UCL starts process of renaming buildings named after prominent eugenicists

UCL has today initiated the process of reviewing the current naming of spaces and buildings after two prominent eugenicists Francis Galton and Karl Pearson. UCL's President & Provost Professor Michael Arthur has today formally asked the university's 'Buildings Naming and Renaming Committee' to immediately start the process of reviewing the current naming of spaces and buildings after two prominent eugenicists Francis Galton and Karl Pearson. The action follows the publication earlier this year of a series of recommendations by the 'Inquiry into the History of Eugenics at UCL', which was led by independent chair Professor Iyiola Solanke, of the University of Leeds. The Inquiry was initiated by the President & Provost in 2018 as the first step in UCL acknowledging and address the university's historical links with the eugenics movement. Victorian scientist Francis Galton coined the term eugenics and endowed UCL with his personal collection and archive along with a bequest for the country's first professorial Chair of Eugenics. A response group of senior UCL representatives - including senior academic staff, equality experts and the Students' Union - is also being formed to consider the recommendations from the Inquiry. Under UCL's process for naming spaces and buildings at UCL, the 'Buildings Naming and Renaming Committee' receives and reviews a formal case and then makes its recommendation to the Provost and to Council for a decision.