UCL News

UCL School of Pharmacy students win Intercollegiate Debating Championships

2012-05-25T10:53:08Z

A team of fourth year students from UCL School of Pharmacy have won the 2nd Annual UK Intercollegiate Pharmacy Debating Championships.

Class of 2012: Leaving UCL - now what?

2012-05-25T10:33:04Z

The UCL Careers Service is running a week dedicated to UCL 2012 graduates, to help equip them with some useful knowledge and guidance to help after graduation.

Campaign for UCL exceeds £300m target

Dominique Fourniol — 2012-05-25T09:38:12Z

UCL has today announced the closure of its 2004 philanthropic campaign, two years ahead of schedule and over the £300m target it set itself at its launch. The Campaign for UCL is the largest UK campaign to close outside Oxbridge and has raised £316m to fund facilities that include:

RCPCH review, led by Professor Ruth Gilbert, to be the most comprehensive of its kind

Fleur Adolphe — 2012-05-24T16:49:51Z

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health review, led by Professor Ruth Gilbert, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at the Institute of Child Health, UCL, will be the most comprehensive of its kind.

UCL, Intel and Imperial to create Global Centre for Research in Sustainable Connected Cities

George Wigmore — 2012-05-24T13:24:14Z

UCL, Imperial College London and Intel have announced the launch of the Intel Collaborative Research Institute for Sustainable Connected Cities. The new London-based institute will be Intel’s first research centre and global hub dedicated to exploring how technology can support and sustain the social and economic development of cities worldwide.

UCL and Newham Council extend period to consider Stratford proposal

Ruth Metcalfe — 2012-05-21T16:16:25Z

UCL and Newham Council have agreed to extend the initial six month period for consideration of a UCL presence in Stratford until the end of September.

New scheme launched as part of Yale UCL collaboration

Neil D Rodger — 2012-05-18T12:41:54Z

The Yale UCL Collaborative Student Exchange Programme has been launched to enable UCL doctoral students to undertake a period of research at Yale working under a Yale Supervisor.

UCL student wins Eisenthal Prize

Neil D Rodger — 2012-05-18T12:25:30Z

The Biochemical Society has announced Laura Mariotti (UCL Biochemistry) the winner of the annual Eisenthal Prize. The prize of £500 is awarded to the top-ranked application for the Summer Vacation Studentship programme.

Free UCL festival celebrates London and Literature

Ruth Metcalfe — 2012-05-21T09:34:01Z

A free one-day festival dedicated to the celebration of London and Literature will give the public an opportunity to listen to and share thoughts with celebrated authors, poets and academics on all things London.

UCL Announces Fifth Annual Enterprise Awards

Henry Rummins — 2012-05-18T11:04:43Z

UCL has announced its Awards for Enterprise to recognize the achievements of students, graduates and academic staff to furthering enterprise and entrepreneurship on campus. In their fifth year, the Awards celebrate the exciting new business ideas of student and graduate entrepreneurs – ranging from HelpYouApply, to streamline the process for students applying to summer internships, to Old Bond, offering animated ads on the wheels of bikes – with the announcement of £100,000 in start-up funding to take their business ideas to the next level.

New silicon memory chip developed

Clare S Ryan — 2012-05-18T11:38:36Z

The first purely silicon oxide-based ‘Resistive RAM’ memory chip that can operate in ambient conditions – opening up the possibility of new super-fast memory - has been developed by researchers at UCL.

UCL News Podcast (18/05/12) - One Day in the City

George Wigmore — 2012-05-18T09:49:28Z

The UCL News podcast gives you the opportunity to listen to the latest news and research from around UCL every fortnight. Split up into three parts, you can either listen to the podcast all in one go, or save features for later listening.

The Banana Theory: realising the carbon footprint of bananas

Clare S Ryan — 2012-05-17T11:20:03Z

Exactly how bad are bananas? Or anything else? Inspired by Mike Berners-Lee’s book How Bad Are Bananas?, The Banana Theory project demonstrates, using QR code technology and installation art, the difficulty we face when deciding how to change our lifestyle to become greener.

Who stole my milk?: Exploring student homes in London

Ruth Metcalfe — 2012-05-17T11:12:30Z

In the lead up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, The Geffrye: Museum of the Home and MA students from UCL Institute of Archaeology are investigating shared and private spaces within London’s international student homes.

Greater awareness needed of rare disease cluster to aid earlier diagnosis

Fleur Adolphe — 2012-05-17T10:16:00Z

World experts gather at first international cilia scientific conference in London, 16-18 May

Sainsbury Wellcome Centre: contractor appointed and building work begins

Ruth Metcalfe — 2012-05-16T15:52:07Z

Building works for a new research centre at UCL will begin later this month, following the formal signing of contracts worth in excess of £70 million with Kier Construction.

