The University of Oxford has launched a?cross-disciplinary course that aims to bridge the ¡°divide¡± between science and humanities students.

The Vice-Chancellor¡¯s Colloquium seeks to?help students develop skills relating to?numeracy, data analysis, critical thinking, curiosity, imagination and communication, and has been developed by?the institution¡¯s department for continuing education.

Over the next eight weeks, 200 undergraduates from across the university will join keynote lectures bringing together two professors from different disciplines to respond to a big question and illustrate how their respective fields and research methodologies provide insights. Students will also participate in college-based discussion groups led by doctoral student facilitators, and interdisciplinary team projects.

The inaugural edition of the programme focuses on the causes, impacts and solutions to the global climate crisis.

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The project was created in response to a call by Oxford¡¯s new vice-chancellor, Irene Tracey. Giving her first speech as vice-chancellor last year, she said ¡°the next generation needs to understand maths, but it?also needs to understand itself¡±.

¡°I am delighted that the first colloquium of its kind at Oxford is launching this term, and that our students have shown such interest in this initiative,¡± Professor Tracey said.

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¡°My hope is that it will stimulate broad and creative thinking and encourage our students to see the value of developing and embracing a wide spectrum of skills that can bridge the STEM, social sciences, and humanities divide, which will ultimately help us in tackling big global challenges such as climate change.¡±

chris.havergal@timeshighereducation.com