Provost's view

 

The 200-year anniversary of UCL’s foundation draws near and I, like many others in our community, have been reflecting on the many remarkable things that have happened at UCL, and could only have happened here at UCL, during that time. In this edition of Portico, the platform that UCL provides to enable the exceptional is vividly on display. 

Achala Moulik studied at UCL in the 1960s, but her reflections on her student days get to the heart of what has always made, and continues to make, UCL special. The “commitment at UCL for independent thinking” and the university’s “respect for difference and diversity” remain at the centre of everything we do. And the “thoughtful disagreement” which Achala recalls from her tutors continues to be fostered through our Disagreeing Well programme. 

The UCL commitment to constructively challenge the status quo and our position as a convenor of brave conversations are powerfully demonstrated in Dr Sam Blaxland’s examination of the anti-apartheid action which took place at UCL during the mid-to-late 20^th century. Open minds and open inquiry are fundamental to progress, as this powerful example of student activism shows. 

Naturally, over the course of 200 years, there are bound to be surprises and moments of magic along the way. The “library of lost maps” is the kind of discovery that could only be made at an institution with a history as long and rich as UCL’s; a history of continuously pursuing “useful knowledge” which enables societal progress. The maps tell us so much about the world, about war, climate change, urban development, but their discovery tells us something about UCL. 

The past 200 years have been characterised by our progressive spirit: a willingness to challenge convention, embrace nuance, and welcome diverse perspectives. These attributes will continue to define our approach and, if the past is any guide, the next 200 years will be just as extraordinary. And hopefully, there will be a few more pleasant surprises along the way. 

 Dr Michael Spence is President & Provost of UCL.