Showcasing excellence in ISIS science
05 Jun 2026 - Preeti Kaur
In June, members of the public had the unique opportunity to explore archaeological science undertaken at ISIS at the University of Oxford Vice-Chancellor’s Awards Showcase, an event that brings together some of the University’s highest impact projects under one roof.
Hosted in the new Schwartzman Centre for the Humanities and open to all staff, students and the wider public, the event was a celebration of this year’s shortlisted projects, including the work of ISIS’s George Green, who was shortlisted for the Breakthrough Researcher Award.
Working with the ISIS Public Engagement Team, George curated an interactive exhibition stand where visitors were able to get hands-on with a collection of ancient coins from the Ashmolean Museum, explore muon science up close and discover how muons at ISIS are being used in cutting-edge heritage studies.
George, an Associate Professor in Classical and Scientific Archaeology, along with Alice Main, a PhD student joint with ISIS and University of Oxford, use negative muons at ISIS to understand the movement and manufacture of gold in ancient Africa, Asia and Europe. A recent example of their work on the world’s first coins can be found here.
To find out more about public engagement at ISIS and how we can support your activities, email ISISPubEng@stfc.ac.uk.
