About this Event
Date: Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Time: 17:30 - 20:00
Location: UCL Bloomsbury Campus, Roberts Building, Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7JE
Abstract
In this inaugural lecture I will argue that universities are at their best when they create environments in which people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse perspectives can find purpose, belonging and opportunities to flourish. Through the lens of a non-traditional academic journey, that starts in the wilds of the West Midlands, moves through archaeology and the geospatial sciences, and leads to educational leadership in UCL’s Faculty of Engineering Sciences, I will explore the role of universities as places of progress, possibility and belonging.
Drawing on my experiences as a first-generation student; a Humanities fish in Engineering waters; a teaching-focused academic in a research-intensive institution; a Professor without a PhD; and, more recently, as a parent and someone living with a serious medical condition, I will consider how universities can create educational ecosystems in which all participants can find meaning, purpose and opportunities to thrive. These experiences shape my pedagogies and leadership, and reinforce the importance of recognising the value of higher education beyond the classroom walls and beyond grades. They have shown me that universities thrive when they make greater space for people with unconventional backgrounds, enable greater authenticity and agency in students, and where excellence, impact and success are recognised in multiple forms.
There will be nostalgia for paper-based UCAS applications and university interviews in the shadow of the Y2K Bug; clumsily expressed analogies; confirmation that my cool brain hardware means I am part-cyborg; glorious references to record-breaking oboe playing and hours lost (gained?) to videogames – storytelling abounds as I explore the impact of my upbringing and my undergraduate experiences in Egyptian Archaeology on my educational practices and leadership today as Vice-Dean Education for Engineering.
I will describe some key moments in my rewarding, enjoyable and wholly unexpected career at UCL, celebrate some of the brilliant people that have guided and inspired me, and recognise the XP gained and side-quests completed along the way. There might even be some time for a look ahead to the next 18 years and to consider how we, at UCL, will continue to push things forward.
About the speaker
Professor Liz Jones is an archaeologist and videogamer. She is Vice-Dean Education for the Faculty of Engineering Sciences and a teaching-track academic in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering (CEGE). She is a Professor (Teaching) in the Geomatics Section in CEGE specialising in Surveying and GIS, and joined UCL in 2008 after working as an archaeologist and as a commercial surveyor.
She completed a BA in Egyptian Archaeology (UCL), MA in Egyptology (Liverpool) and an MSc in GIS (UCL). Liz enjoys undertaking surveying and archaeological fieldwork and supervises student research projects relating to applications of GIS to civil engineering, health and safety in Civil Engineering and the Construction sector, community engagement in Civil Engineering, archaeology, and to issues of diversity and inclusivity in industry and Higher Education. She provides consultancy both in technical and educational capacities, and really enjoys opportunities for outreach and knowledge exchange with prospective students and peers working around the world.
UCL200
This lecture forms part of UCL200, marking 200 years since UCL was founded with a commitment to openness, access and new ways of thinking.
Everyone is welcome!
Our Inaugural Lectures are free to attend for all students, staff and members of the public. Children accompanied by a guardian are most welcome.
If you're coming to this event in the half-term break, Liz recommends a visit beforehand to the nearby Petrie Museum of Egyptian and Sudanese Archaeology. Free admission, open 1-5pm.
Lectures are typically one hour long. A reception will follow to which everyone is welcome to join.
Booking is essential to secure your space.
Livestreaming
This will be an in-person event and open to the public. If you are unable to attend the UCL campus, please register to watch the live stream. You can do this when selecting your ticket.
If you have any questions about the event series, please get in touch: [email protected].
We look forward to seeing you there!
Additional information:
Attendees
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All under 16s must be attending with an adult who understands the nature of this event and ensures the minor/s are supervised at all times.
Additional questions
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Access
We want to make this event as inclusive as possible.
Please let us know when registering if you have any requirements you would like us to be made aware of so we can try to make reasonable adjustments.
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Event venue & nearby stays
UCL Roberts Building - Sir Ambrose Fleming LT, Torrington Place, London, United Kingdom
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