Each spring, the Department of Earth Sciences comes together to celebrate the cultural richness of its community through the Culture Day—a now-annual event dedicated to recognising and embracing the diverse backgrounds of students, staff, and faculty.
Held most recently on April 24, 2025, this year’s Culture Day brought together around 50 attendees, including friends and family, for an afternoon of food, music, games, traditional clothing, and live performances that reflected cultures from across the globe. The event created a vibrant and inclusive space where everyone could share their heritage and connect with others in the department.
Organised by the department’s Ethnic Diversity Network, the Culture Day has become a cornerstone of our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) efforts. Digital platforms like Eventbrite, Microsoft Forms, and Mentimeter were used to simplify registration and feedback, ensuring the event was accessible and welcoming to all.
The event has not only strengthened community bonds, but has also been recognised more widely for its impact. In 2024, Culture Day was honoured with a MAPS Faculty ECR Forum Award, a testament to the importance of grassroots, community-driven EDI initiatives across UCL. Read more about the award here.
With growing participation and enthusiasm each year, Culture Day continues to highlight the value of cultural expression and inclusion within academic spaces. The department looks forward to continuing this tradition, with future editions potentially taking place outdoors to make the most of the spring and summer seasons.
Culture Day stands as a proud example of our ongoing commitment to building a connected, inclusive, self-aware, and celebratory departmental culture. Show-casing the cultural richness of our staff and students has brought joy to all attendees and fostered meaningful connections, complementing the spirit of research, study and collaboration at the Department.
Written by Deborah Tangunan, Maxim Ballmer