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The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities (TORCH)

TORCH is a nucleus of intellectual energy for the humanities and a place to develop new ideas and collaborations both within and beyond academia. Since its creation, TORCH has raised over £3 million in grants and philanthropy to support researchers to develop research projects. Launched in May 2013, TORCH provides an important opportunity for Oxford’s humanities scholars to collaborate with researchers across other disciplines, and institutions; work with academics across all stages of their academic careers; develop partnerships with public and private institutions; engage with wider audiences; and bring together academic research, diverse industries, and the performing arts. Public engagement with research is at the heart of TORCH's aims.
During 2018-19, TORCH hosted almost 400 events, with audiences of over 20,000 people. During 2019-20, TORCH hosted online events during COVID-restrictions, reaching audiences in person and then online of over 50,000 globally. Since 2013, TORCH has supported 400 researchers each year; 62 Knowledge Exchange Fellowships; over 50 seed-funded research networks and 10 research programmes.
The TORCH Director, Professor Wes Williams (wes.williams@seh.ox.ac.uk), welcomes questions about the centre and suggestions for research and wider engagement activities.

Series associated with The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities (TORCH)

'Magic and the Sense of Place' Conference
African(a) and South Asian Philosophies
Alliance
Art and Action: The Intersections of Literary Celebrity and Politics
Death at the Museum
Diseases in Dialogue
Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius: A Story in Five Places
Folk Tunes and Englishness
Gender and Authority
Is the playwright dead?
Literature, democracy and transitional justice
Medieval German Studies
MOVING, TEACHING, INSPIRING: The National Trust and University of Oxford in the 21st Century
Narrative Futures
Perceptions of Inequality: An Interdisciplinary Dialogue
Post-Conflict Landscapes
Post-War: Commemoration, Reconstruction, Reconciliation
Practice Makes… the Oxford Reimagining Performance Podcast
Putting magic in place: a knowledge exchange event
Race and Resistance: Understanding Bermuda Today
Sleep and the Rhythms of Life
Talking Sense
Teaching to Transgress
Textual Therapies
The Many Lives of Benjamin Disraeli
The Oxford Healthcare Values Partnership
The Oxford Sound Album
The Oxford/Berlin Creative Collaborations
TORCH Post-Show Conversations
TORCH | The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities
Traces of the White Rose
Unconscious Memory
Unlocking Late Schumann
Valentine's Day at Oxford
Women in Oxford's History (Series One)
Women's Responses to the Reformation
# Episode Title Description People Date
339 Late Victorian into Modern Book at Lunchtime, Late Victorian into Modern Laura Marcus, Kirsten Shepherd-Barr, Michael Bentley, Charlotte Jones 08 Dec 2017
338 Autonomy, Community, Destiny: Re-Imagining Disability The second seminar in the Disability and Curriculum Diversity series at TORCH Elizabeth Frood, Dom Hyams, Marie Tidball 07 Dec 2017
337 Work, Time and Stress: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives Stress & overwork in both education and professional life in the Victorian era and the 'dynamic' nature of disability and the impact of the stresses of modern life has. Sally Shuttleworth, Marie Tidball 07 Dec 2017
336 Me and My Beliefs: Challenges of Identity and Society Me and My Beliefs: Challenges of Identity and Society held on 28 November 2017 Libby Lane, Jas' Elsner, Shaista Aziz, Elleke Boehmer 06 Dec 2017
