OxJournal is an academic platform for intellectually engaged young people. We publish high-quality, university-level research papers produced by 12-18 year olds under the supervision of an expert academic or researcher in their chosen field of study. We hope the papers published here will inspire you to further explore your own academic interests and potential.
Business, Economics & Finance
Defensive Economic Protectionism vs. Multilateral Trade: Navigating the Boundaries of the Rules-Based Global Order
Geopolitical rivalries and shortcomings in supply chains have forced countries to abandon global free trade for protectionist economics that clash directly with the WTO’s non-discrimination policies. Through case studies that investigate the consequences of both under-protectionism and over-protectionism, this paper explores the legal limits of state interventions.
Read More
Weighting Protection: Do U.S. Tariffs Benefit American Workers on Net?
This paper argues that the costs of US tariffs to American consumers and businesses outweigh the benefits they provide to protected domestic industries and their workers, resulting in a small negative net effect on overall US economic welfare.
Read More
Computer Science & Coding
Digital Twins: Concepts, Technologies, Applications, Challenges and Future Directions
Digital twin technology has emerged as a foundation for modern hybrid engineering, integrating physical assets with their virtual replicas through continuous, automated bidirectional data synchronisation. This paper explores the concepts, technologies, applications, challenges and future directions of digital twin technology.
Read More
Explainable Artificial Intelligence: A Comprehensive Review of Methods, Applications, Challenges and Future Directions
Explainability is a significant weakness of artificial intelligence. While modern AI delivers outstanding performance, its black box creates significant trust and safety difficulties for users. This paper provides an overview of explainable AI (XAI), a field dedicated to making AI decisions more transparent and interpretable.
Read More
Engineering
Machines vs Doctors: How Well Can AI Detect Disease in Medical Scans Compared with Doctors?
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to analyse medical scans, detect signs of disease and flag suspicious findings. This paper examines how its performance compares with that of doctors and whether strong results from medical imaging studies are enough to justify its use in hospitals.
Read More
How Can China’s Hainan Province Develop Sustainably Engineered Public Spaces to Help Combat the Effects of Climate Change?
China’s Hainan province faces harsh climate risks throughout the year that leaves citizens extremely vulnerable when visiting public spaces. This paper focuses on how to build spaces that can easily withstand climate challenges and can adapt to the needs of the many living on the island.
Read More
Law
The Enforcement Deficit: Structural Failure and Reform in the ICC, the ICJ and Beyond
This paper examines the enforcement deficit at the heart of international law, arguing that the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are structurally undermined by their dependence on State cooperation and by politicised judicial elections.
Read More
International Law Institutions: Leading Us to or Away From the Water of Peace?
This paper argues that the gravest crisis facing international law lies not in State defiance but in the very institutions entrusted with upholding it. It examines the use-of-force regime under Articles 2(4) and 51 of the UN Charter, traces Security Council paralysis across Syria, Ukraine and Gaza, and assesses the G4 and Uniting for Consensus reform proposals.
Read More
Medicine
How Can Public Health Systems Consider Social Determinants to Prevent Chronic Illness More Effectively and Equitably By 2035?
Incorporating digital and more traditional practices, this paper examines how we can utilise social determinants of health in order to prevent chronic illnesses. It also examines how social determinants of health influence individual behaviour and choices that contribute to chronic disease risk and exposes the limitations of relying only on behavioural interventions.
Read More
The Influence of Image-Based Social Media and Photo-Editing Tools on Anorexia Nervosa Risk and Symptomatology in Adolescent Females Aged 10-19
Social media and photo editing tools are becoming more prevalent. These tools have become helpful for connecting; however, they may also be linked to the development of anorexia nervosa (AN). This review analyses how social media and photo editing tools are associated with increased risk of AN in adolescent females between the ages of 10-19.
Read More
Politics & International Relations
Revolution! Revolt! How Much Do Perceptions of Events Shape Our Memory of the Past?
Historical memory shapes our perceptions of the past, but how do our present circumstances shape our historical memories, and how does that affect our ideas of the past? This paper explores this question as it pertains to the concept of revolution, rebellion and uprising. It posits that both collective memory and antagonistic memory are significant driving forces in historical memory and the later labelling of past events.
Read More
How Does Interpretation of the Past Shape Conflicts Between National Sovereignty and Security?
This paper examines how historical memory shapes conflicts between national security and national sovereignty. It argues that memories of past events tend to intensify such conflicts, leading states to prioritise their own security even at the expense of another state’s sovereignty.
Read More
Psychology & Neuroscience
Successful vs Violent Psychopaths: Developmental Differences
Research suggests that successful psychopaths, who typically engage in covert financial crimes, have far greater control of their impulses than violent psychopaths who commit overt crimes and exhibit antisocial behaviours. This paper investigates the developmental differences between successful and violent psychopaths from a biological and environmental perspective.
Read More
Alcohol and Heroin Dependence: A Comparative Review
Alcohol and heroin are both addictive substances where people can experience different dependence behaviours and withdrawal symptoms. This paper highlights physical dependence through the comparison of withdrawal symptoms associated with alcohol and heroin, with a specific focus on the short-term and long-term effects of withdrawal.
Read More