As we step into 2025, I am thrilled to reflect on the milestones of the past year and to share some of the Faculty of Life Sciences’ most significant achievements.
Highlight of the year: Nobel Prize success
A particular highlight of 2024 was the remarkable achievement of two of our alumni, Professor Geoffrey E. Hinton and Sir Demis Hassabis CBE, who were awarded Nobel Prizes. Their pioneering work in artificial intelligence and neuroscience underscores the profound and lasting impact of UCL’s research community. These successes build on the legacy of the Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit (GCNU), and we look forward to further growing this area of life sciences research in the years ahead.
Bending the curve of biodiversity loss
A defining moment of 2024 was the launch of our Bending the Curve of Biodiversity Loss campaign, coinciding with the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16). This initiative exemplifies UCL’s commitment to addressing the biodiversity crisis, exploring why biodiversity matters, the implications of biodiversity loss, and how to drive systemic change for the benefit of nature and humanity.
The campaign’s success is a testament to the incredible efforts of our researchers and staff, whose dedication has brought UCL’s biodiversity work to the global stage. Special thanks go to the Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research (CBER), whose contributions have been instrumental in shaping this initiative.
In December, we hosted an inspiring alumni event at the Grant Museum, centred on biodiversity. Professor Jon Bridle, Professor of Evolutionary Biology, delivered a compelling lecture titled ‘A Future We Can Get to Safely: Why and How Biodiversity Matters’. Guests also explored the museum through a virtual reality installation that transformed it into a coral reef, showcasing healthy, degraded, and restored ecosystems. If you missed the event, Jon’s lecture is now available on our YouTube channel.
Celebrating excellence in research and innovation
This year has been marked by remarkable research achievements. Ground-breaking papers include insights into how cell fate decisions are made during development, published in Nature Communications, and a study on brain-wide activity in decision-making featured in Nature. These and many other works showcase the Faculty’s research excellence and its impact on global challenges.
We were also delighted to celebrate staff successes. Professor Tim Blackburn (Professor of Invasion Biology) and Dr Tim Newbold (Professor of Conservation Ecology) from UCL's Genetics, Evolution & Environment department, received prestigious Zoological Society of London Science Awards, while Stephen Hilton and colleagues won the Royal Society of Chemistry Prize for their innovative use of virtual reality in teaching. Professor Michael Duchen was also recognised with the Biochemical Society’s 2024 Keilin Memorial Lecture award for his outstanding contributions to biochemistry. Adding to the year’s accolades, alumni Professor Geoffrey E. Hinton and Sir Demis Hassabis CBE received Nobel Prizes in 2024, marking a proud moment for the Faculty.
Sustainability and global recognition
UCL’s commitment to sustainability reached new heights this year, with UCL ranking first in the UK and fifth globally in the QS Sustainability Rankings. This outstanding achievement reflects the dedication of our entire community to driving meaningful environmental impact.
Thank you for your continued support and engagement with the Faculty. As we move into a new year, we look forward to sharing further successes with you.
Professor Gail Taylor
Dean, UCL Faculty of Life Sciences