UCL Research Institute for Collections launches

Over 50 staff and students took the opportunity to engage with collections from across UCL’s museum, rare book and archive collections and interacted with curators, collection managers and researchers who showed items featured in recent projects. The audience also heard from Adam Gibson, Professor of Medical Physics and Heritage Science, about his collaborative imaging work with UCL Special Collections.

The RIC was launched as a virtual space in September 2021. It brings together academics and specialists to promote and support research in the humanities and sciences using UCL’s range of exceptional collections. The RIC is a hub that acts as a focus for collaborative partnerships, events, projects and funded fellowships.

The next series of RIC events will focus on the work of three visiting fellowships based around UCL collections. These are due to be awarded in May and will be taken up over the summer, resulting in outputs as varied as academic monographs, lectures, blog posts and public engagement activities.

Paul Ayris, Pro-Vice-Provost LCCOS said:

‘The launch of the UCL Research Institute for Collections is a tremendous vote of confidence in the future of the arts, culture and heritage in UCL. The Institute will participate in, and help generate, discussions, research activity and provision for the glorious collections which UCL holds in its Library, museums and galleries, working with colleagues in UCL’s academic departments to deliver successful outcomes.’