Imperial helps generate geniuses

Generating Genius students Chris and Janine with Dr Simon Hepworth

Eight sixth-form students spent a week at Imperial last month discovering science career paths with specialists in innovation and entrepreneurship.

The students spent the week discovering career paths in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) with guidance from innovation specialists from the College’s Enterprise team. The week-long visit was organised in collaboration with Generating Genius, a registered charity that runs programmes for academically talented school students from groups underrepresented in higher education and STEM, including young women and students from black and other ethnic minority groups and low-income households.

The organisation’s Uni Genius programme helps students win places at the best UK universities and go on to careers in STEM, in turn helping to address a skills shortage in STEM that costs UK businesses an estimated £1.5 billion each year.

A week discovering science and innovation

Imperial’s close ties to industry mean we’re well equipped to introduce students to the career paths available to STEM graduates, not only in academia but also in the worlds of business and entrepreneurship. Dr Simon Hepworth Director of Enterprise, Imperial

During the week, the students were introduced to Imperial’s science through visits to some of its flagship research facilities. They also visited the Imperial White City Incubator, where they explored the work of the deep science startups hosted there, and the MedTech SuperConnector, where they met entrepreneurs from the Imperial-led accelerator programme.

Interactive sessions held throughout the week included a workshop on customer discovery facilitated by Studio Zao, classes on STEM-related career paths like science communication and technology transfer, and a session in the Enterprise Lab’s performance simulator, a high-tech facility for practicing presentation skills. The students ended the visit by presenting entrepreneurial ideas they had independently developed throughout the week to an audience of Imperial and Generating Genius staff.

Ties to community and industry

Dr Tony Sewell CBE, CEO of Generating Genius, said “It was a fantastic week of Uni Genius at its very best. We want to thank Imperial and the wider Imperial community for their foresight in using Generating Genius as a key partner. We hope that this now cements future collaboration. Over the 15 years of doing this programme, these were some of the best presentations ever seen and it showed how the hard work of our partners and our staff ensure our students get the best opportunities.”

Dr Simon Hepworth, Imperial’s Director of Enterprise, said “Imperial’s close ties to industry mean we’re well equipped to introduce students to the career paths available to STEM graduates, not only in academia but also in the worlds of business and entrepreneurship. It was a pleasure to work with the talented students of Generating Genius, and I’m pleased to have helped deliver the College’s commitments to promoting the continued diversity of our student body, supporting industry and introducing the wider London community to our work”.

Enterprise at Imperial

Enterprise is the College’s centre for staff and student entrepreneurship, industry partnerships and technology commercialisation. More information about the Enterprise team’s work is available in the annual Review of Enterprising Activity.