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James Callaghan's speech at Ruskin College, Oxford in October 1976 is widely considered a pivotal moment in modern English educational policy. Whilst it is not our intention to challenge this fundamental point, the paper will critically interrogate some long‐held assumptions about the motivation that led Callaghan to deliver his speech at Ruskin College. Specifically, the paper will argue that the Ruskin Speech, which spawned a subsequent great debate on education, was motivated by a desire to protect and support comprehensive education, rather than generate more fundamental and radical educational reform away from those principles. Where successive governments have referred back to the ideals espoused by the speech as justification for subsequent educational transformation away from comprehensive ideals, this has only served to imbue the Ruskin Speech and Great Debate with motivations that were not shared at the time by Callaghan and his Labour government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the 1st European Workshop on Multi-Agent Systems, held at St. Catherine's College in Oxford University in Oxford, England. Increase in the number of European researchers in the area of multi-agent systems; Aim of the workshop; Sessions in the workshop; Details of the second Workshop on Multi-Agent Systems.

Present abstracts of research papers presented at the Japan-UK Platelet Conference at Magdalen College in Oxford, England on June 2-3, 2004. Range of topics; Authors; Institutes represented.

The article calls for papers for the 18th Annual Conference of the Women's History Network at St. Hilda's College in Oxford, England from September 11-13, 2009. Papers are encouraged to focus on gender and institutional politics, women's movements and identity politics, and community and neighbourhood empowerment.

The article announces the First Notice and Call for Papers to the Inaugural International Research Conference by the Further Education Research Association (FERA) to be held at the Harris Manchester College in Oxford, England on July 11-13, 2014.

This paper gives a history of the Oxford Ethnography Conference. Over more than three decades, a regular conference of sociologists of education and ethnographers has met and produced a series of academic writings. The paper describes some of the interrelationships between developments that occurred within the conference and external changes to the academic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents abstracts from the paper sessions of the Seventh International BELMAS Research Conference at St. Catherine's College, University of Oxford, England from July 8-10, 2004. Strategic Planning in Primary Schools; Managing Collaboration Between Universities and Colleges; Second Headship.

Information about several papers discussed at a conference held March 22-23, 2012 at Oxford University, Oxford, England on links between East Africa in the Indian Ocean World is presented. Topics include the archaeological links between East Africa and the Indian Ocean world, and its impact on the international trade during the second millennium AD. Several Sealinks Project's, an international archaeological project, members, researchers and students presented research paper at the conference.

This paper draws attention to the ways in which engineering solutions may contribute to access difficulties for local residents. It focuses on a case study of the Barton estate east of Oxford city centre and suggests that there is a need for greater awareness of how people can be affected by network and other transport infrastructure changes. The paper concludes with an appeal for more social awareness in the planning and design of engineering schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This methodological paper discusses and critiques the 'insider' and 'outsider' models of action research described in the nursing literature. It highlights tensions and problems with these models and demonstrates how the models developed by the authors -- the 'double-act' and 'collaborative group' partnerships -- overcome these difficulties. The success of this approach suggests that such partnerships of nurse practitioners and a researcher should be considered when practitioners want to introduce innovation and facilitate change in practice and generate and test theory which is relevant to practice. The paper is presented in the form of a commentary, interspersed with reflective conversations in which the authors illustrate and reflect upon their attempts to make the methodology described a reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reviews the 2009 Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery, which was held in St. Catherine's College, Oxford. This year's theme was Food and Language and over forty papers were delivered to an audience of over two hundred leading food writers, historians, scientists, authropologists, linguists, culinary students, and general food enthusiasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Editorial. Highlights the 5th Oxford International Conference on Education and Development sponsored by the British Association for International and Comparative Education in England. Theme of the conference; Participants of the event; Keynote speaker of the congress.

