A senior academic is being investigated by University College London after he was found to have hosted an annual conference in which speakers debated ideas on eugenics and intelligence.

Since 2015, Dr James Thompson has overseen the London Conference on Intelligence, which has seen a researcher who has previously advocated child rape online speak on campus on three occasions.

The university was last night attempting to establish how the honorary lecturer was able to host the event without informing senior officials, who were unaware of which speakers would be attending.

Dr Thompson, a member of the university’s psychology department, has now been blocked from hosting any future events while an investigation is carried out.

It came as details about the conference emerged yesterday, revealing that papers presented at the event include research on the alleged links between genetics and racial disparities in intelligence.