Green Templeton and Oxford Astrophysics again linked
A firm link has now been established between Green Templeton College, with the Radcliffe Observatory building at its heart, and the Oxford Astrophysics sub-department. A fundraising campaign is currently underway to support the conservation and enhancement of this Grade I listed building, built in the 18th century as a working observatory.
When Charles Barclay, Associate Fellow and past Vice President of the Royal Astronomical Society, joined the then-Green College Common Room in 2003, he became the first Astronomer to be part of the college since 1935, and arrived with the aim of revitalising the link to astronomy. Supported first by Sir John Hanson and then by successive principals, in 2006 he established the Astronomy for All outreach series of three talks a year: one by himself, one by a senior Astronomer and one from an early career researcher.
Talks have covered the whole remit of front-line astrophysics and cosmological research, archeoastronomy, astronomy education and historical topics. Notable speakers (mainly Oxford based) have included no fewer than five Presidents of the Royal Astronomical Society, including Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell and the previous Savilian Professor, Steven Balbus. The fiftieth talk will be delivered by Charles himself on Wednesday 24 September 2025.
In 2023 Professor Rob Fender became the first Head of Astrophysics to be offered Green Templeton Fellowship and seven Astrophysics Associates recently joined the college. The fiftieth Astronomy For All Lecture will launch next yearβs programme and highlight the growing connection between Green Templeton and astronomy. In 2025/26 the college plans to continue to build on this link through a series of events, including stargazing evenings and Oxford Open Doors.
