UCL Public Policy

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Past UCL Public Policy events

UCL Public Policy runs an events series during the UCL term. The events cover a wide range of issues relevant to public policy and bring together academics, policymakers and others to offer a variety of perspectives.

Some highlights of recent events are shown below. You can browse further details of our past public policy events to the left.

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The Science of Happiness

This event explored explored some of the evidence on what makes people happy, drawing on expertise from neuroscience and political science. It sought to draw out the implications for policy and consider how policymakers can act to help to improve quality of life and deliver on their promises of happiness.

Speakers

Dr Tali Sharot (UCL Cognitive, Perceptual & Brain Sciences)

Dr Jan-Emmanuel De Neve (UCL School of Public Policy)

Dr Gemma Harper, Chief Social Researcher, DEFRA

Dr Stephen Hicks, Assistant Programme Director – Measuring National Well-being, ONS

Chaired by Professor Brian Collins (Director, UCL Centre for Engineering Policy)

In conjunction with the UCL Grand Challenge of Human Wellbeing.

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Climate Change and Financial Risk

In conjunction with the UCL Environment Institute, the Aon Benfield UCL Hazard Centre and Aon.

This event, chaired by BBC journalist Julian O'Halloran, considered the financial risks associated with climate change adaptation, with speakers including:

• Professor Bill McGuire, Professor of Geophysical & Climate Hazards, Aon Benfield UCL Hazard Centre
• Rob Bailey, Senior Research Fellow for Energy, Environment & Resource Governance, Chatham House
• Bob Piggott, Head of Group Contingency Risk, HSBC
• Dr Sarah Bell, UCL Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering
• Dr Julien Harou, UCL Civil, Environmental & Geomatic Engineering
• Bill Peck, Head of Corporate Planning, Aon
• Lisa Horrocks, Project Director for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation, AEA
• Darius Campbell, Head of Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, DEFRA Group

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The Green Moment

Professor Michael Jacobs (former Special Adviser at HMT Treasury and 10 Downing St) offered his thoughts on the systemic crisis facing capitalism, caused by the present financial crisis and the longer-term problems of climate chance, increasing consumption and increasing life dissatisfaction. He reflected on the challenges this crisis of capitalism raises for progressive political economy and political theory, and suggested that now may be the 'green moment' – the opportunity for green and progressive politics to define a new political economy.

Discussants 

• Andrew Simm, new economics foundation
• Professor Wyn Grant, Professor of Politics & International Studies, University of Warwick

Chaired by Professor Paul Ekins, UCL Energy Institute