For centuries, Oxfordshire has been a hotbed of innovation and scientific excellence. Revolutionary research and astounding discoveries emerge almost daily from our universities.

Oxfordshire’s high technology companies continue to create new products and services which power the region’s economy and scientists, technologists and engineers from Oxfordshire continue to shape the modern world.

This year, The Royal Society celebrates its 350th anniversary, and from March to October Oxford Inspires and Science Oxford put a spotlight on science in a countywide season of work generated by artists, scientists and educators across Oxfordshire.

The season will be packed full of exciting, revealing and informative events, ranging from talks and conferences to dance shows, plays, exhibitions and even an opera!

Many events have emerged from fruitful collaborations between Oxfordshire’s science and artistic communities.

The Children’s International Arts Organisation (CIAO) have collaborated with the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford to create a huge ark to be built in Oxford in June.

Here scientists, artists and schoolchildren will create a world to show us how a low carbon future could be a great thing.

Meanwhile genetic scientists are working with New London Chamber Choir to present in July the world premiere of Music from the Genome at The Diamond Light Source, a beautiful composition based entirely upon DNA samples provided by the singers.

Not forgetting the Oxfordshire Science Festival, emerging to take its place as a highlight of the annual Oxfordshire festival calendar, celebrating our scientific excellence with all the community.

For more information on Seasons of Science throughout the year go to www.oxfordinspires.org Oxford has several links to the Royal Society. The foundation of the society in 1660 owed much to the group of experimental philosophers in Oxford in the 1650s, led by John Wilkins (Warden of Wadham College 1648- 1659) and the Old Ashmolean in Broad Street, opened in 1683 as a centre for the then new discipline of experimental learning.

Originally appointed to spearhead Cromwellian reform at the university, his tolerant attitude, charm and thirst for knowledge ensured that Oxford became a Mecca for early scientists whether they had Parliamentarian or Royalist sympathies.

It was at Wadham that Wilkins formed a club for those interested in science (sometimes referred to as ‘The Oxford Experimental Philosophy Club’) many of whose members would play a key role in the founding of The Royal Society.

Original members of the club included Robert Hooke, Christopher Wren, Seth Ward, Robert Wood, and John Wallis.

Wilkins created a formal garden at Wadham where many fantastical mechanical devices, such as clockwork flying machines, the first mechanical seed drill, and transparent beehives (from which honey could be extracted without killing bees), were tested.

The garden was also fitted with a range of scientific instruments and a ‘talking statue’ complete with a tube through which Wilkins could project his voice and surprise unwary visitors!

Now home to the Museum of the History of Science, the Old Ashmolean is the only surviving building from the period when the movement to reform natural knowledge, from which the Royal Society grew, was an influential force.

Today, the Royal Society acts as a scientific advisor to Government, and funds a variety of research fellowships and scientific start-up companies, as well as acting as the United Kingdom’s Academy of Sciences.

■ Seasons of Science is co-ordinated by Oxford Inspires and Science Oxford and generated by collaborations across the University of Oxford, Oxford Brookes University, science research institutes, cultural organisations and businesses across the county. For more information on Seasons of Science throughout the year and a full listing of events, visit the website: www.oxfordinspires.org