335 Imagining the Divine: Art and the Rise of World Religions Book at Lunchtime held on 8th November 2017. Gervase Rosser, Georgi Parpulov, Stefanie Lenk, Kate Cooper 27 Nov 2017
334 Conflict and Community: Panel-led Workshop 2 Mobilising the wide-ranging expertise of the speakers, this workshop explored questions of narrative, community and the special commemorative needs that arise in the wake of civil war and terrorism. Rachel Seiffert, Lyndsey Stonebridge, Harvey Whitehouse, Helen Small 24 Nov 2017
333 Poetry and Life-Writing: Panel-led Workshop 1 Bringing together experts working at the intersection of literature, human rights, foreign policy and peace initiatives, this workshop explored the role of poetry and life-writing in post-war healing. Dunya Mikhail, Philippe Sands, Lord John Alderdice, Jeremy Treglown 21 Nov 2017
332 Aminatta Forna speaks to Catherine Gilbert Aminatta Forna OBE, author of The Devil that Danced on the Water, talks to Dr Catherine Gilbert about silence, narrative and resilience in Sierra Leone. Aminatta Forna, Catherine Gilbert 21 Nov 2017
331 Philippe Sands speaks to Kate McLoughlin Philippe Sands, QC, international human rights lawyer and author of East West Street, talks to Kate McLoughlin about the law-court as a place of commemoration and what he came to understand outside the city of Lviv. Philippe Sands, Kate McLoughlin 21 Nov 2017
330 Dunya Mikhail speaks to Alex Donnelly Iraqi-American poet Dunya Mikhail talks to Alex Donnelly about commemoration, reconnection and poetry as 'a museum of feeling'. Dunya Mikhail, Alex Donnelly 21 Nov 2017
329 Jeremy Treglown speaks to Alex Donnelly Professor Jeremy Treglown and Alex Donnelly discuss the politics of commemoration and the challenges of remembrance for both veterans and civilians. Jeremy Treglown, Alex Donnelly 21 Nov 2017
328 Interview with Lord John Alderdice Lord John Alderdice (Liberal Democrat peer and Director of the Centre for the Resolution of Intractable Conflict (CRIC)) talks to Johana Musalkova and Rita Phillips. Lord John Alderdice, Johana Musalkova, Rita Phillips 20 Nov 2017
327 Memoir and Memory: Aminatta Forna in Conversation with Elleke Boehmer Launch event for the Mellon-Sawyer Seminar Series. Aminatta Forna, OBE (novelist and memoirist, Lannan Visiting Professor of Poetics at Georgetown University) in conversation with Elleke Boehmer (Professor of World Literature in English, Oxford). Aminatta Forna, Elleke Boehmer 20 Nov 2017
326 Representing the Dead Book at Lunchtime event Helen Swift, jessica Goodman, Philip Bullock, Neil Kenny 26 Oct 2017
325 Hidden Beneath the Surface: Untold Tales of Neurodivergence and Mental Difference in Oxford World Mental Health Day 2017 Dan Holloway, Miranda Reilly, Sonia Boue, Marie Tidball 18 Oct 2017
324 Unflattening With Nick Sousanis Nick Sousanis, Dominic Davies, Segolene Tarte 05 Sep 2017
323 Disaster Drawn: Comics and Picturing Violence Keynote lecture by Hilary Chute as part of the Documenting Trauma conference. Hilary Chute 05 Sep 2017
322 The Future of Heritage Join our panel of experts as they discuss the opportunities and threats facing heritage today, and debate their own visions of a sector fit for the 21st century and beyond Helen Ghosh, Carole Souter, Sandy Nairne, Peter Mandler 27 Jul 2017
321 Gender and Authority Seminar 5: Annika Forkert (University of Bristol) Seminar held at the University of Oxford, 16 November 2016. Annika Forkert 25 Jul 2017
320 Thinking the Beyond of Crisis Professor Simon Glendinnning (London School of Economics) delivered the keynote address on 'Thinking the Beyond of Crisis' at the TORCH Crisis, Extremes, and Apocalypse event 'Rethinking Crisis'. Simon Glendinning 18 Jul 2017
