UCL Library, Culture, Collections and Open Science

Today, our library collection is made up of two million print books alone, inspiring research, teaching and creative endeavour. Sarah Pipkin, Outreach and Exhibitions Coordinator for UCL Special Collections (@uclspeccoll ), discusses her work to shine a light on 200 years of collecting at @UCL . Read more via link in bio 📚

Guest archivists and educators met with members of the Special Collections team in their recent event held at UCL East. The showcase included a brief introduction and a small display of collection items including rare books and archives.

Today, @UCL ’s library collections comprise 2 million print books alone, inspiring research, teaching and creative endeavour. “On the Shelf: 200 years of building UCL’s library collections” explores how generations of library staff have built and enriched the library resources. Visit the display located in the Main Library stairwell and first floor, available until January 2027. #UCL200

Words Matter drew to a close last month, showcasing the works of 12 artists who participated in a six-month knowledge exchange programme. The exhibition was part of Prejudice in Power, exploring UCL’s historic role in promoting the pseudoscience of eugenics.

Our brand new ‘Two Centuries Here’ exhibition launched on Wednesday, 18th February 🎉 @annie.spencer.98 attended the launch and talked to some of the people behind the scenes, including Lucy Briggs (Programme Director, Bicentennial), Alice Gray (Producer, Exhibitions), and members of UCL’s Film Society. This exhibition is open to everyone and is located in the heart of UCL’s Bloomsbury campus. It’s free to explore, so whether you’re a student or a member of the public looking for fresh insight into UCL, we’d love for you to come and experience this very special bicentennial celebration. The exhibition will be open through Summer 2027 😊 #UCL #UCL200 #TwoCenturiesHere

Two Centuries Here is a multi-space exhibition in the heart of central London, tracing @UCL ’s origins and exploring 200 years of ground-breaking research, innovation, education and impact. Link in bio for more information 🏛️ #UCL200

Spotted in the Student Centre! In honour of #UCL200, @uclartmuseum Curator Lucy Waitt recently dressed up as Jeremy Bentham and delivered some immersive teaching to UCL Museum Studies students.

Resident artist Dina Nur Satti talks about how working on ‘The Land Carries’ has been significantly timely with events in Sudan. Find out more and see our display via link in bio.

We have now wrapped up our World of Wasps exhibition. It’s been great sharing their extraordinarily complex social structures, and celebrating their importance in our ecosystem. #GMZWasps

Resident artist Ahmed Akasha (@sorevolutionary ) shares how his visits to Sudan provided understanding and perspective into his creative practice. Find out more and see the group show, ‘The Land Carries’.

Please note the display contains human remains. Learn more about the study of disease with a redisplay of specimens from the UCL Pathology Museum at the Cruciform Hub. See the collection and take part in a quiz to test your knowledge.

We are shocked and deeply saddened to share the news of the death of Dr Paul Ayris, Pro-Vice-Provost (LCCOS: Library, Culture, Collections and Open Science). Paul dedicated the majority of his career to UCL, joining in 1997 as Deputy Librarian and quickly becoming Director of UCL Library Services. Under his leadership, Library Services went from strength to strength, developing the focus on openness and outreach that was his hallmark. In 2018 he became Pro-Vice-Provost with an expanded portfolio, and his championing of Open Science in particular has been instrumental in changing approaches across the sector. It is in large part thanks to him that UCL Press is leading the way in open access publishing. Paul was not only a champion of UCL Press, but also an author of one of its forthcoming publications. He was dedicated to the study of the English reformation church, having written his doctoral thesis on the work of the reformation archbishop Thomas Cranmer, and was looking forward to the publication of his book on that subject in January. He will be enormously missed within LCCOS, UCL and beyond, and our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues here and globally. Read our tribute to Paul via the link in our bio.