UCL CELEBRATES 200 YEARS OF SCIENCE WITH STAR ALUMNI & PROFESSORS
Marking 200 years since its foundation in 1826, UCL will host two brilliant Science focused events in May 2026 that are open to the public.
On Wednesday 6th May, UCL will host Cosmic UCL a night of comedy and science with UCL professors and alumni. Expect big laughs, fascinating facts and an entertaining night of science and discovery.
Cosmic UCL continues University College London’s 200th anniversary celebrations with a special one-night-only showcase of curiosity, creativity and the joy of discovery.
Presented by UCL’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and produced by The Cosmic Shambles Network, Cosmic UCL brings together some of the UK’s most inspiring and award-winning enthusiasts of science, engineering, medicine and the brilliantly unexpected details that make our world a wonderful and fascinating place.
Hosted by physicist, author and broadcaster Helen Czerski (BBC’s Rare Earth, Blue Machine), Cosmic UCL will feature familiar faces and voices from broadcast, and popular science, including:
– Dame Maggie Aderin is a space scientist, BAFTA-nominated television presenter and cohost of the world’s longest-running science programme BBC’s The Sky at Night.
– Jon Butterworth is an award-winning professor of physics at UCL and is currently working at the CERN Large Hadron Collider.
– Kevin Fong OBE is a doctor, broadcaster and science communicator known for his unique career traversing emergency medicine, astrophysics and space exploration. He has worked for NASA and hosts The NHS: Who Cares?
– Mark Miodownik MBE is a material scientist, engineer, broadcaster and award-winning author of Stuff Matters.
– Adam Rutherford is a geneticist, scientist, broadcaster and award-winning author who has also been a scientific consultant on several movies including Ex Machina and Annihilation.
This is just a snapshot of some of the exciting speakers lined up for the event, more to be announced! The evening will also consist of music, comedy and surprise performances from UCL linked artists.
Location: Bloomsbury Theatre, 15 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AH
Date: Wednesday 6th May 2026
Time: 7:30pm
Price: £15 (£12 Concessions)
Ticket Link: https://www.bloomsburytheatre.com/event/2026/05/cosmic-ucl
Box Office: 020 3108 1000 ticketing@ucl.ac.uk
On Tuesday 12th May, UCL and the Royal Society will host a scientific panel discussion: Science in a Changing World, which will see UCL professors explore what will happen in the world of science over the next 200 years. The evening promises a rich, high-energy discussion on the cosmic biological, technological and material foundations of daily life. The event invites open conversation and debate and will discuss audience questions as we reflect on how science can serve future generations.
Hosted by Mark Miodownik MBE, material scientist, engineer, broadcaster and award-winning author, the panel will bring together leading voices including:
– Dame Polina Bayvel is a Royal Society Research Professor and Professor of Optical Communications & Networks at UCL and her contributions have been recognised with major honours.
– Kevin Fong OBE is a doctor, broadcaster and science communicator known for his unique career traversing emergency medicine, astrophysics and space exploration. He has worked for NASA and hosts The NHS: Who Cares?
– Chris van Tulleken is a doctor, scientist, TV and radio broadcaster and author of bestselling Ultra Processed People and is an Associate Professor at UCL specialising in infectious diseases and global health.
All proceeds from this event will go towards supporting UCL200 scholarships.
Location: Bloomsbury Theatre, 15 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AH
Dates: Tuesday 12th May 2026
Time: 6pm
Price: £5 (includes a complimentary drink)
Ticket Link: https://www.bloomsburytheatre.com/event/2026/05/science-changing-world
Box Office: 020 3108 1000 ticketing@ucl.ac.uk