This paper is based on a talk given at a joint meeting of the London Mathematical Society and the British Society for the History of Mathematics held in Oxford on 13 May 1995. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification 01A60, 46-03, 47-03. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article covers issues related to intellectual history. The Istanbul Bilgi University and Routledge, the International Society for Intellectual History (ISIH), is offering ISIH Charles Schmitt Prize to outstanding papers on intellectual history. The sixth joint meeting of the British Society for the History of Science, the Canadian Society for the History and Philosophy of Science, and the History of Science Society will be on July 4 to 6, 2008 in Oxford, England.

The history of archive cataloguing, particularly before the 20th century, has been much neglected. This paper offers a case study of archive cataloguing practices at four Oxford colleges from the 15th to the mid-20th century. The authors propose a model of changing attitudes towards recordkeeping that can be tested against archives elsewhere. Evidence from these colleges suggests that archive cataloguing practices varied widely at different times according to the needs of administrators and the wants of antiquarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper looks at the experience of a public-sector regeneration partnership -- East Oxford Action (EOA) -- of using participatory evaluation methods, especially 'empowerment evaluation', as a tool within regeneration programmes. It is based on the practitioner's need for the evaluation to be of use, and to move the regeneration practice forward. In particular, the paper looks at the role that participatory evaluation has in addressing power and empowerment issues around evaluation and programmes generally. Importantly, in participatory and empowerment evaluations at least equal status is given to staff and beneficiary communities as to funders and programme partners. Empowerment evaluation is delivered through a workshop, broken down into five stages -- establishing the aim, agreeing success criteria, scoring current performance, discussion and, finally, identifying future action. It is argued that empowerment evaluation has particular value where it can inform future action, either as part of a longitudinal evaluation or as part of the planning for a future programme. In addition, it has particular value in building capacity and ownership within those involved and thus has a role in supporting post-funding sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores disciplinary formation as both a physical and an intellectual process. That is, how decisions regarding tangible entities - in this case, the Pitt Rivers collection and the building designed to house it in Oxford - have shaped the intellectual landscape of a university discipline. The negotiations surrounding General Pitt Rivers's donation to Oxford in the 1880s were driven forward by a group of Oxford scientists based in the University Museum who were intent on establishing a dedicated space for anthropology at the University. The collection might have been amalgamated with that of the Ashmolean, since its future was also the subject of active debate at the time, but Pitt Rivers and his scientific peers at Oxford succeeded in establishing the collection as a new ethnographic department within the University Museum. Their achievement had long-lasting implications for the University's collections, and for the future shape of Oxford anthropology as an academic discipline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article looks at the concept of Black History Month and its implications for teaching and learning in art and design education. It argues that the concept of Black History Month should be discarded because it tends to promote a separatist notion of culture and that it deflects from an understanding of culture as a plural and intermeshing process. The paper interrogates history as a discourse, problematising our use of the word. The article then looks through the eyes of two groups of African Caribbean young people at Black History Month, as a curriculum initiative. The first group was interviewed at a south London gallery and the second at a conference for African Caribbean learners in Oxford. Two art and design educationalists who participated in the research project that included the south London young people make a significant contribution to the paper. It concludes with a personal interpretation of movements in art and the practice of a contemporary artist whose work endorse the key philosophical position posited in the text that culture is always a process on interweaving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The titles reviewed in this section of Ibis are available for reference at the Alexander Library of the Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK. The library is open to BOU members, Monday to Friday (09:00–17:00 h). Please write or telephone (+44 (0)1865 271143) prior to your visit to ensure the library is open. The aim of the Alexander Library is to build up a comprehensive collection of literature as a service to ornithologists. Its holdings include an extensive range of periodicals and a large number of reprints drawn from many sources: additional reprints of readers’ papers are always welcome. The library has always greatly benefited from its close relationship with the BOU. For a number of years, all journals received in exchange for Ibis have been deposited in the library, and through the generosity of reviewers, most of the books sent for review. In return, as a service to readers, this review section of Ibis is organized and edited by Michael G. Wilson and Professor Ben Sheldon of the Edward Grey Institute, with the help of a panel of contributors. They are always grateful for offers of further assistance with reviewing, especially with foreign language titles. Part of the cost