Oxford News
Activism proves a stimulating topic at Sheldonian Series event
‘The Power of Activism’ delivered a stimulating evening of discussion as the theme for this term’s Sheldonian Series event on Wednesday 4 February 2026.
It was a brilliant evening of discussion and a lively crowd
Dominique Palmer
The event, which is open to all and aims to promote freedom of speech and inclusive inquiry, saw a robust exchange of views on themes including the relationship between democracy and activism, the ethical and legal limits of activism, and the measurement of long term success within activism.
An engaged and lively audience at the Sheldonian Theatre contributed throughout the evening, prompting scrutiny of a broad range of topics such as the use of legitimate and illegitimate tactics, geopolitical instability, feminism and Palestine.
Professor Irene Tracey CBE, FRS, FMedSci, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University said: ‘I was thrilled to see a packed Sheldonian Theatre once again for another event in our series promoting good dialogue and freedom of speech, which this year explores the theme of “Power”. In this panel event, we examined the power of activism and its role in bringing about change in government and society more generally. A huge thanks to all our panellists and the audience for their contributions to an energetic exchange of views on the topic. I am very much looking forward to our final event this academic year, which will explore the ‘Power of Satire’ in Trinity term.’
Dominique Palmer and Dr Julius Grower
Image: University of Oxford/John Cairns
Dominique Palmer, a Climate Justice Activist and a panellist at the event, said: ‘It was a brilliant evening of discussion and a lively crowd. As a Climate Justice Activist, I enjoyed hearing the audience’s positive thoughts on activism for a range of climate and social justice issues. I wanted to be part of this event to encourage conversation on what activism means in the times we face, and provide a perspective as someone who is one full time. We need to be engaging with others to create real change. We covered a lot including climate and Palestine, with a focus on the UK. The conversation could have gone on – we only scratched the surface!’
The pursuit of truth
Other panellists included Munira Mirza, Chief Executive at Civic Future, and Shermar Pryce, President for Communities and Common Rooms at the Oxford University Student Union. Baroness Shami Chakrabarti CBE, Labour peer and former director of human rights advocacy group Liberty, provided pre-recorded contributions, sharing insights on the legal and ethical limits of activism.
Yesterday’s event was a brilliant demonstration of what Oxford does best, which is to provide a platform for the robust and forensic examination of contentious but strongly held views
Dr Julius Grower
The conversation was moderated by Dr Julius Grower, Associate Professor of Law at Oxford University, who said: ‘Yesterday’s event was a brilliant demonstration of what Oxford does best, which is to provide a platform for the robust and forensic examination of contentious but strongly held views. If universities are not places for the pursuit of truth through passionate but open-minded dialectic, nowhere is. Our panellists crossed swords on a number of points, yet perhaps surprised themselves with how much they could also agree upon. It was a great example of why no topics should be off limits, and why all sacred cows must be subject to good faith scrutiny. We hope that this is the start of more and more conversations about the power and appropriate limits of activism in British society.’
Federica Genovese, Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Oxford University, and a panellist at the event, added: ‘It was a stimulating event and I enjoyed sharing the stage with activists, the people I usually observe and study as a political scientist. I also appreciated the opportunity to feed back to an engaged audience what we researchers know works – and does not work – there where activism and democracy interact.’
Invited speakers
Invited contributors
(Left to right) Shermar Pryce; Professor Federica Genovese; Munira Mirza; Dominique Palmer; and Dr Julius Grower (moderator). Image: University of Oxford/John Cairns.
Panellists on the evening:
- Professor Federica Genovese – Professor of Political Science and International Relations, University of Oxford
- Munira Mirza – Chief Executive, Civic Future
- Dominique Palmer – Climate Justice Activist, Youth Climate Justice Fund
- Shermar Pryce – President (Communities and Common Rooms), Student Union, University of Oxford
With pre-recorded contributions from:
- Baroness Shami Chakrabarti CBE – Labour peer, House of Lords, and former director of human rights advocacy group Liberty
The conversation was moderated by Dr Julius Grower, Associate Professor of Law at Oxford University and Ann Smart Fellow in Law and Tutor at St Hugh’s College, Oxford.
Professor Irene Tracey CBE, FRS, FMedSci, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, opened the event with a welcoming address.
Tim Soutphommasane, Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Oxford, gave the closing speech.
The Sheldonian Series is open to all and aims to promote freedom of speech and inclusive inquiry. Further details about the next event in Trinity term will be shared here: Sheldonian Series.
On Wednesday, September 2, it was the Concours judging and private viewings to dominate the agenda for the day.
Twelve Concours classes were held across almost a century of motoring, including The Golden Age of Motoring, 100 Years of Carrrozzeria Touring, La Dolce Vita, 60 Years of the Lamborghini Miura and Passione Ferrari.
Two new classes also made their debut for 2026, Rare Breeds of the Digital Age and Hypercar Heaven, which recognise the growing importance of contemporary performance cars within the international collector market.
Judging will take place across Wednesday and Thursday, with the show field bringing together a 70-strong collection of classics, supercars and hypercars from around the world.
