STANDING UP FOR THE WORLD

A special guest at Rhodes House while it was snowing! Thank you for visiting us @oxfordkermit 🐸

Photo credit: Joshua Nguyen

#RhodesHouse #RhodesScholar #RhodesScholarship #Oxford #OxfordUni #OxfordUniversity #Kermit #KermitTheFrog #Snowman

🚀 The Rhodes Outreach Ambassadors Programme was first launched in 2020 in 5 constituencies, and now counts 67 Outreach Ambassadors across 17 constituencies. The initiative has witnessed great success in China, made possible through the generous support of the Cheng family.

Travelling from Oxford to share her knowledge and motivate the next generation of leaders at several institutions in mainland China, #RhodesScholar Duo Yi shares: “My experience as a Rhodes outreach ambassador has been a journey of bridging gaps and unlocking potential. I hope more young talents from China will join us, bringing both the unique perspectives of China and a global vision to the table.”

Our Scholar Ambassadors play a crucial role in increasing the awareness of the Rhodes Scholarship by actively engaging with students in academic institutions and organisations. They also provide valuable support to applicants through workshops and mentoring sessions.

#RhodesScholars #RhodesScholarship #Leadership #China #Scholarship #OxfordUniversity #Oxford

Congratulations to our Class of 2025 SJLP (Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine) Rhodes Scholars Elect! 🎉

Sara Amro is a Palestinian-Jordanian medical student at the American University of Beirut (AUB), Lebanon, with a background in medical imaging and an interest in radiation oncology. At Oxford, she plans to pursue a DPhil in Cancer Science, where she will focus on approaches to improving radiation therapy outcomes.

Sara is a strong advocate for expanding access to cancer therapeutics in underserved regions. Her ambition is driven by firsthand experiences and a deep-rooted belief in the power of equitable medical care to transform communities.

Malek Alhajkhouder is from Damascus, Syria. He is a physicist and former scholar of the Heinrich Böll Foundation. After completing his undergraduate studies at the Leibniz Universität Hannover, he pursued his master’s degree focusing on particle physics at Heidelberg University.

At Oxford, Malek plans to continue his research in physics, seeking answers to questions regarding elementary particles. His goal is to inspire more students, especially from the Levant, to pursue fundamental research.

You can find out more about the SJLP constituency at: www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarships/application…

Meet our newly-selected Indian #RhodesScholars joining the class of 2025! 🙌

⭐ Pal Aggarwal wants to study high-energy astrophysics, striving towards her dream of becoming an astronaut and advocating for women in science. She is also a trained Bharatnatyam and contemporary dancer.

⭐ Rayan Chakrabarti aspires to build an archive and museum exploring the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact in South Asia. He is a trained pianist and loves writing and translating poetry that centres around politics and nationhood.

⭐ Shubham Narwal is eager to pursue clinical embryology to explore new conservation strategies for the critically endangered bird, the Great Indian Bustard. He is a passionate basketball enthusiast and likes Harry Potter.

⭐ Vibha Swaminathan is interested in studying the political and legal fragilities of citizenship regimes, and hopes to combine this academic engagement with a human rights litigation practice before trial courts in India.

⭐ Avanish Vats is interested in epistemology and making philosophy accessible to disabled people. He is also a tabla player and has written and directed short films.

Many congratulations Pal, Rayan, Shubham, Vibha, and Avanish ✨ We can’t wait to see all you achieve in Oxford and beyond!

#RhodesScholar #RhodesScholarship #Scholarship
#StudyAbroad #Masters #Postgraduate #OxfordUniversity #Oxford #India

🌍✨The 29th UN Climate Change Conference (also known as COP 29) will focus on investing in a liveable planet for all. As this year's conference kicks off today in Azerbaijan, #RhodesScholar Chukwuemeka Godwin Nwangele dives into Africa’s path to a cleaner, more sustainable future:

"We should be reminded that Africa faces the twin challenges of a climate and energy crisis. Over 600 million people lack electricity access, and many more are energy-poor. Africa's energy future requires accelerating energy access and reliability for development while applying the brakes on carbon emissions. Large-scale adoption and adaptation of sustainable technologies, like smart solar technologies, is essential, and carbon-intensive and expensive sources like diesel generators should also be discouraged. Adopting sustainable measures can help prevent a continuous energy crisis, a human crisis, or a deepened climate disaster.

Greenage Technologies recognizes this challenge and is driving the required action. With projects like the >6.5 MW solar projects to electrify education, thousands of smart PV systems to electrify rural and urban communities, and the development of smart power electronics design and manufacturing capabilities, Greenage is supporting the clean energy transition, replacing diesel generators, building human capacity, and decarbonising development. More investment is required, and the COP should remind all stakeholders of the reality of the need to protect the future." 🌱⚡


#COP29Azerbaijan #CleanEnergy #AfricaForClimate #SustainableFuture

We recently hosted the premiere of Sylvia Morgado's film, Paving the Way - Pavilion Maxwell Alexandre, at #RhodesHouse. Morgado was joined by Rafa Guse, one of the film's participants who travelled to Oxford from Brazil to share her experiences of arts and cultural spaces, along with interpreter Luena Abigail Pimenta Ricardo. They are pictured here with #RhodesScholar and Public Art Engagement Officer Maitha AlSuwaidi.

