UCL Faces - 200 Years of UCL

Last week, celebrations were in full swing for UCL’s 200-year anniversary (11th Feb 2026). The bicentenary provided a chance to reflect on UCL’s long history and those who have helped shape it. UCL’s website launched the Faces of UCL, providing a glimpse of the many characters who have made contributions within and beyond UCL.

Three of these faces have walked the corridors of our humble department. Firstly Eleanor Maguire, famed for her work on the hippocampus. Her contributions to Neuroscience were such that she could even make A-level students excited just by walking in the room.

During her time here Eleanor supervised Sir Demis Hassabis, the second of the three aforementioned UCL faces. Building on the insights gained from his PhD in Eleanor’s lab, Sir Demis made waves in the field of AI, earning a Nobel Prize in 2024.

More recently, we welcomed Rawleka Wilson as a summer intern. Her work supporting the student community at UCL has also been highlighted in the UCL Faces initiative. Rawleka has fulfilled various roles in Student Union at UCL and is currently one half of the Volunteering Officer. We look forward to seeing what she does in the future, both inside and outside of Brain Science.