319 Fascism, Fake News, and the Nature of Social Extremophilia With Luciano Floridi (University of Oxford). Luciano Floridi 18 Jul 2017
318 Complexity in our multiple identities: the 2017 Disability Lecture University of Oxford Annual Disability Lecture Dan Holloway, Torø Graven, Rebecca Surender, Marie Tidball 10 Jul 2017
317 Migration, Memory and Identity Part of the Humanities & Identities Lunchtime Seminar Series Laura van Broekhoven, Elleke Boehmer, Karma Nabulsi, Gayle Lonergan 07 Jul 2017
316 Disability Narratives and Histories Launch event for the TORCH Disability and Curriculum Diversity series. Marie Tidball, Helen Hillman, Richard Sandell, Elleke Boehmer 04 Jul 2017
315 Music, Empathy and Cultural Understanding In this TORCH Talk, Professor Eric Clarke talks about 'Music, Empathy and Cultural Understanding' at the Ashmolean Museum's Supersonic LiveFriday. Eric Clarke 04 Jul 2017
314 Orchestral Musicians' Experiences: Inside Out In this TORCH Talk, Dr Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey presents on 'Orchestral Musicians' Experiences: Inside Out' at the Ashmolean Museum's Supersonic LiveFriday. Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey 04 Jul 2017
313 Images of Mithra Book at Lunchtime discussion Dominic Dalglish, Josephine Quinn, Elleke Boehmer, Robert Bracey 03 Jul 2017
312 Repositioning Women's Health Care: A Case Study on Women Who Survived Ebola in Sierra Leone Part of the Humanities & Identities Lunchtime Series Elleke Boehmer, Fatou Wurie 27 Jun 2017
311 Creative Commons Exploring Sicilian Epigraphy Sicilian schools study and research epigraphy in their museums. Kirsten Shepherd-Barr, Andrew Fairweather-Tall 23 Jun 2017
310 Creative Commons Italian Stories in Britain A project about talking to Italian communities in Britain and finding out what stories there are. Kirsten Shepherd-Barr, Matthew Reza 23 Jun 2017
309 Creative Commons Unsilencing the library: An exhibition at Compton Verney Research into how books make us feel. Kirsten Shepherd-Barr, Sophie Ratcliffe, Steven Parissien 23 Jun 2017
308 Creative Commons Recreating the music of an ancient Greek chorus: Euripides Orestes Research into ancient music. Kirsten Shepherd-Barr, Armand O Angour 23 Jun 2017
307 Creative Commons Storming Utopia The director from the Pegasus theatre in Oxford, talks about his upcoming theatre piece. Kirsten Shepherd-Barr, Wes Williams 23 Jun 2017
306 Creative Commons Literature and Silence Research into multiple Quaker congregations. Kirsten Shepherd-Barr, Kate McLoughlin 23 Jun 2017
305 Creative Commons Transforming The Operatic Voice Looking at the relationships between philosophy and the creative practice of music. Kirsten Shepherd-Barr, Toby Young 23 Jun 2017
304 How the Mouse Lost its Tail, Or, Lamarck's Dangerous Idea Speaker: Jessica Riskin (University of Stanford) Jessica Riskin 19 Jun 2017
303 Progress, Providence, Eschaton: Löwith, Blumenberg, and After Speaker: Jean-Claude Monond (ENS) Jean-Claude Monond 19 Jun 2017
302 Rescue in the Face of Danger: Benjamin, Goethe, Sebald Speaker: Carolin Duttlinger (University of Oxford) Carolin Duttlinger 19 Jun 2017
301 The Modern Epimetheus. Carl Schmitt's Marian Katechontism Speaker: Hjalmar Falk (Oxford/Gothenburg) Hjalmar Falk 19 Jun 2017
300 Ernst Kantorowicz and the Politics of Political Theology Speaker: Martin Ruehl (University of Cambridge) Martin Ruehl 19 Jun 2017
299 On Real and Imagined Catastrophes: Gershom Scholem's Sabbatinism Speaker: Amir Engel (Hebrew University) Amir Engel 19 Jun 2017
298 Surrealism’s Political-Theological Afterlife: Benjamin—Blumenberg—Taubes Speaker: Julia Ng (Goldsmith's) Julia Ng 19 Jun 2017
