UCL President & Provost gives opening Lunch Hour Lecture

Delivering his Annual Lunch Hour Lecture to a packed Darwin Lecture Theatre, Professor Arthur called universities 'the providers and custodians of evidence, and a force for public good'. UCL, he said, remains welcoming, tolerant, and open to everyone, with our best defence lying in 'displaying excellence' in science, innovation and research, something which UCL achieves consistently, year on year. UCL currently ranks seventh globally and is in the world's top 10 for science research.

Professor Arthur allayed concerns about Brexit affecting student recruitment, reporting above target recruitment for undergraduates overall, and for EU and overseas students in particular. He also sounded a note of optimism around the Brexit process, expressing a belief that there was every possibility of a 'positive and sensible' discussion about our ongoing relationship with Europe with regard to science, research and innovation.

Framing the lecture around UCL2034, the university's 20 year strategy, Professor Arthur paid tribute to the hard work of staff and students, and outlined the significant progress in transforming the UCL estate, including the 'brilliant new social space' that is the Wilkins Terrace, the refurbishment of student halls, the new Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park site, and the forthcoming Student Centre launching in 2018, which will create 1,000 new study spaces.

'When the Bloomsbury Theatre is finished next summer, students will be able to buy a drink into the interval and wander out onto the Wilkins Terrace balcony to enjoy it. I'm really looking forward to that', he concluded.