Local councillor sees transformative potential of new School of Public Health

Professor Deborah Ashby, Dr Anita Parkin and Cllr Ben Coleman at Imperial's White City Campus

Imperial welcomed Councillor Ben Coleman, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care at Hammersmith and Fulham Council, to the White City Campus.

Hosted by Professor Deborah Ashby, Director of Imperial’s School of Public Health, Cllr Coleman got an insight into Imperial’s plans for a brand new School of Public Health at White City and heard about how the College is already forging links with the local community.

Earlier this year, Imperial launched a £100m fundraising campaign to support the development of the new School of Public Health, which will pioneer new approaches to society’s most pressing healthcare challenges across four key areas: World Health, Food and Nutrition, Community Health and Policy, and Children’s Health and Wellbeing.   

Local impact, global vision 

Councillor Coleman praised Imperial’s aspiration to use the School of Public Health to improve the physical and mental health of the local community while undertaking research that will have a global impact.

The College’s vision is to work in partnership with the local community at White City to bring cutting-edge research expertise and evidence-based solutions to the public health challenges that affect the local community most profoundly including on food and nutrition, where Imperial is already at the leading edge of research and its application.

Professor Deborah Ashby, Director of the School of Public Health, said: "It was a real pleasure to welcome Councillor Coleman and Dr Anita Parkin to our White City Campus and share our plans for the new School of Public Health."

"This state-of-the-art multidisciplinary hub will provide collaborative and interactive spaces for the College’s world-leading academics and talented students, whilst providing a welcoming place that complements the local area and offering new opportunities to engage with the local community. I look forward to the prospect of future opportunities to collaborate with the Council on our shared public health priorities in the local area".

Councillor Ben Coleman, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care at Hammersmith and Fulham Council, said: "I am delighted that Imperial College is choosing to move its world-leading School of Public Health to our borough. Their approach of working closely with local people is spot on and is giving residents young and old a range of new opportunities."

“We talked about working together on reducing isolation and loneliness in H&F and on a range of issues around food and I look forward to making a difference in partnership with Imperial to the well-being of our local residents.”

Community Collaboration 

The Councillor was also given a tour of The Invention Rooms - a pioneering space on Wood Lane which brings community engagement and cutting-edge innovation together under one roof.

A first of its kind in the UK, The Invention Rooms hosts cutting-edge workshops, design studios and interactive spaces which allow local young people to get free hands-on experience of designing and prototyping.

The Invention Rooms recently celebrated the opening of its new community space and café - The Interaction Zone - where the local community can take part in free hands-on activities, classes, tours, or relax over a cup of coffee alongside Imperial’s staff and students.