About us
- Our approach
UCL Grand Challenges is based on the premise that solutions to the greatest challenges rarely come from one field alone. Therefore, a large part of our work involves bringing researchers from diverse disciplines together with colleagues who possess knowledge outside their areas of expertise to test new ideas, build partnerships, and collaborate.
We also encourage collaboration with external organisations - both academic and non-academic, including charities, industry, third sector organisations and local authorities - to exchange knowledge and achieve impacts across all sectors of society.
Alongside running our own Grand Challenge-led initiatives, we award seed corn grants to UCL researchers and doctoral students, fund strategic projects, organise and support events and academic roundtables, establish and build partnerships, and provide a platform for innovative, ‘disruptive’ thinking via our podcasts and blog – all achieved through working closely with colleagues across the university and beyond.
- Our impacts
Through the cross-disciplinary research that Grand Challenges facilitates, new approaches can emerge; in this way, our small interventions have a significant impact.
> Learn more about our impact and outputs
> Learn more about our funded projects
> Learn more about our partnerships
- Across UCL
We work in close partnership with academics drawn from right across UCL as well as professional services staff, including:
Connecting with those involved in UCL Research Domains Collaborating with UCL Public Policy Advising on the connected curriculum and working in partnership with UCL Academy Engaging with the public and communities through UCL Culture Reaching UCL's partners across the world through UCL Global Engagement Engaging with industry and the third sector through UCL Innovation and Enterprise Publishing work in an Open Access format, through UCL Press
- Who we work with
As well as the work of each Grand Challenge being advised by a Working Group, we also work closely with the Grand Challenges Advisory Group - with a senior representative from each faculty – and the Grand Challenges Executive Board to build our picture of UCL’s research strengths, advise on strategic priorities, augment our activities and identify new opportunities.
> Learn more about our Working Groups, Advisory Group and Executive Board