PALS and the UCL Bicentenary

PALS is proud to play a role in UCL’s Bicentenary year, with a rich programme of events and activities showcasing our history, research, creativity and community. The PALS Bicentenary programme is being led by Professor Lasana Harris, and reflects the breadth of work across psychology, linguistics, neuroscience, language sciences and communication. Below is an overview of the PALS-led activities planned as part of the UCL200 celebrations. Further details will be added as events approach.

PALS Bicentenary Events and Activities

UCaLe - UCL200 Beer 

As part of the Bicentenary celebrations, UCaLe has officially launched - a light, fresh Bermondsey Pale brewed with English hops to mark UCL’s 200th year. There’s a PALS link too. Back in the day, UCL Psychology Lecturer Dr Keith Langley advised student John (Jack) Hobday to home-brew “to save some money on beer!”. Inspired, Jack later teamed up with his flatmate Paul Anspach and co-founded Anspach & Hobday in 2014. Now, as a PALS BSc Psychology alumnus and one of the brewers behind UCaLe, Jack’s story is a brilliant example of where a PALS degree can lead. Find out more about UCaLe here.

Chandler House Historical Display

Opening: 11 February (as part of the UCL200 launch celebrations)

A historical display hosted in Chandler House, exploring the building’s history, its role within UCL, and the stories behind key artifacts from across PALS disciplines. The display will offer staff, students and visitors an opportunity to discover more about the spaces we work in and the people who have shaped them. Please see our website fore more information.

Language Across UCL

February
Led by the Linguistics student society

A student-led celebration of language across UCL, bringing together talks, activities and creative contributions that reflect the role of language in research, education and everyday life. Find out more here.

Laugh Till It Hertz (ICN)

April

A public engagement event from the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience (ICN), blending science, humour and storytelling to explore the brain and behaviour in an accessible and engaging way. Find out more here. 

ICN 30th Anniversary Event

April

A special event marking 30 years of the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, reflecting on its history, impact and future directions as part of the wider Bicentenary celebrations. Find out more here.

Psychology Summer Festival

June

A festival-style celebration of psychology at UCL, featuring talks, demonstrations, interactive activities and opportunities for engagement with researchers, students and the wider public. Find out more here.

DCAL-X 20th Anniversary Event

October

Celebrating 20 years of DCAL-X, recognising its contributions to deafness, cognition and language research, innovation and collaboration.

PALS Christmas Show

December

A festive end-of-year event bringing the PALS community together to close the Bicentenary year with creativity, performance and celebration.

More information on individual events will be added throughout the year. We look forward to welcoming staff, students, alumni and partners to celebrate UCL’s Bicentenary together through PALS.

• Explore the full programme of activities across UCL via the central Bicentenary hub.
• Find out more about Professor Lasana Harris’ role in the UCL200 wider team here.