297 Creative Commons Humanities Knowledge Exchange Showcase Knowledge Exchange is the mutually beneficial sharing of ideas, data, experience, and expertise, and involves collaboration between researchers and external organisations or the public. Kirsten Shepherd-Barr, Toby Young, Kate McLoughlin 19 Jun 2017
296 Between Historiography and Literature: "Gershom Sholem's Intellectual Biography" Speaker: Amir Engel (Hebrew University) Amir Engel 19 Jun 2017
295 Performance of 'Night Dance (Fantasy)' Musicians Dan Hulme and Nick Fowler perform Night Dance (Fantasy) at a recent Live Friday event, held at the Ashmolean Museum on March 3rd 2017. Dan Hulme, Nick Fowler 13 Jun 2017
294 Britain's History and Memory of Transatlantic Slavery Book at Lunchtime seminar on Britain's History and Memory of Transatlantic Slavery, edited and written by Ryan Hanley (Fellow in History, University of Oxford). Bob Harris, Ryan Hanley, Padraic Scanlan, Sebabatso Manoeli 13 Jun 2017
293 Everything in Everything: Anaxagoras's Metaphysics Book at Lunchtime discussion Anna Marmodoro, Elleke Boehmer, Naoya Iwata, Simona Aimar 06 Jun 2017
292 Volcanoes: Natural Disaster Narratives and the Environment in Caribbean Literature A panel discussion Elleke Boehmer, Imaobong Umoren, Richard Scholar, Anne Castro 05 Jun 2017
291 Bruno Latour's Anti-sacrificial Politics Part of the Sacrifice Revisited event Martin Crowley 22 May 2017
290 Meanings of ‘Sacrifice’ in Brexit Mythology Part of the Sacrifice Revisited event Kalypso Nicolaidis 22 May 2017
289 Gandhi, Sacrifice and the Ambiguities of Non-Violence Part of the Sacrifice Revisited event Faisal Devji 22 May 2017
288 Consequentialist Extremism: Present Sacrifices for Future Dreams in the Justification of Violence Part of the Sacrifice Revisited event Jonathan Leader Maynard 22 May 2017
287 On Violence, Gender, and Sacrifice: Old Stories and New Reflections Part of the Sacrifice Revisited event Kimberley Hutchings 22 May 2017
286 Creative Commons Supporting Our Cause This lecture focuses on how branding and fundraising are fundamental to supporting the National Trust and Oxford University. Oliver Cox, Jackie Jordan, Susan Foster 19 May 2017
285 Creative Commons Heritage as Business Two speakers give their insights into the business of conservation and heritage. Hilary McGrady, Pegram Harrsion, Oliver Cox 17 May 2017
284 A Genre in Crisis: The Novel in 1940s France Professor Ann Jefferson discusses the French novel. Ann Jefferson 17 May 2017
283 InHabit: People, Places and Possessions Book at Lunchtime Seminar held on May 3rd 2017. Antony Buxton, Linda Hulin, Jane Anderson, Cathy Oakes 10 May 2017
282 Terminus or Renovation? Francis Bacon and crisis in early modern knowledge The TORCH Crisis, Extremes, and Apocalypse network hosted a talk on 'Terminus or Renovation? Francis Bacon and Crisis in Early Modern Knowledge' with Dr Richard Serjeantson (University of Cambridge) Richard Serjeantson 10 May 2017
281 Ernst Kantorowicz on Methods and Postage Stamps The TORCH Crisis, Extremes, and Apocalypse network hosted a talk on ''Ernst Kantorowicz on Methods and Postage Stamps' given by Professor Robert Lerner (Northwestern) Robert Lerner 10 May 2017
280 The Rise of Endless War The TORCH Crisis, Extremes, and Apocalypse network hosted a talk on 'The Rise of Endless War' with Professor Samuel Moyn (Harvard University). samuel moyn 10 May 2017
279 Robespierre and the Politicians' Terror The TORCH Crisis, Extremes, and Apocalypse network hosted a talk on 'Robespierre and the Politicians’ Terror' with Marisa Linton (Kingston University). Marisa Linton 10 May 2017
278 Dystopia Today The TORCH Crisis, Extremes, and Apocalyse network have hosted an event on 'Dystopia Today' with Greg Claeys (Royal Holloway, University of London). Greg Claeys 10 May 2017
