WHAT IF...
...fibre optics were never invented?
Narinder Singh Kapany came to Imperial in 1952 to work on a PhD in optics.
At school in Punjab, India, Narinder's teacher told him that light only travelled in straight lines. The young Narinder's refusal to accept this led to his work 'bending light' through large bundles of optical fibres, first coining the term 'fibre optics' in an article in Scientific American in 1960. He became the field's most prominent researcher, writer and spokesperson.
Narinder moved to London to study for his PhD at Imperial under Harold Hopkins, one of the foremost authorities in the field of optics. Narinder experimented with bundles of glass cylinders, grouping hundreds of these glass fibres to assemble a flexible fibroscope, which could be used to transmit images at a higher quality than had been achieved before.
His work laid the foundations for many areas of modern technology and medicine.
Fibre optics led to advances in...
The internet and computer networking
Mechanics and automotive industry
Remote sensing and space applications
But what if Narinder hadn't been able to study at Imperial?
Sadly, that's the risk for many Imperial students today as they struggle to make ends meet. Will you give a gift today to ensure that Imperial's future pioneers can complete their studies, realise their potential and change our world tomorrow?
In the last two years the cost of living in London has risen by over 20%. We’ve seen a steady rise in the number of students who can’t afford to live near campus, join societies or participate in extra experiences at Imperial. They’re doing everything they can to stay afloat, but they’re sacrificing so much in the process.
On average, we award £1,500 as a hardship grant to help a student in need pay their bills and stay on course at Imperial during tough times. This is only possible thanks to generous donors like you.
Will you give £45 to help a current student stay on track to become a future pioneer?
Your gift will create a ripple effect of positive change as it'll enable the brightest minds to fully focus on their studies instead of their finances. It will allow them to explore their ideas, chase their dreams and pursue a path of discovery. £45 could help them buy a week's worth of food or contribute to a travel card to allow them to travel to lectures or placements. You can help stop financial worries from standing in their way.
What if...your gift could help students like Myriam change the world?
Myriam chose to pursue her PhD research into the impacts of climate change on small island nations because they face unique sustainability challenges. She explains,
Despite being the first victims of climate change, small island nations are often forgotten. They are the subject of fewer studies yet coastal erosion, caused by rising sea levels, means these islands are on course to disappear.
I've only been able to join Imperial and follow my dreams thanks to generous donors who've helped to fund my scholarship. It's a privilege and made a huge difference as I can focus on my research without financial anxiety holding me back.
I'm proud to be where I am, thanks to the support I've received and I hope my work will lead to better environmental policies for small island nations. I'm so grateful to alumni for giving me the opportunity to help change the world."
You can stop financial worries from standing in the way of our future pioneers.
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