Top university split in row over erasing ‘racist’ science pioneers from the campus

University College London may rename buildings to cut links to promoters of eugenics

They were some of Britain's greatest scientific pioneers. Based at University College London, they developed the first fingerprinting methods, the use of statistics in health and genetics research, early birth-control science and many other key technologies of the Victorian and Edwardian eras.

But now these trailblazers - who include Francis Galton and Marie Stopes - are under investigation. A committee of inquiry has been set up by UCL to probe their links with eugenic causes and to consider if buildings, lecture theatres and libraries named after them should be re-titled."UCL has launched the inquiry to ensure that its historical links to eugenics are properly examined," said a spokeswoman.

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