Spotlight on: Simon Knowles

This week we speak to Simon, Head of Coordination for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at UCL. Simon tells us about the importance of the SDGs, the varied roles he's had at UCL, and the time he turned down the chance to interview one of Britain's biggest bands. What is your role and what does it involve?. I am working with colleagues across UCL to develop and implement an institution-wide initiative to maximise our impact on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), across our teaching, research, student activities, operations and public engagement. The SDGs are 17 Goals agreed by UN Member States in 2015 to provide a framework for promoting sustainable development: the need for ongoing economic growth while responding to the different acute challenges facing the planet. Universities can play an essential part in responding to these challenges. The new initiative is exploring how UCL can continue playing a leading role in these efforts, and through doing so help to make the world a better place.