Public engagement
Public engagement
Our Recent Activities
The Oxford Thermofluids Institute engages with the public through a range of events, activities and digital content. These provide opportunities to share our research, explain its wider applications, and give audiences an insight into the science and engineering taking place across the Institute.
Public talks
SpotLight: Illuminating Engineering 2026
In April 2026, OTI researchers delivered two Spotlight Talks exploring sustainable aviation from different perspectives. The first talk was presented by Dr Ashley van Bruygom and Adelaida Jimenez-Villarejo Diaz and introduced the ambitions, challenges, and opportunities of hydrogen-powered aviation, that are at the core of the Programme Grant Making Hydrogen Work in Zero Carbon Jet Engines, while the second, delivered by Dr Connor O’Pray, focused on research aimed at reducing emissions and improving efficiency in aviation.
Podcasts
Podcasts on Hypersonics research at the OTI
Professor Matthew McGilvray’s podcasts provide an introduction to research from the Osney Hypersonics Group. The episodes explore the development of the UK’s fastest wind tunnel facility and research into hypersonic and high-speed space flight, offering an accessible insight into the challenges of engineering for extreme environments.
Can we build an eco-friendly aeroplane?
OTI researcher Dr Chiara Falsetti joined the Oxford Sparks Big Questions podcast to discuss the challenges of making aviation more sustainable. In the episode, she explored how advances in aircraft engine cooling and efficiency can help reduce CO₂ emissions and contribute to more sustainable air travel.
Martin Oldfield's Centenary lecture - 2008
Keep it Cool! 38 Years of Gas-Turbine Research
As part of the Department of Engineering Science’s Centenary Lectures, Professor Martin Oldfield presented a lecture on the development of gas-turbine research at Oxford, highlighting the innovative short-duration wind tunnels and experimental techniques used to investigate complex aerothermal challenges in turbine engine.
Impact
Developing pioneering technology to boost aircraft engine efficiency
The project Accelerate the Implementation of a New Transonic High Pressure Tip Cooling Technology was funded by the University of Oxford’s EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account from May 2021 to June 2022. The project brought together Professor John Coull, Dr Joao Vieira and Professor Peter Ireland to support the development and implementation of new cooling technology for high-pressure turbine applications.
Case Study
Destination Net Zero
In this case study, Professor Peter Ireland, Dr Alex Murray and DPhil student Manuela Sisti discuss the challenges and opportunities of achieving more sustainable aviation. The case study highlights the University of Oxford’s 50-year collaboration with Rolls-Royce and how the partnership is working to develop more efficient jet engines and support progress towards net zero.