UCL celebrates its academic community with Spring awards reception

The second of two events recognising academic excellence at UCL, last month’s reception brought together academic colleagues from across the institution for an evening of live music and celebrations. 

A range of award categories were represented at the reception, with invitees including recipients of academic promotions, royal honours, major external prizes and key fellowships. 

The event sought to recognise the immense research, skill, and collaboration involved in academic staff’s achievement of academic promotion and highlight the profound impact of UCL research on the global landscape – including key breakthroughs made in the areas of cancer and Alzheimer's, engineering and archaeology.

Academics received recognition for a range of different awards, including:

• developing breakthrough therapies for dementia, including creating the amyloid cascade hypothesis of Alzheimer’s disease – the major theory of the disease;
• using Twitter threads to 'shine light' on scientific papers and data, and helping the public to understand COVID19 throughout the confusion of the early pandemic; and

• leading one of the largest training programmes in the history of the civil service.

Reflecting on the reception, UCL President and Provost Dr Michael Spence said:

"This evening has been a wonderful celebration of the incredible talent and dedication that exists across UCL, and a reflection of our commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive community where the exceptional academic work of our staff is recognised, valued, and celebrated. I’d like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the award winners and nominees – your contributions are integral to UCL's success, and I am proud to be part of a community that is dedicated to making a real-life global impact in the world".

Turlogh O'Brien CBE, member of UCL Council, added:

"The event showed that the academic achievements of UCL are spread across the very wide range of subjects covered by the university. There is strength in breadth as well as in depth. These are achievements by a wide range of incredible people working individually and together".