of this book review section has been subsidized by Subbuteo Natural History Books. Subbuteo are an international mail-order book company stocking over 2000 titles covering all natural and environmental sciences. They can also source titles from around the world. Titles reviewed here can be ordered from Subbuteo and payment can be accepted by credit card or cheques in £/$. Postage, packing and insurance is £1.99 per order. International postage is charged at cost; please contact them for a quote. To order a book or to request the full catalogue please contact: Subbuteo Natural History Books Ref. 0252, The Rea, Upton Magna, Shrewsbury SY4 4UR, UK. Tel: 0870 010 9700 Fax: 0870 010 9699. Email: Website: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study considers the influence on British education (particularly schools) of Alan Bullock, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University from 1969 to 1973 and distinguished contemporary historian. It quotes extensively from Bullock’s own writings, including his developing personal views on education, and reflections on his own experiences. Following a brief biographical section, the paper reviews his work as chair of Government committees and advisory bodies, notably the Schools Council and the eponymous ‘Bullock Committee’ to consider all aspects of the teaching of English. These experiences contributed to his increasing disillusion with formal political power structures as a means of bringing about social change. I examine Bullock’s long period as a dominant figure in the administration of the University, and the consequences for schools of the changes which occurred over that time, especially the move towards admissions policies based almost entirely upon academic merit, and towards becoming a leading scientific university. St Catherine’s College, which he founded, played a significant part in these changes. Bullock’s personal views on the need to offer in schools a broader education, which would be attractive to young people searching for values of their own, were developed in his later writings and are briefly summarised. The paper speculates that he would not have been happy with the competitive and measurement-oriented system of today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A. H. Halsey has been a professorial fellow (now emeritus) at Nuffield College in Oxford University since his appointment in 1962 as Director of Oxford’s Department of Social and Administrative Studies. This paper explores his contribution to education throughout his career, as an academic and as a national and international policy advisor, and the interface between these two. Halsey worked in what he termed the ‘political arithmetic’ tradition throughout his career, with the dual tasks of documenting the state of society, and addressing social and political issues through ‘experimental social administration’, that is the field testing of social innovation and social policy in advance of national implementation. The paper focuses on Halsey’s ‘activist’ role in policy development in the UK and internationally, through his work on educational reform at the OECD and as research advisor to Crosland at the DES with the introduction of comprehensive schooling in the UK and in particular the Educational Priority Areas (EPA) programme, and traces through the impact of his work. His major contribution as one of the leading sociologists of education in the second half of the 20 th century is also discussed, but the wider impact of this aspect of his work requires a much more extensive assessment than is possible in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on a study of assessment of undergraduate dissertations in the seven departments which constitute the School of Social Sciences and Law at Oxford Brookes University. Information was gathered from documented material and interviews regarding criteria used in assessment of dissertations. This was analysed to identify the range of criteria across disciplines. Criteria were also examined by administration of a questionnaire asking staff to define commonly listed criteria. Finally, a content analysis of completed assessment forms was undertaken to gauge the extent to which identified criteria were actually applied and to gain insight into those that were implicit. The study revealed considerable ambiguity as regards use, meaning and application of criteria. The paper concludes by outlining the policies and practices that are now being developed in the School in the light of these findings, and situates the study in the UK national context of concern to establish graduate threshold standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes a multiproject practice development programme undertaken over a period of 1 year. The background and development of the programme are outlined, whilst attention is paid to the innovatory nature of the work, particularly the use of inductive, deductive and integrated approaches to both change implementation and project supervision. The programme was monitored throughout using different data sources and the paper uses evaluative material retrospectively to provide answers to organizational and professional difficulties which arose during the course of the programme. The authors conclude that the use of combinations of different models for practice development has potential, but requires careful supervision. They also recommend that those involved in practice development are made fully aware of its local or micropolitics, and develop strategies to deal with change before it occurs, not after it has taken place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the meeting of the Southern Association for Ancient Philosophy held in Oxford, England on September 15-17, 2005. Seventy five scholars attended the meeting, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the association. Speakers included David Furley and John Ackrill. The minutes of the first association meeting was read.

