X Close

Discover UCL

Home

UCL Access and Widening Participation

Menu

WPeople: Elena Cagnoli Fiecconi

By Lauren Sandhu, on 21 February 2019

Today we are talking to Elena Cagnoli Fiecconi from the UCL Department of Greek and Latin ahead of our upcoming Ancient World Year 12 Taster Day on Wednesday 20 March 2019 (applications are open now).

1.How long have you worked at UCL, and what did you do previously?

I joined UCL in 2018, after working as a researcher in Switzerland and Israel. It has been very nice to be able to teach in addition to doing research and it has been wonderful to come back to London.

2. What is your current job at UCL?

I am a lecturer in Ancient Philosophy and the Outreach Officer in UCL’s Greek and Latin department. I organise Open Days, Taster Days and outreach talks in schools.

3. Did you go to university, and where did you study?

I did a BA in Philosophy in a small Italian city, Pavia. Then I moved to UCL to study for a Masters in Philosophy and after that I did a PhD in Ancient Philosophy at Oxford University.

4. Tell us about a favourite memory of yours from your time at university.

One of my favourite memories is from my first day as a Masters student at UCL, I came from a small town and the main quad seemed huge and intimidating, but also wonderful. It was a nice sunny day and I had lunch in the park in Gordon Square with some of my course mates, who made me feel very welcome even though I was struggling a bit with my English. On that day I felt like my time here was going to be stimulating and challenging, but also fun.

5. Why is Widening Participation important to you?

I think the best learning and teaching environment is a diverse one. I also think that the subjects we teach help us to reflect on the past in order to construct our future. I see my job as Outreach Officer as the best way to make sure that all those who are interested in reflecting on our past critically have the opportunity to do so.

6. Tell us a bit more about the Ancient World Taster Day on Wednesday 20 March 2019.

During the Taster Day, there will be chance to visit UCL, to hear talks by our lecturers on a wide range of topics such as Women in Homer, or Cleopatra and Augustus. There will also be a chance to meet some of our current students over the provided lunch, and to learn more about the opportunity to get involved in the annual Greek Play.

7. How would you describe the subject to someone who has never heard of it before?

© UCL, Institute of Archaeology

The Ancient World degree is offered across three UCL departments: Greek and Latin, History, and Archaeology.

The field of study of the degree is also defined more broadly than most degrees in this area: the ancient world of the Mediterranean and Near East, since the beginning of written records.

It is possible to take modules from all the participating departments and from other subjects related to the ancient world across the University. The degree is open to those who have no previous experience of Latin or Greek languages, but all students must take 45 credits in an ancient language during their degree. This is because we believe that exposure to ancient languages enables and enriches our understanding of ancient cultures.

The breath and the variety of the degree allows students to shape it according to their interests. You could focus on the Greeks, for example, and take modules in Greek Philosophy, History and Literature. Alternatively, you could combine modules on the Near East, Egypt and the Greco-Roman world. You could also add some modules in Philosophy, International Relations and Politics to the mix.

8. What would be your advice to young people who want to learn more about the Ancient World?

The ancient world surrounds us in many ways, and it is easier than you think to learn more about it even before you enter a university class. It features everywhere in movies and tv series, you can see and sometimes even touch items that come from it in museums all across the country, like the British Museum near UCL. It is even present in many of the words we use all the time, like “politics” which comes from the Greek word for city, and “cosmopolitan”, which means citizen of the universe, or citizen of the whole world.

9. What would be your top tip for someone thinking about studying the Ancient World at university?

Don’t be scared by the prospect of learning ancient languages, they are easier than you think and they open up a new world of knowledge. They can also be surprisingly fun to learn!

Our Ancient World Taster Day is taking place on Wednesday 20 March 2019. Applications are open until Wednesday 6 March 2019. Apply now.

A word from the writer: 

I am originally from Italy, where I completed my undergraduate studies. Then I moved to the UK to continue with Philosophy and I ended up working on Ancient Philosophy. My research focuses for the most part on Aristotle, with an emphasis on his works on ethics, psychology and biology. In particular, I am interested in questions that lie at the intersection of these disciplines. For example, I look at whether Aristotle’s account of the human happy and virtuous life is influenced by his views on human desire, attention, perception and thought.

Leave a Reply