277 Germs Revisited On Thursday 16 March 2017, Dr Emilie Taylor-Brown gave a talk with Dr Jamie Lorimer (School of Geography and the Environment) and Dr Nicola Fawcett (Medical Sciences Division) on the subject of Germs Revisited. Emilie Taylor-Brown, Jamie Lorimer, Nicola Fawcett, Kirsten Shepherd-Barr 25 Apr 2017
276 TORCH Gender and Authority Research Network, Seminar 7, University of Oxford, 22 February 2017 Gender and Authority Seminar 7: Serena Alessi (British School at Rome) and Rachel Delman (University of Oxford). Music: 'Enigmatic' by bensound.com Adele Bardazzi, David Bowe, Natalya Din-Kariuki, Julia Caterina Hartley 06 Apr 2017
275 Creative Commons Whither Death? Helen Swift and Jessica Goodman discuss the one day conference 'Whither Death?' Helen Swift, jessica Goodman 28 Mar 2017
274 Creative Commons Miles Hewstone - What Does Diversity Mean to Me? Opening event in TORCH Headline Series exploring 'Humanities & Identities' Miles Hewstone 28 Mar 2017
273 Creative Commons Maria Misra - What Does Diversity Mean to Me? Opening event in TORCH Headline Series exploring 'Humanities & Identities' Maria Misra 28 Mar 2017
272 Creative Commons Marvin Rees - What Does Diversity Mean to Me? Opening event in TORCH Headline Series exploring 'Humanities & Identities' Marvin Rees 28 Mar 2017
271 Creative Commons Deborah Cameron - What Does Diversity Mean to Me? Opening event in TORCH Headline Series exploring 'Humanities & Identities Deborah Cameron 28 Mar 2017
270 Creative Commons Ellah Wakatama Allfrey - What Does Diversity Mean to Me? Opening event in TORCH Headline Series exploring 'Humanities & Identities' Ellah Wakatama Allfrey 28 Mar 2017
269 Creative Commons Jay Stewart - What Does Diversity Mean to Me? Opening event in TORCH Headline Series exploring 'Humanities & Identities' Jay Stewart 28 Mar 2017
268 Politics and Public Space in Contemporary Argentine Poetry Book at Lunchtime event. Ben Bollig, Bart van Es, Leigh A Payne, Eduardo Posada-Carbo 21 Mar 2017
267 Creative Commons Land, Outdoors and Nature Peter Nixon and Professor Heather Viles discuss the challenges and opportunities we face today in caring for and studying the natural environment. Peter Nixon, Heather Viles, Oliver Cox 20 Mar 2017
266 Creative Commons Our Collections and Their Audiences In this lecture Simon Murray and Dr Xa Sturgis discuss historic collections and their audiences, exploring the need – and means – of making historic collections relevant in the 21st century. Simon Murray, Xa Sturgis 20 Mar 2017
265 Creative Commons History, Vision, Ambition In this introductory lecture Dame Helen Ghosh and Professor Karen O'Brien discuss the history, current vision and future ambition of their respective organisations. Dame Helen Ghosh, Karen O’Brien 20 Mar 2017
264 Exodus, Reckoning, Sacrifice: Three Meanings of Brexit Lecture with Kalypso Nicolaidis (St Antony’s College). Respondent: Anand Menon (King’s College London) Convenors: Timothy Garton Ash and Kalypso Nicolaidis (St Antony’s College). Kalypso Nicolaidis, Anand Menon, Timothy Garton Ash 03 Mar 2017
263 Walter Benjamin Meets the Cosmics Professor Richard Wolin (CUNY) delivers a talk on 'Walter Benjamin Meets the Cosmics' for the TORCH Crisis, Extremes, and Apocalypse network. Richard Wolin 28 Feb 2017
262 Language, Crisis, and Affect The TORCH Crisis, Extremes, and Apocalypse network hosted a talk ‘Language, crisis and affect: Muted emotions in Heinrich von Kleist’s Michael Kohlhaas’ with Dr Tobias Heinrich (University of Oxford). Tobias Heinrich 28 Feb 2017
261 Living Bilingual Professor Elleke Boehmer (Director of TORCH) delivers a talk as part of the Creative Multilingualism and TORCH Bitesize Talks at Linguamania, Ashmolean Museum. Elleke Boehmer 22 Feb 2017
