Go west: Imperial Fringe takes science of identity on tour

The Imperial Fringe went on tour for the first time last night, asking the question 'What makes me me?' at the Imperial West campus.

As plans evolve for the College’s new campus in White City, the Fringe programme travelled to Imperial West, bringing an evening of activities about sense of identity as a way of getting to know our new neighbours.

Brain simulations, kitchen science demonstrations for prison inmates and a photo booth that gave visitors a fantastic new look filled up the Common Room at the Wood Lane Studios GradPad, while the community space in Brickfields Hall was transformed into a mock-up operating theatre.

Researchers spent the evening discussing their research with visitors, including people who live and work in the local area as well as alumni and school students from further afield.

Professor of Surgical Education Roger Kneebone set up his famous pop-up operating theatre to attend to an acted-out stabbing. The surgical team performed a mock operation on the 'victim', highlighting the physical and psychological impacts he would be likely to sustain from his injuries.

Samantha Buval, a sixth form student at Sacred Heart High School in Hammersmith, volunteered to help the surgeons patch up their 'patient', in reality a life-like model of a human body.

"I got to hold the instruments that hold open the wound," she said. "I could see inside the abdomen, both the small and large intestines, and there was blood spurting out. It was cool."

At one exhibit, the brain of neuroscientist Dr John McGonigle (pictured below, on the left) was rotating on a giant 3D screen. Visitors donned coloured glasses to view the delicate structure of his neurons, while he explained that what they were seeing and how these cells are physical connections central to his identity.

Alongside Imperial's researchers, Tracey Morgan from the Science Museum’s Outreach Team talked about her work with inmates and their families at the nearby Wormwood Scrubs prison. She demonstrated some of the Kitchen Science experiments she teaches to some of the UK’s 90,000 prisoners, bringing a personal touch and giving them new ways to entertain their families during regular visiting hours.

Atiya Azim and her husband, Dr Abdul Azim Akbar, came to visit as part of a trip from Abu Dhabi, and spoke to Tracey at the Fringe event. "She showed us an experiment where you fill a cup with water, place a card over it and turn the whole thing upside down. Amazingly the water doesn’t fall out, despite the force of gravity," said Atiya. "It was really interesting to hear she does the same things for people in prison."

Local residents who had always dreamed of being an astronaut or Nobel Prize-winning scientist, or (somewhat less scientific) pop star got the chance to change their identity just for a moment, thanks to the help of Thomas Mattey from The Mighty Booth and their magnificent dressing up box.

"I really liked getting the funny photos," said Daisy, who lives on Wood Lane with her parents and brothers, Felix and Elliot. "We wore wigs and hats and moustaches, and I looked like Michael Jackson."

Mum, Naomi, who brought the three along with her husband, Mercer, said: "I'm really glad we came tonight, the whole thing has just been fantastic."

What makes me me? is part of the Imperial Fringe series of monthly evening public events for people to explore the unexpected side of science, inspired by Imperial’s ground-breaking research.

The Fringe programme is free and runs throughout the year. To find out about more about the next event on Thursday 31 October, visit the events listing section of our site.