ORIEL COLLEGE

09 - 11 April 2024

The 2024 Blockchain in Education Summit and 2024 Digital Civilisation conference convene at Oriel College from 09 to 11 April, 2024.

Oriel College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Located in Oriel Square, the college has the distinction of being one of the oldest royal foundations in Oxford. In recognition of this royal connection, the college has also been historically known as King's College and King's Hall. The reigning monarch of the United Kingdom (since 2022, Charles III) is the official visitor (overseer) of the college.

Oriel College has nearly 40 fellows, approximately 300 undergraduates and around 250 graduates. Oriel's notable alumni include two Nobel laureates, while prominent fellows have included founders of the Oxford Movement that ultimately developed into Anglo-Catholicism.

The original medieval foundation established in 1324 by Adam de Brome, under the patronage of King Edward II of England, was the House of the Blessed Mary at Oxford, and the college received a royal charter in 1326. In 1329, an additional royal grant of a manor house, La Oriole, eventually gave rise to its common name. The first design allowed for a provost and ten fellows, called "scholars", and the college remained a small body of graduate fellows until the 16th century, when it started to admit undergraduates. During the English Civil War, Oriel played host to high-ranking members of the king's Oxford Parliament.

The main site of the college incorporates four medieval halls: Bedel Hall, St Mary Hall, St Martin Hall, and Tackley's Inn, the last being the oldest standing medieval hall in Oxford. The college has nearly 40 fellows, about 300 undergraduates and some 250 graduates. Oriel's notable alumni include two Nobel laureates. Prominent fellows have included founders of the Oxford Movement. Among Oriel's more notable possessions are a painting by Bernard van Orley and three pieces of medieval silver plate.

SPEAKER'S RECEPTION

Opening Day • 09 April

The speaker's reception will be held in a private room in Oriel College on the evening of Tuesday 09 April.

FORMAL DINNER

Day 2 • 10 April

The 3-course formal conference dinner, which includes pre-meal and meal drinks (white wine, red wine and soda beverages), will be held on Wednesday 10 April. Your options for the 3-course formal conference dinner include:

Meat Option

Drinks: White wine, red wine and soda beverages

Starter: Tomato and Red Pepper Risotto, Chives and Basil Oil

Main: Roasted Breast of Chicken, Olive Oil Crushed New Potatoes, Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables and Pesto Dressing

Dessert: Rich Belgian Chocolate Tart, Almond Chantilly and Coulis

Vegan Option

Drinks: White wine, red wine and soda beverages

Starter: Tomato and Red Pepper Risotto, Chives and Basil Oil

Main: Chargrilled Sicilian Aubergine, Olive Oil Crushed New Potatoes, Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables, and Basil Dressing

Dessert: Chocolate and Raspberry Tart, Raspberry Coulis

OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION

Your official accommodation in Oriel College includes breakfast each morning. Wake, dine and conference at Oriel for the ultimate "Oxford experience."

Wake, dine and conference in Oriel for the ultimate "Oxford experience."

RADCLIFFE CAMERA

A mere 2 minute walk from Oriel College, Radcliffe Camera (colloquially known as the "Rad Cam" or "The Camera") was designed by James Gibbs in neo-classical style and built in 1737-49 to house the Radcliffe Science Library. It is sited to the south of the Old Bodleian, north of the Church of St Mary the Virgin, and between Brasenose College to the west and All Souls College to the east. The Radcliffe Camera's circularity, its position in the heart of Oxford, and its separation from other buildings make it the focal point of the University of Oxford.

PAINTED CHAPEL WINDOWS

Work started on the Chapel in 1639, as part of the building of University College's south range. The university commissioned for the Chapel a set of hand-painted windows from Abraham van Linge, a Dutch artist who had produced splendid windows in various places in Oxford, including Lincoln, Queen's, and Christ Church. A contract was drawn up with van Linge to produce eight hand-painted side windows and one grand east window. They were his last work in Oxford, and, in many people's opinion, also his finest.

CHRIST CHURCH

Cathedral & Picture Gallery

Just a moment's walk from Oriel, Christ Church is unique among the Oxford and Cambridge colleges in possessing an important collection of Old Master paintings and drawings, housed in a purpose-built Picture Gallery of considerable architectural interest in itself. The internationally renowned drawings collection in the Picture Gallery at Christ Church is regarded as one of the most important private collections of Old Master drawings in the country and includes work by the masters; Leonardo, Michelangelo, Dürer, Raphael and Rubens.

CHRIST CHURCH MEADOW

Christ Church meadow is a rare open space at the heart of Oxford, open to the public all year round. Though seemingly tranquil, the meadow is highly variable, with seasonal flooding and a variety of wildlife that comes and goes. During the Civil War it proved invaluable as a defense against the Parliamentarian forces, but visitors are nowadays more likely to encounter a rare English Longhorn cow than a soldier besieging the city. The meadow is enclosed by the rivers Cherwell and Thames. The Thames is known as the Isis whilst flowing through the city, and is home to the college boathouses where rowing teams gather to train and compete. Between the river and the Meadow Gate of the college is the large Broad Walk, installed in the time of John Fell (1625-86), dean of Christ Church and Bishop of Oxford.

PAST PARTICIPANTS

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