260 Bilingualism and the Internet Scott Hale (Senior Data Scientist) delivers a talk as part of the Creative Multilingualism and TORCH Bitesize Talks at Linguamania, Ashmolean Museum. Scott Hale 22 Feb 2017
259 A Tristan Tile in the Ashmolean Henrike Lähnemann (Professor of Medieval German Literature) delivers a talk as part of the Creative Multilingualism and TORCH Bitesize Talks at Linguamania, Ashmolean Museum. Henrike Lähnemann 21 Feb 2017
258 Do Objects Speak? Wen-chin Ouyang (Professor of Arabic and Comparative Literature at the School of Oriental and African Studies) delivers a talk as part of the Creative Multilingualism and TORCH Bitesize Talks at Lingumania. Wen-Chin Ouyang 21 Feb 2017
257 Musings from Cloud Cuckoo Land Dr Karen Park delivers a Creative Multilingualism and TORCH Bitesize talk as part of Linguamania Karen Park 21 Feb 2017
256 The Spirits of Crossbones Graveyard The book's author Sondra Hausner (Professor of Anthropology, University of Oxford) will explore the issues raised in her book. Sondra Hausner, Bridget Anderson, Diane Watt, Antonia Fitzpatrick 10 Feb 2017
255 Literature and the Public Good Part of the Book at Lunchtime series Rick Rylance, Jane Hiddleston, Timothy Michael, Ankhi Mukherjee 01 Feb 2017
254 #NeverHillary vs #NeverTrump The US Election on Social Media Panel Discussion Philip N Howard, Gemma Joyce, Matthew Lee Anderson, Yin Yin Lu 01 Feb 2017
253 Equity and commissioning - Richard Sullivan Session 4: Equity and commissioning - Richard Sullivan Mark Sheehan, Richard Sullivan 19 Jan 2017
252 Equity and commissioning - Muir Gray Session 4: Equity and commissioning - Muir Gray Muir Gray, Mark Sheehan 19 Jan 2017
251 Data sharing and participation - Jonathan Montgomery Session 3: Data sharing and participation - Jonathan Montgomery Ingrid Slade, Jonathan Montgomery 19 Jan 2017
250 Data sharing and participation - Anna Middleton Session 3: Data sharing and participation - Anna Middleton Ingrid Slade, Anna Middleton 19 Jan 2017
249 Data sharing and participation - Mark Lawler Session 3: Data sharing and participation - Mark Lawler Mark Lawler, Ingrid Slade 19 Jan 2017
248 The human person and the communication of risk - Sian Rees Session 2: The human person and the communication of risk - Sian Rees Rob Horne, Sian Rees 19 Jan 2017
247 The human person and the communication of risk - Alastair Kent Session 2: The human person and the communication of risk - Alastair Kent Rob Horne, Alastair Kent 19 Jan 2017
246 The human person and the communication of risk - Joshua Hordern Session 2: The human person and the communication of risk - Joshua Hordern Joshua Hordern, Rob Horne 19 Jan 2017
245 The promise and the hype of 'personalised medicine' - John Tooke Session 1: The promise and the hype of 'personalised medicine' - John Tooke Joshua Hordern, John Tooke 19 Jan 2017
244 The promise and the hype of 'personalised medicine' - Steve Sturdy Session 1: The promise and the hype of 'personalised medicine' - Steve Sturdy Steve Sturdy, Joshua Horden 19 Jan 2017
243 The promise and the hype of 'personalised medicine' - Tim Maughan Session 1: The promise and the hype of 'personalised medicine' - Tim Maughan Tim Maughan, Joshua Hordern 19 Jan 2017
242 Highlights of Personalised Medicine Highlights of Personalised Medicine: the promise, the hype and the pitfalls Alastair Kent, Anna Middleton, Marion Lynch, Muir Gray 19 Jan 2017
241 Personalised Medicine, interview with Jonathan Montgomery Personalised Medicine: the promise, the hype and the pitfalls, a short interview with Jonathan Montgomery Jonathan Montgomery 18 Jan 2017
240 Personalised Medicine, interview with Anna Middleton Personalised Medicine: the promise, the hype and the pitfalls, a short interview with Anna Middleton Anna Middleton 18 Jan 2017