Presents an update on international conferences on French studies as of September 2002. Subjects discussed at La représentacion de l'homme 1700-1830 held at the Institut Française de Royaume-Uni in London, England; Topics covered at Françoise de Graffigny: Nouvelles Approches held at Trinity College in Oxford, England; Key-note speaker at a conference on the theme of New Women's Writing in French held at the Institute of Romance Studies.

The article presents the message of the chairman of the COMPUMAG 2003 Committee. The author states that he is glad to present the selected papers presented at the COMPUMAG Saratoga Springs conference. Those papers are published in the March 2004 issue of the journal "IEEE Transactions of Magnetics." The author also states that the first COMPUMAG conference was held in 1976 in Oxford, England. Since then the society and its conferences have continued to grow in numbers, in significance, in international renown and respect. The author is honored to carry on the tradition of presenting the leading research and thought in the area of computational electromagnetics.

The article reports on the 2008 conference of the Architectural Humanities Research Association (AHRA) that was held in Oxford, England. The event was entitled "The Politics of Making" and was focused on whether politics is still a vital part of the agenda of architectural research. It was observed that the concepts of "making" and "politics" have almost unlimited flexibility.

The INTERGROWTH-21st Project data management was structured incorporating both a centralised and decentralised system for the eight study centres, which all used the same database and standardised data collection instruments, manuals and processes. Each centre was responsible for the entry and validation of their country-specific data, which were entered onto a centralised system maintained by the Data Coordinating Unit in Oxford. A comprehensive data management system was designed to handle the very large volumes of data. It contained internal validations to prevent incorrect and inconsistent values being captured, and allowed online data entry by local Data Management Units, as well as real-time management of recruitment and data collection by the Data Coordinating Unit in Oxford. To maintain data integrity, only the Data Coordinating Unit in Oxford had access to all the eight centres' data, which were continually monitored. All queries identified were raised with the relevant local data manager for verification and correction, if necessary. The system automatically logged an audit trail of all updates to the database with the date and name of the person who made the changes. These rigorous processes ensured that the data collected in the INTERGROWTH-21st Project were of exceptionally high quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The twenty-four poems preserved in MS Digby 102 are anonymous. Josef Kail, their first editor, in 1904 drew a profile of the author that has remained unchallenged for more than a century. Over the years, Kail's conclusions were copied virtually without comment in anthologies and incidental thematic publications on individual poems. In 2009 two new critical editions of the complete sequence appeared virtually simultaneously and wholly independently from each other. One is by Helen Barr, the other I wrote as my doctoral thesis (Verheij ). On the subject of the identity of the author of the Digby poems we reached very nearly identical conclusions, albeit along wholly different lines. In this paper, which draws extensively from my thesis, I propose to deal in some detail with only my line of argument, Helen Barr's conclusions of course receiving due recognition. I examine in close detail the poet's profile as drawn by Kail of 'a priest, most probably an abbot or a prior', who 'as such ... occupied a seat in parliament and voted with the Commons'. In succession, all possible parliamentary roles for the writer are considered and dismissed. Internal thematic indications combined with external evidence of certain historical occurrences then lead to an alternative profile of a poet who worked and lived in close proximity to the Westminster centre of political power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses printed catalogues produced by the Oxford University Press between 1677 and 1720 when the publisher was located at the Sheldonian Theater in Oxford, England. Historical sources for some of the catalogues, first printed as broadsides, were created by scholars including Anthony Wood, John Bagford, and Arthur Charlett, Master of University College. Booksellers located in Oxford during the period discussed include Moses Pitt, Peter Parker, and Thomas Guy. A compiled list of publications printed by the Oxford University Press during the period is presented.

