Brain and mental health research is a key strength of the University of Oxford, one of the few places in the world that covers this area from a "cell to population" level. This is an area of strategic importance to the institution, and in 2023, the university’s public affairs team ran a campaign focusing on Oxford’s excellence in this area, with an aim to demystify the science behind the research and destigmatize mental health topics. To bring the university's research to wider audiences, further enhance the human aspect of the work, and focus on particular topics in more depth, the team produced a new series of the award-winning Futuremakers podcast. The Futuremakers: Brain and Mental Health series comprised nine episodes, ranging on topics from maternal mental health and the protection of mental health in crisis contexts to workplace wellbeing and evidence-based strategies for suicide prevention. Hosted by Professor Belinda Lennox, Oxford’s head of psychiatry, the series features interviews with internal experts and external guests, providing insight into research and bringing real-life perspectives to important topics. Series guests came from organizations such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Born This Way Foundation, SameYou, Queen's University Belfast, and Groov. Launched in July 2023, the series has achieved 21,500 listens across Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.
From the Judges
The University of Oxford successfully used its expertise in this topic area to produce an engaging and interesting podcast series. We especially liked the podcast hub page that provided background information, transcripts, and links that supported the overall brain and mental health campaign.
