The Social Sciences Division's Research, Impact and Engagement team has been working in partnership with BBC Ideas to co-produce a series of short films that help bring social sciences research to a wider public.

Through this partnership, which is the first of its type for the University of Oxford, BBC Ideas harnesses Oxford's academic research excellence to explore ideas that challenge and inform their viewers, engaging new audiences with social sciences research.

Whether through animation or live action, the five-minute films cover topics that range from climate change and the environment, to archaeology, anthropology and much more, offering new perspectives and facts you almost certainly didn't know about.

BBC Ideas produces a variety of thought-provoking short films and videos aimed at a general audience of under-35s that are designed to offer a fresh perspective across a broad range of topics and issues.

Previous films that Oxford's social scientists have made with BBC have been a huge success: from the Webby award-winning Five things you probably didn't know about periods and The surprising benefits of exercising with friends, to films about gaming and mental health, how to cool your home without air-con, why beans are great and the benefits of excercising with friends, they have gathered millions of views via the BBC and University of Oxford websites and their respective social media channels. They can all be watched here.

If you are a researcher who would like their research to resonate beyond academia, to spark conversation and curiosity, we will open a call for a new batch of films in Michaelmas Term 2026. Please keep an eye out on departmental newsletters and on our Sharepoint pages (SSO required).

The call will be open to all faculty members and research staff from departments in the Social Sciences Division. Fixed term researchers are particularly encouraged to apply. Established academics can nominate themselves or members of their research team to take part - this might include doctoral students and research staff. Students are not eligible to apply. 

BBC Ideas films are short but are designed to leave the audience learning something they genuinely didn't know before and/or give them a fresh perspective on a topic. They aim for an engaging watch that leaves people with genuine take-homes - the kind of thing you might chat with your friends about and say "Did you know…?". 

BBC Ideas commissions both film and animation, and tries to avoid anything that would be covered by BBC News. The objective is not to provide head-on news or current affairs, but rather to explore underlying issues/take a broader perspective etc. 

Their films are relatively evergreen, and will often be re-promoted multiple times. That said, films are generally commissioned on subjects that feel 'of now' and are in some way zeitgeisty - not too detached from reality - or on topics that feel timeless and universal. A news "hook" (even a loose one) is always useful in terms of getting initial promotion.

Films are promoted via the BBC News website, the BBC homepage and social media channels (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok where suitable), as well as via the University of Oxford and Social Sciences Division social media channels. BBC Ideas is keen that its films represent diversity in all its forms.