This paper reviews two key initiatives undertaken in the historical city of Oxford to bring about reductions in energy-related CO2 emissions on a dwelling-level as well as city-wide scale, using both bottom-up and top-down carbon-counting approaches. The development and application of a bottom-up carbon-counting approach called DECoRuM is described. DECoRuM is a Geographical Information System-based software model which estimates and maps baseline energy use and CO2 emissions on a house-by-house level, identifies ‘pollution’ hotspots, predicts the potential for reductions in CO2 emissions and monitors reductions achieved as a result of deploying energy efficiency measures and renewable energy systems. The application of DECoRuM model to a case study in Oxford shows that CO2 emission reductions above 60% are possible, at a cost of between £6 and £77 per tonne of CO2 emissions saved, depending upon the package of measures used and the scenario of capital costs (low or high) employed. Alongside DECoRuM, the author has led the development of an action-oriented Oxford Climate Change Action Plan (OCCAP) which uses top-down approaches to construct an accurate CO2 emissions inventory for Oxford city for a baseline year, establish CO2 reduction targets and propose action for each of the energy-related sectors to meet those targets. These two different, but complimentary, approaches provide a useful example for other cities in their endeavour for emission reductions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The titles reviewed in this section of Ibis are available for reference at the Alexander Library of the Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK. The library is open to Ibis readers, Monday to Friday (09:00–17:00 h). Please write, telephone (+44 (0)1 865 271143) or email ( or ) prior to your visit to ensure the library is open. The aim of the Alexander Library is to build up a comprehensive collection of literature as a service to ornithologists. Its holdings include an extensive range of periodicals and a large number of reprints drawn from many sources: additional reprints of readers’ papers are always welcome. The library has always greatly benefited from its close relationship with the BOU. For many years, all journals received in exchange for Ibis have been deposited in the library, as have most of the books sent for review, through the generosity of reviewers and publishers. In return, as a service to readers, this review section of Ibis is organized and edited by Michael G. Wilson and Professor Ben Sheldon of the Edward Grey Institute, with the help of a panel of contributors. They are always grateful for offers of further assistance with reviewing, especially with foreign-language titles. Books for review: publishers are kindly asked to send two copies of each title to Ibis Book Reviews, Alexander Library, EGI, Dept of Zoology, Tinbergen Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK. This book review section is supported by Subbuteo Natural History Books. Subbuteo are an international mail-order book company stocking over 2000 titles covering all natural and environmental sciences. They can also source titles from around the world. Titles reviewed in Ibis can be ordered from Subbuteo and payment can be made by credit card or cheques in £/$. Postage, packing and insurance is £1.99 per order. International postage is charged at cost; please contact Subbuteo for a quote. Subbuteo Natural History Books Ref. 0252, The Rea, Upton Magna, Shrewsbury SY4 4UR, UK. Tel: +44 (0)870 010 9700 Fax: +44 (0)870 010 9699 Email: Website: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research base of palliative care is growing rapidly, but despite methodological advances, some of the practical challenges of working with people at the end of life will persist. This means that analysis of routine data is arguably more important in studying palliative care than it is in other aspects of health services research. End-of-life researchers have been using the high-quality linked data from cancer registries for many years. This paper explores the value of a less well-known resource for palliative care research: linked mortality and hospital activity data. Two case studies are presented using information from Scotland (population 5.1 million) and the former Oxford region of England (population 2.5 million). The advantages and limitations of linked hospital and mortality data for research and service planning in palliative care are drawn out through analyses investigating hospital bed utilisation by people with cancer and heart failure and the influence of social deprivation on the use of hospital services in the last year of life. The use of such data deserves a higher profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Question: What are the impacts of factors controlling patterns of change in woodland field-layer vegetation, through time? Location: Wytham Woods, Oxford, UK (51°41′ N, 1°19′ W). Methods: Species occurrence was monitored in 163 permanent plots three times between 1973 and 2002 and related to management compartment and history. The dataset was analysed using a combination of ordination methods, univariate and multivariate analysis of variance and HOF modelling. Results: The two key findings of this paper are: (1) that the species composition of ancient woodlands (often cited as a conservation goal), may be moving along an `undesirable' trajectory, from a conservation viewpoint; and (2) that the impact of a synergistic effect of changing canopy dynamics, nitrogen deposition and a rising deer population has resulted in an increase in grass species, at the expense of woodland herbs. These findings have significant implications for the practical conservation of similar habitats across Europe. Conclusions: The analytical methodology presented here allowed detailed assessment of the potential roles of a range of environmental factors controlling change. The methodology may be applicable to other long-term studies of vegetation, and is particularly appropriate for identification of cross-site drivers, such as pollutant load and climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The titles reviewed in this section of Ibis are available for reference at the Alexander Library of the Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK. The library is open to BOU members, Monday to Friday (09:00–17:00 h). Please write or telephone (+44 (0)1865 271143) prior to your visit to ensure the library is open. The aim of the Alexander Library is to build up a comprehensive collection of literature as a service to ornithologists. Its holdings include an extensive range of periodicals and a large number of reprints drawn from many sources: additional reprints of readers’ papers are always welcome. The library has always greatly benefited from its close relationship with the BOU. For a number of years, all journals received in exchange for Ibis have been deposited in the library, and through the generosity of reviewers, most of the books sent for review. In return, as a service to readers, this review section of Ibis is organized and edited by Michael G. Wilson and Professor Ben Sheldon of the Edward Grey Institute, with the help of a panel of contributors. They are always grateful for offers of further assistance with reviewing, especially with foreign language titles. Part of the cost of this book review section has been subsidized by Subbuteo Natural History Books. Subbuteo are an international mail-order book company stocking over 2000 titles covering all natural and environmental sciences. They can also source titles from around the world. Titles reviewed here can be ordered from Subbuteo and payment can be accepted by credit card or cheques in £/$. Postage, packing and insurance is £1.99 per order. International postage is charged at cost; please contact them for a quote. To order a book or to request the full catalogue please contact: Subbuteo Natural History Books Ref. 0252, The Rea, Upton Magna, Shrewsbury SY4 4UR, UK. Tel: 0870 010 9700 Fax: 0870 010 9699. Email: Website: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The titles reviewed in this section of Ibis are available for reference at the Alexander Library of the Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK. The library is open to BOU members, Monday to Friday (09:00–17:00 h). Please write or telephone (+44 (0)1865 271143) prior to your visit to ensure the library is open. The aim of the Alexander Library is to build up a comprehensive collection of literature as a service to ornithologists. Its holdings include an extensive range of periodicals and a large number of reprints drawn from many sources: additional reprints of readers’ papers are always welcome. The library has always greatly benefited from its close relationship with the BOU. For a number of years, all journals received in exchange for Ibis have been deposited in the library, and through the generosity of reviewers, most of the books sent for review. In return, as a service to readers, this review section of Ibis is organized and edited by Michael G. Wilson and Professor Ben Sheldon of the Edward Grey Institute, with the help of a panel of contributors. They are always grateful for offers of further assistance with reviewing, especially with foreign language titles. Part of the cost of this book review section has been subsidized by Subbuteo Natural History Books. Subbuteo are an international mail-order book company stocking over 2000 titles covering all natural and environmental sciences. They can also source titles from around the world. Titles reviewed here can be ordered from Subbuteo and payment can be accepted by credit card or cheques in £/$. Postage, packing and insurance is £1.99 per order. International postage is charged at cost; please contact them for a quote. To order a book or to request the full catalogue please contact: Subbuteo Natural History Books Ref. 0252, The Rea, Upton Magna, Shrewsbury SY4 4UR, UK. Tel: 0870 010 9700 Fax: 0870 010 9699. Email: Website: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides a summary of a paper on the convergence of trigonometric Fourier series for functions of countably several variables presented by speaker Natalia N. Kholshchevnikova at the Thirty-First Summer Symposium in Real Analysis held at the University of Oxford, England from August 13 to 15, 2007. It says ...∞ was assigned as the Cartesian product of countable many of one-dimensional tori ... = ℝ/ℤ, The paper also discusses the uniform convergence of trigonometric series.