The film centres on the work of artist Maxwell Alexandre. Alexandre is a contemporary Brazilian artist who celebrates Black culture and identity in his paintings, powerfully portraying individuals in positions of authority. He’s known for creating pop-up galleries, or 'pavilions,' in unexpected places in Brazil, forming new audiences and shaking up the art scene. In the documentary, Morgado talks to visitors to these pavilions to see how Alexandre’s work affects them and to explore whether these encounters inspire people to visit other art spaces they might not have visited otherwise.

It was great to welcome members of the local community to Rhodes House to continue the discussion about how we can diversify audiences in museums and galleries here in Oxford, too. This event is part of the Rhodes Trust's public engagement programme - keep an eye on our social media channels and website for future talks and events open to all!

Meet our 2025 Global Rhodes Scholars Elect, Karla Bayas and Wilhem Hector 🌟 Pictured here with Global National Secretary, Muloongo Muchelemba at the Global Scholarship selection weekend in Rhodes House.

Wilhem is a student from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, majoring in Mechanical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His long-term goals are split between pioneering Haiti’s renewable energy infrastructure and expanding hands-on opportunities in the country‘s national curriculum. Outside studying, he enjoys planning events and playing basketball.

Karla shares: "I am the first Ecuadorian awarded the Global Rhodes Scholarship, enabling me to pursue postgraduate study at the University of Oxford and take pivotal steps toward my goal of becoming a judge dedicated to challenging systemic abuse, human rights violations, and environmental injustice."

Congratulations Karla and Wilhelm! We can't wait to welcome you back to Rhodes House in 2025 🎉

#RhodesScholarship

A huge thank you to everyone who made #TechAndSociety2024 a powerful gathering of ideas, innovation, and inspiration✨

This year’s Forum explored how thoughtfully-developed technology can drive positive change, empower communities, and uncover opportunities to transform our shared future.

Our community—extending beyond Scholars and partners—came together with curiosity and optimism, to envision a future where technology enhances societal well-being and global sustainability.

The Rhodes Forum on Technology & Society was made possible through the generous support of our donor Kevin Xu and our valued partners: Equitech Futures Atlantic Fellows and the Entrepreneurship Centre at Oxford Saïd

The day is here! The Rhodes Forum on Technology & Society 2024 is about to kick off. We’re looking forward to a day full of keynotes, panels, interactive sessions and the chance to meet and mingle with fellow changemakers.

Our #RhodesScholars are ready to welcome delegates at Rhodes House! Follow along on our stories for highlights from the event. #TechAndSociety2024

Congratulations to the incredible Global Rhodes Scholarship 2025 Finalists! 💫

⭐ Valerie Aguilar Dellisanti #Peru & Brown University
⭐ Karla Bayas #Ecuador & Universidad San Francisco de Quito
⭐ Mouna Chatt #Denmark & The University of Edinburgh
⭐ Mariam Habib Matta #Egypt & The London School of Economics and Political Science - LSE
⭐ Wilhem Hector #Haiti & Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
⭐ Nino Nadirashvili #Georgia & Duke Kunshan University
⭐ Ruslan Peredelskyi #Ukraine & Bates College
⭐ Karina Piotrowska #Poland & Durham University
⭐ Ananda Santos Figueiredo #Brazil & Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
⭐ Celestine Wenardy #Indonesia & Stanford University

This week, ten outstanding young changemakers joined us at Rhodes House to interview for the Global Rhodes Scholarships - an opportunity to connect with each other, meet Rhodes Scholars and staff, and explore life at the University of Oxford.

Sincere thanks to the universities that nominated these exceptional finalists and to the referees who supported their applications. It was a pleasure to meet each and every one of you, and we’re excited to see where your passion and talent will lead!

The Global #RhodesScholarship offers a fully funded, transformative postgraduate education experience at University of Oxford. It’s available to applicants from countries not covered by a Rhodes constituency, and to apply you must be nominated by your university. Applications for 2026 open on 1 June, learn more via the link in bio.

With only 3 days to go, we asked #RhodesScholars what they are most looking forward to at the Rhodes Forum on Technology and Society 💫

We can’t wait to welcome speakers and attendees from around the world to Rhodes House and online on Saturday 2 November to explore the impact and potential of technology and innovation in a rapidly changing world 🌎

In-person registrations have now closed, but you can still register to attend online at the link in our bio ➡️ bit.ly/TechAndSociety2024

#TechAndSociety2024

This International Internet Day, we're celebrating #RhodesScholar Dr Joy Buolamwini @poetofcode founder of the Algorithmic Justice League @ajlunited that works to challenge bias in decision-making software using art, advocacy and research to illuminate the social implications of artificial intelligence. 🌐

In her book 'Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What is Human in a World of Machines', she reflects on where her search for truth began: "While my mother asked questions of colours, my father asked questions of cells. In the midst of their explorations, I began to ask questions about computers. (...) And so it was that, surrounded by art and science from a very young age, I was emboldened to explore, to ask questions, to dare to alter what seemed fixed, and also to view the artist's and the scientist's search for truth as common companions." ⚖️

🔎 Learn more about the Algorithmic Justice League at www.ajl.org or read about Joy's journey at www.unmasking.ai

📷 Photo by Tom Lindboe

#InternationalInternetDay #JoyBuolamwini #EthicsInAI #TechForGood #UnmaskingAI #ArtificialIntelligence #AlgorithmicBias #HumanCentredAI #TechEquity