape and to sharing further updates.
Wishing all a very Happy Lunar New Year.
Our Artist-in-Residence @weimin_he has kindly created this vivid artwork to celebrate the Year of the Horse.
The four characters shown carry Weimin’s wishes, and ours, for you: `Wishing you every success in the Year of the Horse`.
Vincent is purr-fectly ready for Valentine’s Day! ❤️🐈⬛🌹
Read the latest issue of Observatory magazine 📖
This edition brings together insights from colleagues influencing public policy, reflections from alumni and celebrates our students successes!
Read via the link in our bio 💫