The titles reviewed in this section of Ibis are available for reference at the Alexander Library of the Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Department of Zoology, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK. The library is open to BOU members, Monday to Friday (09:00–17:00 h). Please write or telephone (+44 (0)1865 271143) prior to your visit to ensure the library is open. The aim of the Alexander Library is to build up a comprehensive collection of literature as a service to ornithologists. Its holdings include an extensive range of periodicals and a large number of reprints drawn from many sources: additional reprints of readers’ papers are always welcome. The library has always greatly benefited from its close relationship with the BOU. For a number of years, all journals received in exchange for Ibis have been deposited in the library, and through the generosity of reviewers, most of the books sent for review. In return, as a service to readers, this review section of Ibis is organized and edited by Michael G. Wilson and Professor Ben Sheldon of the Edward Grey Institute, with the help of a panel of contributors. They are always grateful for offers of further assistance with reviewing, especially with foreign language titles. Part of the cost of this book review section has been subsidized by Subbuteo Natural History Books. Subbuteo are an international mail-order book company stocking over 2000 titles covering all natural and environmental sciences. They can also source titles from around the world. Titles reviewed here can be ordered from Subbuteo and payment can be accepted by credit card or cheques in £/$. Postage, packing and insurance is £1.99 per order. International postage is charged at cost; please contact them for a quote. To order a book or to request the full catalogue please contact: Subbuteo Natural History Books Ref. 0252, The Rea, Upton Magna, Shrewsbury SY4 4UR, UK. Tel: 0870 010 9700 Fax: 0870 010 9699. Email: Website: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the highlights of the Sixth International Quality Reliability and Maintenance (QRM) conference that was held at the St. Edmund Hall of the University of Oxford, England in March 2007. Research areas covered during the convention include quantitative infrared thermography, digital vibration analysis, integrated approaches to condition monitoring, computation analysis in conditioning monitoring, non-destructive testing and evaluation, and education, training, standards and competences.

