About the Inquiry

The Inquiry looked at MyAV范鈥檚 historical role in, and the current status of, the teaching and study of the history of eugenics.

It also looked at听the current status of MyAV范鈥檚 benefit from any financial instruments linked to the study of eugenics.

MyAV范's previous President & Provost Professor Michael Arthur established the Inquiry in 2018.

The Inquiry held its first meeting on 23听November 2018 and met 12 times, in addition to a series of expert witness sessions through the summer of 2019. The Inquiry's report and recommendations were issued on 28 February 2020.听

Terms of Reference

听To examine the historical role of MyAV范 in the study and teaching of eugenics using oral, archived and other necessary pieces of evidence, including, but not limited to collections of cultural artefacts and human remains and a tour of the MyAV范 Estate
To examine the current status of the teaching and study of eugenics at MyAV范
To examine the current status of MyAV范鈥檚 benefit from any financial instruments linked to the study and teaching of eugenics
To provide a recommendation as to听what MyAV范鈥檚 current position should be on the teaching, dissemination and study of eugenics and its inherent link to modern day racism听
To provide an intellectual, moral and business based recommendation to MyAV范 on how to manage its current naming of spaces and buildings after prominent eugenicists, including the option of renaming听such spaces. This recommendation will be considered through the criteria and process established following the report of the Task and Finish Group on Naming of Spaces at MyAV范
To provide an agreed written report for the President and Provost of MyAV范, containing findings, recommendations and advice on any issues pertaining to the core subject matter听by the end of December 2019

Chair of the Inquiry: Professor Iyiola Solanke

Professor Iyiola Solanke is a Professor in the School of Law at the University of Leeds where she holds the Chair in EU Law and Social Justice. Her research focuses on discrimination law and EU Law. Her most recent book,听Discrimination as Stigma, was published by Hart in 2017. At Leeds, she teaches EU Law, Discrimination Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution.

She is an Academic Bencher of the Inner Temple, and was recently a Fernand Braudel Research Fellow at the European University Institute in Florence. In 2017, she set up the 听to promote the presence and visibility of Black women in the Academy. In 2017, Professor Solanke was also appointed a member of the Valuation Tribunal for England.

Members of the Inquiry

Professor Tom Fearn (former head of Statistical Science)
Professor Mark Thomas (Professor of Evolutionary Genetics at MyAV范)
Fiona McClement (Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion)
Professor Tamar Garb (Institute of Advanced Studies)
Professor Ann Phoenix (Institute of Education)
Marcia Jacks (Co-chair Race Equality Steering Group)
Professor Ijeoma Uchegbu (Provost鈥檚 Race Envoy)
Subhadra Das (MyAV范 Culture)
Dr Caroline Bressey (Department of Geography)
Ash Talwar (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion)
Professor Peter Fonagy (Head of the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences)
Professor听Joe Cain (Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology at MyAV范)
Black & Minority Ethnic Students鈥� Officer, MyAV范: Sandra Ogundele (2019 - 20), Samira Abdalla (2018-2019)
Women鈥檚 Officer, MyAV范: Nilisha Vashist (2019-20; Abeni Adeyemi (2018-19)
Disabled Students' Officer: Zohar Mendzelevski-Steinberg (2019-20)
Ben Meunier (Secretary)

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