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Philosophy Plus Science Programme (digital)

***Applications now closed***



Friday 13 January to Monday 23 January 2023 (pre-recorded materials, accessed online at your own pace)

Monday 23 January 2023 (live, online follow-up session) 5pm – 6pm.

Bookings are now closed

What is chaos? What is infinity? Can machines think? The links between Science and Philosophy are broad and deep, extending well beyond the obvious overlaps in logic, artificial intelligence, and ethics. Some of the greatest philosophers of the past - from Aristotle to Newton - are now known as scientists. Sir Isaac Newton's book, Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica (Mathematical principles of Natural Philosophy), outlines this everlasting relationship between science and philosophy which can still be seen today. This taster day provides an opportunity to find out more about how science and philosophy intertwine. More specifically, how Computer Science, Physics, and Mathematics all have one thing in common, Philosophy. This event is an opportunity for students who are considering applying for a joint degree in these subjects, and want to find out more.

This year the event will operate in two parts, on Friday 13 January to Monday 23 January 2023 we will have a suite of pre-recorded materials you can watch at your own pace. You will have the opportunity to:

The materials for the main session - ie the pre-recorded material - will remain online between Friday 13 January to Monday 23 January 2023. There will be a suggested order of progression through the elements, but you can dip into them whenever is convenient to you during this timeframe. During this period you will be able to submit questions for the live, online follow-up session.

The second part of the event will take place at 5pm on Monday 23 January 2023 will involve a live panel of students and academics to answer any questions submitted about Oxford, our courses, or the application process, or about anything you've covered in the pre-recorded materials. The session will be live, will last up to an hour and will not be available for catch-up.

Audience

This event is open to high-achieving students from the UK, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands. Students should be in the following year groups:

Students who are currently in their final year of school and who are planning on taking a gap year, who will be applying for 2024 university admission, are also welcome. Students should be taking, or planning on taking, Maths A-level or equivalent, and expect to receive at least an A grade in it. Students taking Further Maths A-level are particularly welcome, as are those taking Physics A-level. Attendees should be considering applying to university. If you have previously attended a Philosophy Plus event, this is not for you, as much of the material will be similar to previous years.

When and where

Students will be given a URL for the pre-recorded material and live online event in emails. The link to the online programme will be sent out on the morning of Friday 13 January 2023. Questions for the online, live session will need to be submitted via our question form, details will be provided along with the joining instructions. If you've not recieved anything by 3pm on Friday 13 January 2023, first check your spam folders then contact us using the details below.

How will I know if I have been allocated a place for this programme?

You will recieve an automatic email response when you make a booking. Assuming that you meet the 'who the event is for' criteria above, you will receive an event URL shortly before the pre-recorded materials go live. If it appears from your booking that you are not from a UK school we will get in touch with you directly.

NOTE: All students who registered prior to the Monday 9 January 2023 deadline, should have received the event link on Friday 13 January 2023 by 3pm by email. If you have not received this, please email philosophyplus@cs.ox.ac.uk. Please remember to check your spam filters.



FAQs

Do participants need to have studied either philosophy or Computer Science/IT or Physics to attend the event?

No, you don't need to be studying all of these subjects at school. We're looking for students with a high ability in Maths and an interest in finding out more about the subjects mentioned. So you need to be taking (or planning on taking) Maths A-level, or equivalent. If you're not doing Physics or Computer Science that's fine. If you're not doing Physics A-level (or equivalent) you wouldn't be eligible to apply for our Philosophy and Physics degree, but you're still welcome to take part in the programme.

How will the event work?

We will be sending out the URL for this event on 13th January, once recieved you can use this link to access the pre-recorded online materials until Friday 23 January 2023. You can follow allong from home. There will be a suggested programme for you to follow but do feel free to dip in and out of this as time allows. After the main online event there will be a live, online event on Friday 23 January from 5pm-6pm. If you would like to submit questions for this part of the programme you can do so using the online submission form linked to within the pre-recorded materials.

How much does the taster day cost?

This event is free, and will be virtual for 2023.

Do I need to have watched all the pre-recorded materials before the live session. Will I be able to watch more afterwards?

The online resources will have a suggested progression route through them. Depending on how deeply you choose to explore each section you could take you on average around 4 hours, or many more (or less). It's up to you. The pre-recorded sessions won't remain available after the end of the live element, so you should aim to complete as much as you wish to during the on-demand part of the programme.

How do I book? - Unfortunately bookings are now closed

My students aren't doing A-levels and we're a college not a school — can our students still take part?

Yes! We don't mind what kind of school or college attendees come from, just as long as it's in the UK and the students are thinking about university applications. We tend to talk about 'schools' when we should say 'schools or colleges' because the word 'college' means something different to us: at Oxford colleges form part of the University. Students who are taking Baccalaureates, Scottish Highers, etc are also more than welcome — there are just too many alternative qualifications to list them all. Please don't be offended, or think that we're trying to exclude you.

We are a UK independent/fee-paying school or home schooling — can our students still take part?

Yes! Please fill out the booking form. If you are home schooling please just write 'home educated' in the school name box.

Can I pick which virtual college tour I go on?

There will be a few college available to tour online, you can choose to tour as many or as few of these as you like!

I have not yet received my URL link to join the event?

The URL link will be emailed to participants on the morning of Friday 13 January 2023. Please check your spam and the email you provided in your registration. If you have not received a joining email by 3pm on Friday 13 January 2023, and you understand that you have been accepted onto this programme, please do get in touch: philosophyplus@cs.ox.ac.uk

Is there anything I need?

You will need access to a computer/laptop and the internet/WIFI, this can be at home or at school. If you are taking time out from your studies, please be sure to have the necessary permissions from your school in order to do so. Our live, online event will take place on Monday 23 Janury 2023. Questions for the online, live session will need to be submitted via our question form, details will be provided along with the joining instructions.

I don’t have a reliable internet connection is this a problem?

The main part of the event is such that you will be able to join the event at a time to suit you. The live portion of the event will not be recorded.

I have accessibility requirements, do you provide support?

We know that everyone is different, if you do have some accessibility requirements that you feel would prevent you from taking part in the day, please get in touch with us at philosophyplus@cs.ox.ac.uk to discuss what arrangements may be possible.

I've got a question — who do I talk to?

Please contact: philosophyplus@cs.ox.ac.uk

Please note the organisers reserve the right to change programme without notification or to make alterations to the advertised details for the day at short notice.