Research
It was a tremendous year for academic discovery, analysis and application at UCL; the small selection of examples on these pages reflects the vibrancy and diversity of achievement by the more than 4,000 members of our research community. Individual researchers at the forefront of their disciplines form the core of our university. Yet it is what these curious, creative and insightful minds can achieve together – working across and beyond conventional disciplinary boundaries – that gives UCL its extraordinary potential to address complex and systemic problems of global significance. In 2012, the UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources became the latest major cross-disciplinary centre to be established at our university, thanks in part to support from BHP Billiton, and represents one model to develop and advance novel understanding of critical issues. Another model is the series of UCL–Lancet commissions, the second of which issued its report, Shaping Cities for Health: The Complexity of Planning Urban Environments in the 21st Century, developed within the framework of the UCL Grand Challenge of Sustainable Cities. Following its publication, a series of sector-specific policy
Birds-eye view of a spiral galaxy © Mr Awat Rahimi, Space & Climate Physics
briefings were developed, and targeted workshops with government, policymakers, practitioners and the research community provided an opportunity to bring together stakeholders to discuss the commission’s findings. The project will continue in 2013, identifying new research paths and building relationships with new partners. Finally, the first three UCL Public Policy commissions were established this year, on City Competitiveness, on the Green Economy and Communicating Climate Science. They represent another opportunity for UCL to draw on the breadth of its expertise in order to address urgent problems of major significance to contemporary society. UCL is keen that its research and policy initiatives reflect the concerns of its external partners. Please contact us if you would like to explore how we can help you to make the world more prosperous, sustainable and equitable.
Professor David Price UCL Vice-Provost (Research)
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UCL Review 2012