Some of the cars include Aa Maserati 8C 3000, Alfa Romeo Sprint Berlinetta, a one-off Maserati 3500GT Spyder Prototipo by Vignale, a very early Porsche 356 Split Window Coupé, Aston Martin DB3S, Lamborghini Miura P400S, Bizzarrini 5300GT, Ferrari 250 GT Series 1 Cabriolet, Bugatti EB110 Prototype, Aston Martin Valiant Prototype and the extraordinary Bugatti Bolide, one of just 40 produced worldwide.
Helen Pike has decided to step down as Master of Magdalen College School at the end of the 2026/27 academic year, the school in east Oxford announced in March.
MCS is one of the top performing schools in the country, ranking in the top 20 independent secondary schools in The Sunday Times Parent Power Schools Guide 2026.
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The new academic year will start next week, with Ms Pike preparing for one more year in charge before she hands over to her successor, who will take over in September 2027.
The first female Master at MCS, Ms Pike guided the board of governors to one of the most significant decisions in the school’s history, to become fully co-educational from 2027.
While there has been a co-educational sixth form at the school for 15 years, the school last month announced it will become fully co-educational over the coming decade.
Ms Pike said earlier: “I love MCS, and it is a perennial privilege to lead this remarkable school.
“Being Master of MCS is a brilliant job, and I am declaring my intention early in order to give MCS the very best opportunity to find the right Master for September 2027. I shall continue to do all in my power to further the fortunes of this wonderful school until then.
“I look forward to a new phase in my own professional life, one that builds on all that I have enjoyed and achieved in my career during the past 30 years.
“Having encouraged many cohorts of pupils to take sensible risks and to do something creative and different when the time feels right, I am doing just that.”
During Ms Pike’s tenure, MCS has been recognised as a Top 20 Independent School and South East School of the Year by the Sunday Times and won Independent School of the Year for Social Mobility.
Thanking her in his letter to the school community, chair of governors, Bob Price, said earlier this year: “Helen is an outstanding leader and will go with our sincere gratitude and warm thanks for her exceptional headship.
“She will leave the school in excellent shape for her successor.”
Recruitment for a replacement for Ms Pike is now under way.
Last month, Ms Pike congratulated pupils on their “outstanding success” in this year’s A-Level exams, after more than a quarter of pupils (43) achieved three A*s or more and 25 secured all A*s.
In total, 39 pupils from the 2026 cohort are heading to Oxbridge, while 22 have secured places to study medicine.
As part of the school’s expansion plans, MCS is preparing to build a new Science, Library and Partnerships building.
A spokeswoman said the new building will offer an exciting opportunity to reimagine the senior school site as staff look ahead to full co-education.
She added earlier: “With a vision to create a sector-leading science building in the centre of Oxford, the development will enable us to support an ambitious and forward-looking science curriculum, expanding to the emerging and rapidly advancing areas of robotics, AI and Big Data.”
Holding banners which read ‘For f**k’s sake, just stop oil’, the demonstrators took to the road in Parliament Square at noon today (Wednesday, September 2).
This was as Andy Burnham faced his first Prime Minister’s Questions, and many of the protestors glued themselves to the road.
The group demanded that the UK government stop approving all further oil and gas developments, and sign a Fossil Fuel Treaty to stop oil and gas extraction.
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Just Stop Oil say that the police are expected to arrest all those blocking the road, and that one lane has been left free of glued-on action takers to permit access for emergency vehicles.
Andy Burnham is due to make a decision on whether to allow more drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea.
Reverend James Crote, a Baptist Minister and grandfather from Chesterton near Bicester, said: “Today is my grandson’s first birthday. I have to take action for the sake of his future.
The 69-year-old added: “The government has been dilly-dallying about whether to say yes or no to the Rosebank oil field but, if we want a future for our children, there is no choice – it has to say ‘no’.
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“I am here as a Christian Minister because the Church has to speak out and demand that the government stops approving further oil and gas developments now. It’s time for us all to say ‘For God’s sake, Just Stop Oil’.”
Data from the Met Office indicates that 2026 was the hottest summer in UK recorded history, beating 2025, which was the previous hottest summer on record.
2026 was also one of the driest summers on record, delivering record-low food harvests.
Climbing temperatures have triggered wildfires across the country, and national fire chiefs said the wildfire risk facing the UK is “like nothing we have seen before”.
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Taking action, grandmother Victoria Ann Lynch-Staunton from Leamington Spa, said: “What is happening is beyond a tragedy.”
The 71-year-old added: “I beg everyone to join Just Stop Oil or governments will continue to prioritise endless growth and corporate profit over billions of lives – yours and your children.
“Wake up and smell the coffin. It is the responsibility of all of us to act now!”
A Just Stop Oil spokesperson said today: “We are all Just Stop Oil.
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“Every single person who fears deadly wildfires, devastating droughts, and spiralling food shortages is Just Stop Oil.
“The first duty of government is to keep the public safe – but by greenlighting oil and gas drilling, they endanger our survival while corporates and billionaires laugh their way to the bank.
“Every one of us feels alone and powerless in the face of this insanity, but we know there is massive political and public support for our demand.
“So we’re inviting everyone to join us at an online call on 3rd October 2026 – because it’s when we work together that we are powerful and win.”
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