Carl Gombrich

Academic Lead

London Interdisciplinary School, United Kingdom

Carl Gombrich is the Academic Lead at the London Interdisciplinary School, the first higher education institution in the UK to be granted its own degree awarding powers this century. The London Interdisciplinary School offers a radical interdisciplinary curriculum aimed to graduate students equipped to tackle complex real world problems.

Previously, from 2010-2019, Carl was a Professorial Teaching Fellow of Interdisciplinary Education at University College London. There he established the first Arts and Sciences (BASc) degree in the UK and led the programme from its inception and design to the successful graduation of ~ 500 students. Carl regularly writes and speaks on interdisciplinarity and higher education and wonders how things have changed so little in educational establishments these last 20 years when so much has changed outside. In a former life he was a professional opera singer (a graduate of the National Opera Studio) and got degrees in maths, physics and philosophy. He discovered triathlon during lockdown and currently dedicates as much time as founding a new university will allow to improving in swimming, cycling and running.