Reform VAT on foods to make healthy and sustainable eating more affordable, suggests Oxford study

An Oxford Martin School / Environmental Change Institute-led team of researchers have reported that setting VAT rates based on health and environmental considerations can help citizens choose healthier and more sustainable diets and make them more affordable.

A research team’s dream to achieve a net-zero plastics future

With the Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Plastics coming to an end, we explore how this research programme has helped develop a holistic solution to the challenge of ending plastic pollution, resulting in the concept of a circular economy for plastics.

Machine learning used to optimise disease surveillance

A new machine learning informed strategy could support public health leaders to design better surveillance during a disease outbreak.

Beans and peas best meat alternative, finds Oxford research

Beans and peas rank best as meat and milk replacements from nutritional, health, environmental, and cost perspectives, a new study led by an Oxford Martin researcher has found.

Land travel and local mobility played a key role in COVID-19 spread in Chile

An international team led by researchers from the Oxford Martin Programme on Pandemic Genomics studied how local travel patterns and mobile data from Chile can improve global pandemic responses, highlighting the importance of land-based mobility and targeted strategies.

Eating less sugar would be great for the planet as well as our health

Sugar addiction is on the rise. Globally, sugar intake has quadrupled over the last 60 years, and it now makes up around 8% of all our calories.

Are mergers necessary for 5G networks?

Research from the Oxford Martin Programme on Technological and Economic Change explores whether mergers in the mobile network industry benefit consumers, or if a new business trend in the sector might be a better approach.

Call for high-risk, high-reward research ideas in 2024/25 funding round

The School has opened its latest round of funding for 2024/25 and is inviting Expressions of Interest for high-risk and high-reward research that are solutions-focused and could have a major impact on the wellbeing of current and future generations from across the University of Oxford.

Climate Policy Monitor highlights implementation gap in net zero regulations

The Oxford Martin Programme on Net Zero Regulation and Policy has launched its Climate Policy Monitor, a regularly updated public resource evaluating the ambition, comprehensiveness, and stringency of climate-related regulations against over 250 data points.

Decentralised social media ‘increases citizen empowerment’, says Oxford study

Researchers from an Oxford Martin School programme have reported findings from a paper exploring the motivations and challenges in running decentralised social media such as Mastodon, concluding such platforms offer potential for increased citizen empowerment in this digital domain.

Researchers track how flu is affected during a pandemic

An international team of researchers, including researchers from the Oxford Martin Programme on Pandemic Genomics, have traced the global movement and evolution of seasonal influenza viruses to evaluate how the virus is impacted during pandemics.

Digital infrastructure examined in low- and middle-income nations

A new programme at the Blavatnik School of Government developed with the involvement of researchers who lead Oxford Martin School programmes will investigate the effects of digital public infrastructure (DPI) on inclusion and wellbeing in low- and middle-income countries, initially focusing on Ethiopia.