Mathematics at Oxford University has been boosted by the appointment of Xunyu Zhou as Nomura Professor of Mathematical Finance. Professor Zhou is an expert in behavioural finance: examining why, for instance, city traders don’t always make rational decisions.

The winners of the Picturing the New Ashmolean Children’s Art Competition were announced at a special awards ceremony and launch of the new graphics to feature on the back of two Oxford Bus Company buses on Sunday 27 January.

One of the most important and earliest maps ever made in Britain is the subject of a new book just published by the Bodleian Library.

The University of Oxford has agreed to a request by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa for the return to New Zealand of four sets of human remains held in the University Museum of Natural History.

Trials will soon be underway in three UK prisons to investigate the link between nutrition and behaviour. Funded by the Wellcome Trust and run by Oxford University researchers, the study will look at which nutrients are most important and at what dosage.

Leading scientists, an administrator, a philosopher and a soprano are among an international group of six men and women who will receive honorary degrees from Oxford University this year, subject to the approval of Congregation. The honorands will be awarded their degrees at Encaenia on Wednesday 18 June 2008.

The American Chemical Society History of Chemistry Division has announced that Sir John Shipley Rowlinson, a Fellow of Exeter College at Oxford, has been selected to receive the 2008 Sidney M. Edelstein Award for Outstanding Achievement in the History of Chemistry.

The Nuffield Review argues that although the government has ‘high expectations’ of apprenticeships, such programmes currently present ‘limited prospects for growth.’ The Review, led by Professor Richard Pring from Oxford University Education Department, has produced two papers – focusing on apprenticeship – as part of its series of Issues Papers on 14-19 education and training.

The Office for Fair Access (OFFA) has published its report on the first year of the new fee regime introduced in 2006 which allowed universities to charge up to GBP 3,000 for their courses.

Dr Colin Bundy, currently Warden of Green College, has been named as the first Principal of the new Green Templeton College.

The contraceptive Pill gives women substantial and long-lasting protection against ovarian cancer, according to a new report led by Oxford scientists published in The Lancet.

The accounts of Oxford University's colleges for the year to 31 July 2006, recently published, show a modest surplus at the operating level despite a decline in academic income. Investment returns remained strong both absolutely (13.5% over the year) and relative to benchmarks.