Butterfly genome reveals a promiscuous past

Clare S Ryan — 2012-05-16T11:00:23Z

An international collaborative study to map the genome of a South American butterfly has identified the secret behind its mimetic nature.

Festival of Volunteering at UCL

2012-05-14T11:18:53Z

UCL and UCLU are launching a two-week Festival of Volunteering this summer. The programme will include talks, workshops and social events, as well as lots of practical opportunities to get involved in short term volunteering.

Bright Club event at the Bloomsbury Theatre

2012-05-15T11:02:40Z

Bright Club: The UK event is coming to the Bloomsbury Theatre on 18 May. Four of the hottest talents from outside London will take on four UCL performers to find out which city does funny best. This special gig is to celebrate the Bright Clubs emerging all over the UK.

Success for UCLU Women’s Badminton

2012-05-11T14:55:39Z

UCLU Badminton Women's 1sts have been promoted to the Premiership after a convincing 8-0 win in the final play-off against Cambridge.

Research reveals association between red hair gene and rare birthmarks

Ruth Metcalfe — 2012-05-11T12:20:29Z

Research carried out at the UCL Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital has identified that the gene causing red hair - melanocortin-1-receptor (MC1R) - is more common in children with Congenital Melanocytic Naevi (CMN), a rare form of birthmark.

UCL Engineering Receives Grand Challenges Explorations Funding

Clare S Ryan — 2012-05-11T09:52:36Z

UCL Engineering announced today that two members of staff will receive funding through Grand Challenges Explorations, an initiative created by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that enables individuals worldwide to test unorthodox ideas that address persistent health and development challenges.

Dr Tarit Mukhopadhyay and Professor Clare Elwell will pursue their innovative global health research projects, titled ‘Elimination of the Cold Chain with Low-Cost Liquid Viral Vaccines’ and ‘Novel Biomarkers of Nutrition Related Cognitive Development’.

X-rays emitted from black holes sterilise galaxies

Clare S Ryan — 2012-05-10T10:35:58Z

Astronomers at UCL, using ESA’s Herschel Space Observatory, have shown that the number of stars that form during the early lives of galaxies may be controlled by the massive black holes at their hearts.

Five new UCL fellows of Academy of Medical Sciences

Ruth Metcalfe — 2012-05-10T09:23:37Z

Five medical researchers from UCL have been recognised for excellence in medical science by election to the Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences.

UCL’s Target Medicine programme discussed with Cabinet Office

2012-05-09T16:08:00Z

Dr Jayne Kavanagh and Ms Shirley Cupit (UCL Target Medicine) visited Whitehall to discuss access to the medical profession with Cabinet Office civil servants.

UCL wins contract to help internationalise the internet

Henry Rummins — 2012-05-09T14:46:05Z

UCL Arts & Humanities and UCL Consultants Ltd. have won a competitive bid to provide expertise to enable internet users to create full web addresses using non-Latin script names.

Men can rest easy – sex chromosomes are here to stay

Clare S Ryan — 2012-05-09T11:15:14Z

Fears that sex-linked chromosomes, such as the male Y chromosome, are doomed to extinction have been refuted in a new genetic study which examines the sex chromosomes of chickens.

The study, published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), looked at how genes on sex-linked chromosomes are passed down generations and linked to fertility, using the specific example of the W chromosome in female chickens.

Exhibition of photographs shine a light on the world of clinical research.

Fleur Adolphe — 2012-05-09T08:48:19Z

An extraordinary exhibition of photographs opens this month to shine a light on the world of clinical research.

Summer of outreach at UCL

2012-05-08T13:20:24Z

This summer, UCL Outreach has a broad range of activities planned in order to engage with young people across the country. The aim is to inspire and support students as well as to foster a genuine interest in university life and study.

Widening participation in architecture: A student mentor's experience

2012-05-08T14:06:58Z

Tom James, a first-year student at the UCL Bartlett School of Architecture, talks about his experience of being a mentor on the Open-City Accelerate programme.

National hand-washing campaign improved hygiene and reduced infection

David R Weston — 2012-05-02T17:52:25Z

An evaluation of the national cleanyourhands campaign shows for the first time that an effective hand-hygiene campaign, undertaken in the context of a high profile political drive, can successfully reduce some healthcare associated infections, according to a new study published in the BMJ.