This study situates Green’s educational philosophy and practice in the context of his overall approach to philosophy. In Green’s view, education should aim at the realisation of the common good, but what Green means by this term is closely connected to his views on human nature, ethical endeavour and indeed the evolution of human history. These ideas are central to his main philosophical works. For Green the common good is to be found in the achievement of qualities of mind or character which involve the individual making the best of himself/herself. The content of education and particularly the development of reason assist centrally in this process. Access to resources and education are important conditions for achieving the common good, but since they involve scarce resources and competition for them, they are not part of the common good as such. The paper goes on to link these ideas with Green’s account of citizenship and his involvement with school and university education in Oxford. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the preservation of archival materials at the Bodleian Library, Oxford, England. Fisherizing is one approach to the housing of single-sheet material that has been adopted at the Bodleian Library. It is a system of binding modern papers of predominantly uniform format, typescripts for example, which are unsuitable for either fasciculing or other binding methods and which require more protection than that offered by archive folders. The technique was named after H.A.L. Fisher, a twentieth-century historian, whose papers were donated to the Bodleian Library in 1958. Fisherizing was developed between 1985 and 1987 when Fisher's papers were treated. The original fisherizing technique has recently been reviewed and further refinements have been introduced. The use of guard books and skeleton guard books had been the predominant housing method for a variety of single-sheet material at the Bodleian Library from the late nineteenth century. The fascicule system was introduced to deal with early collections of letters and single-sheet material of different formats.

In this paper, we examine the methods by which candidates are selected for the Oxford Medical School in the light of the literature on assessment in general and candidate selection in particular. We review changes in the process that attempt to capture the best of evidence-supported practice while preserving or enhancing the features identified as being peculiar strengths of the Oxford learning environment. These changes aim to improve fairness, reliability and validity, while permitting candidate-specific approaches that allow for differences of prior experience and opportunity. Over the last three years, the outcome has been a marked convergence between the approaches to selection in Oxford with commonly accepted standards of assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]