Professor Sam Howison explores how an institution like Oxford University can build accessible environments, highlighting the complexities, evolving needs, and broad benefits of inclusive design. The experience of our students and staff as they study and work is wholly bound up with the environment – physical and technical as well as social and cultural – in which we all do these things. The range of capabilities in interacting with our work environment is enormous and multidimensional. Individuals change over time. The whole question is very far from being answerable in a binary way: A has a certain disability, B does not.

At this year’s Annual Disability lecture, Professor Sam Howison will consider how an institution like Oxford University might think about these issues as it maintains, refurbishes and rebuilds its workplace. He will explore some of the challenges, complexities and compromises involved, starting from the premise that the beneficiaries of ‘accessible by design’, are far greater in number than simple regulatory compliance would suggest.

British Sign Language interpretation is provided for the lecture, but is not available for the final Vote of Thanks.

About the speaker:

Professor Sam Howison is an applied mathematician with a deep interest in using mathematics to help understand the world around us. His research interests are in mathematical modelling and applications of differential equations in a wide variety of topics; recent projects include models of heat transfer in electrochemical furnaces, melting of Arctic sea ice, and the microstructure of Bitcoin markets. Professor Howison has served as Head of the Mathematical Institute and, more recently, as Head of the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences division at Oxford University, as well as serving in several national organisations, including the new Academy of Mathematical Sciences. He is currently enjoying a return to teaching at Christ Church and in the Mathematical Institute.

Professor Howison said: “I am delighted to have been invited to give this year’s Disability Lecture. I had the great good fortune to be Head of the Mathematical Institute during the construction of the wonderful Andrew Wiles Building and this kindled an interest in the user-facing aspects of design, which are critical for those of all abilities. I look forward to sharing this interest at the lecture.”

Additional content:

- There is a transcript available to download including selected graphics from the slides.

- Also, Professor Howison's full slides are available to download.

- If you are using a podcasts service like Apple Podcasts or Spotify and wish to download these files, please visit the episode page on the Oxford University Podcasts website and use the links there: https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/2025-disability-lecture-building-environment-all