UCL News podcast – 3 May 2012

George Wigmore — 2012-05-03T14:10:51Z

UCL News has launched a new podcast to give you the opportunity to listen to the latest news and research from around UCL every fortnight. Split up into three parts, you can either listen to the podcast all in one go, or save features for later listening.

Trial makes thyroid cancer treatment safer and shorter

David R Weston — 2012-05-03T10:38:03Z

A new gold standard for thyroid cancer treatment has been set, reducing radiation doses to just one third of the current level, according to research from the CRUK-UCL Cancer Trials Centre. The results are published in today’s New England Journal of Medicine.

Billion euro ESA mission to explore icy worlds of Jupiter

George Wigmore — 2012-05-02T15:15:56Z

The European Space Agency (ESA) has approved a new mission, which includes scientists from UCL, to explore Jupiter and the habitability of its icy moons.

Vincula: The Slade revisits UCL’s art collections

Ruth Metcalfe — 2012-05-02T12:06:11Z

UCL Art Museum is delighted to present Vincula (8th May – 8th June), a group exhibition of new artworks made in response to past masters.

UCL gives evidence to House of Lords Select Committee

Ruth Metcalfe — 2012-05-02T09:57:23Z

Professor David Bogle (Head of UCL Graduate School) gave evidence on 24 April to the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee inquiry into higher education in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

Bartlett announces £100K in studentships to tackle inequality

Clare S Ryan — 2012-05-02T09:54:27Z

The UCL Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment is introducing £100K worth of studentships to encourage postgraduate students from a broader social background to apply.

Short courses in small company management

2012-04-30T11:01:51Z

UCL Advances have some upcoming short courses on offer at UCL, specialising in small company management. The courses are designed for those who would like to develop and refine key business and technical skills.

UCL Language and Study Skills Summer School

2012-04-24T10:34:33Z

Following the introduction of a foreign language requirement for UK students applying to UCL, a Language and Study Skills Summer School will be launched this year as an alternative for pupils from years 12 and 13 who do not meet the criteria.

Vice-Provost appointed to STFC Council

Nicholas W Tyndale — 2012-04-27T14:21:42Z

Professor David Price, UCL Vice-Provost (Research) has been appointed by David Willetts MP, Minister for Universities & Science, as a member of Science & Technology Facilities (STFC) Council.

The Princess Royal visits UCL Institute of Archaeology

Ruth Metcalfe — 2012-04-27T14:21:42Z

The 75th Anniversary of the UCL Institute of Archaeology has been marked by a visit this week from Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Chancellor of the University of London.

Exam disruption due to Tottenham Court Road evacuation

Lara J Carim — 2012-04-27T15:25:26Z

Due to the incident occurring in Tottenham Court Road on Friday 27 April, UCL was required by the police to evacuate 188 Tottenham Court Road during the morning examinations, and had to cancel the afternoon’s examinations taking place in the venues at 188 Tottenham Court Road, the American Church and one paper in the Jeremy Bentham Room.

The papers from the morning examinations have been collected and will be sent to departments to mark, taking into account the disruption. The cancelled afternoon examinations will be rescheduled to take place before the end of term. Students will be emailed about this in due course.

Students who were forced to leave behind personal belongings due to the evacuation may collect these from the reception desk at 1–19 Torrington Place.

UCL Grand Challenges Student Fund

2012-04-24T10:20:20Z

UCL has launched a fund for student projects that tackle one of its four Grand Challenges of Global Health, Sustainable Cities, Intercultural Interaction and Human Wellbeing.

Not enough is known about prescription drug use in pregnancy

David R Weston — 2012-04-26T17:02:52Z

Prescription drug use during pregnancy is prevalent, however, not enough is known about the adverse effects they may have on the developing fetus, according to a new review by academics at the UCL Institute of Child Health. The research is published in The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist (TOG) today.

50th Anniversary of the UK's first step into space

Ruth Metcalfe — 2012-04-26T10:16:28Z

The first satellite to carry experiments devised and operated by UK universities including UCL was launched 50 years ago today.

Teaching and Learning newsletter launching in May

2012-04-25T10:45:37Z

The Teaching and Learning Portal is a resource offering ideas, information and news for anyone who wants to know more about teaching and learning at UCL. A dedicated newsletter is being launched in May and anyone subscribing before 30 April enters a draw to win an iPad.

UCLU Drama Society selected to perform finale

2012-04-24T14:43:28Z

UCLU Drama Society’s version of The Tempest has been chosen as the finale of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Open Stages event.

Ageing population could boost economy

George Wigmore — 2012-04-24T10:06:46Z

Older people are a benefit, rather than a burden, to the economy and society according to a new report from the UCL School of Pharmacy.