Rhythmicity and Coordination: The Importance of Circadian and Seasonal Biology

Rhythmicity and Coordination: The Importance of Circadian and Seasonal Biology 🌙🧠

Part of the Oxford Mathematics Public Lectures, this talk by Professor Russell Foster explores the profoundly rhythmic nature of biology — from rapid neuronal firing and pulsatile hormone release to the daily (circadian) and annual cycles that shape life across species. Foster examines how these internal clocks coordinate physiology and behaviour, and why disruptions to these rhythms can have far‑reaching consequences for human health.

Drawing on research spanning birds, mammals, and humans, the lecture highlights the mechanisms of circadian and seasonal timing, their evolutionary significance, and the growing recognition that in biology — as in science more broadly — timing is everything.

What to expect:

• 🌗 An accessible exploration of circadian and seasonal rhythms across biological systems
• 🧬 Insights into how biological timing influences health, behaviour, and disease
• 🔬 Discussion of the mechanisms behind internal clocks and their relevance to modern life