Local MP visits White City to see outreach work, scaleups and dementia research

Andy Slaughter MP speaks with Dr. Evgenia Markova, CSO at Eden Bio, a biotech company based at Scale Space

Andy Slaughter MP, MP for Hammersmith, visited the White City Campus to see work on Imperial’s outreach activity, scaleups and dementia research.

Hosted by President Professor Hugh Brady, the first part of the visit took part in The Invention Rooms, Imperial’s unique space at White City where the local community and the College come together to collaborate, innovate and make. Professor Maggie Dallman, Vice President (International) and Associate Provost (Academic Partnerships) showed Mr Slaughter the Dangoor Reach Out Makerspace which is dedicated to providing hands-on activities aimed at engaging school children creatively in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects.  

The local outreach and engagement team at White City recently prepared 1,400 festive science activity packs delivered to more than 20 different local community groups and six local primary schools to inspire and educate local children over the Christmas holidays. The packs contained a range of maths and seasonal activities for children aged 6-11, including flying reindeer, symmetrical snowflakes and UV light decorations. Over 7,000 science packs have been sent to local families since the first science packs were delivered during the first COVID-19 lockdown.  

Scale Space and Innovation 

The visit continued at Scale Space, a joint venture between the College and digital venture builder Blenheim Chalcot. Scale Space is a new community where innovative businesses can scale up their operations by giving them access to the resources needed to grow.

Mr Slaughter saw the collaborative working environments for high-growth businesses and scaleups based in the building. He met Dr. Evgenia Markova, Chief Strategy Officer at Eden Bio, a biotech scale up building a strain engineering platform to help companies increase protein yield. 

UK Dementia Research Institute and School of Public Health 

Mr Slaughter concluded his visit at the UK Dementia Research Institute (DRI) Centre, based at the Sir Michael Uren Hub. UK DRI Centre Director Professor David Sharp explained the work of the Centre which brings together scientists to develop a range of innovative ‘smart’ technologies from artificial intelligence to sleep monitoring to enable people affected by dementia to live safely and independently.  

He also learnt about plans for the new School of Public Health which recently had its topping out ceremony to celebrate the completion of the building’s structural work. The new building will enable Imperial academics to strengthen relationships with local people thanks to new spaces and facilities for community engagement.

Through the School of Public Health, the College’s vision is to work in partnership with the local community at White City to bring cutting-edge research and evidence-based solutions to the public health challenges that affect the local community most profoundly.  

White City Campus vision 

Since Mr Slaughter’s last campus visit in September 2021, the White City Campus has continued to develop with the recent launch of the UK Dementia Research Institute and The Institute for Deep Tech Entrepreneurship, which seeks to address key barriers to the successful commercialisation of ‘Deep Tech’ ventures to tackle challenges like climate change.  

The Campus anchors the White City Innovation District which is fast emerging as a global economic and cultural hotspot in West London. A new contemporary restaurant The Works has also opened at the Campus and is open to everyone, serving from breakfast until late with a wide-ranging menu.  

Speaking after the visit, Andy Slaughter MP said, “I was delighted to see the latest developments at the White City Campus which continues to go from strength to strength. It was a pleasure to be shown around the Dangoor Reach Out Makerspace and learn about the wide variety of outreach activities Imperial is leading on to inspire local children to engage with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics subjects.” 

"It was also great to see how high-growth businesses benefit from the College’s research expertise at Scale Space and the contribution this makes to the White City Innovation District, as well as the UK Dementia Research Institute Centre which is leading on excellent work to transform diagnosis and care for people living with dementia."