World renowned neuroscientist & mathematician recognised as The Oxford Science Park’s Magdalen Centre is given new identity
Sherrington and Whitehead Buildings combine with new Bellhouse Building in 100,000 sq ft innovation centre
Oxford, UK, October 15 2019 - The Oxford Science Park, one of the UK's leading parks for science and technology companies, has recognised a Nobel Prize-winning biologist and a leading mathematician as it re-names two of the buildings in the Magdalen Centre, its innovation centre. Magdalen Centre South takes its new name from Professor Charles Sherrington, who is famous for his work on the nervous system. The expert in homotropy theory, mathematician Professor Henry Whitehead, has inspired the new brand for Magdalen Centre North. With the third Magdalen Centre building, the Bellhouse Building, nearing completion, the 100,000 sq ft innovation centre is one of the largest in Europe.
With the three buildings in the Magdalen Centre now celebrating a neuroscientist, mathematician and a biomedical engineer (Professor Brian Bellhouse), it reflects the broad range of activity undertaken by companies across the Park.
Professor Sir Charles Sherrington was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1932, based on his work on the functions of neurons in the nervous system. His 1904 work 'The Integrative Action of the Nervous System' has been highly influential. One of the founders of homotropy theory (mapping of topological spaces), mathematician Professor Henry Whitehead is the author of 'Foundations of Differential Geometry', a classic in the field. He also worked as a codebreaker at Bletchley Park during the Second World War. Professors Sherrington and Whitehead are both alumni of Magdalen College Oxford, which owns The Oxford Science Park.
New logos have been created for the Bellhouse, Sherrington and Whitehead Buildings. They have been designed to capture the essence of each’s work.
Professor Sir David Clary, President of Magdalen College, said ‘Magdalen has a tremendous record of breakthroughs in science, medicine and mathematics. Last week, one of our Fellows, Sir Peter Ratcliffe, won the Nobel Prize for Medicine, the fifth Magdalen member to do so, taking our total Nobel Prizes to ten. Many of the innovations being developed and commercialised at The Oxford Science Park are based on the fundamental research done by our members and colleagues in the Oxford University laboratories and hospitals and we are delighted to recognise and support their achievements.’
Piers Scrimshaw-Wright, CEO of The Oxford Science Park, said, 'With advances in healthcare increasingly being driven by the convergence of various disciplines, this new branding gives us the opportunity to recognise the influence of Professors Sherrington and Whitehead, alongside that of Professor Bellhouse. As the Park continues its expansion plans with the proposed development of two new buildings on Plot 16, we expect more interdisciplinary companies to join our dynamic and flourishing ecosystem. The family of three buildings within the Magdalen Centre will play a pivotal role in future growth.'
A revised Park plan is available.
For more information, please contact:
The Oxford Science Park
Emma Palmer Foster, Strategic Communications Consultant
T: +44 (0)7880 787185
Notes to editors
About The Oxford Science Park
The Oxford Science Park is owned and managed by Magdalen College, Oxford. Created in 1991, the Park upholds the College’s heritage and provides one of the most influential Science & Technology environments in the UK. There is approaching 750,000 square feet of workspace accommodation across the Park, which is now home to more than 2,700 people and more than 130 businesses. These range from start-ups based in the Magdalen Centre innovation hub to major international companies and include: Blue Earth Diagnostics, Circassia, OrganOx, OxSonics, Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Sharp Life Science, Oxford Genetics, ProImmune, Oxford Sciences Innovation, Evox Therapeutics, Vaccitech, Exscientia and Sensyne Health.
In addition to being a key property investment, the Park is at the heart of Magdalen College's strategy to support discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship. It will continue to develop The Oxford Science Park as a long-term strategic asset, with ambitious plans to create an additional 300,000+ sq ft of office and laboratory space on the remaining 10+ acres of land over the next 3-5 years. This additional capacity will support the growth of businesses already based on the Park, providing flexible workspace accommodation, and enabling new companies to enjoy the Park’s exceptional environment and collegiate and collaborative ethos. The Oxford Science Park is located approximately four miles south-east of Oxford city centre, just off the City’s southern ring road. It has easy access to the M40 and A34, as well as to Heathrow Airport and mainline train services. For further information, please visit: www.oxfordsp.com or follow us on twitter @OxfordSciencePK