The annual Athena Lecture was established in 2001 by the Academic Opportunities Committee to celebrate the achievements of women in science, engineering, technology and medicine. It is given annually by a prominent female scientist.

It is coordinated by the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Centre at Imperial. Visit their pages for more information about the lecture and for a full list of previous Athena speakers.

Past speakers also include Grazia Vittadini, CTO, Rolls-Royce, Professor Dame Ann Dowling, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Professor Deborah Smith, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of York and Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester. 

You can watch some of our Athena Lecture live streams below or on our YouTube channel

Athena Lecture live streams

Why evidence matters

Professor Dame Anne Glover, Special Advisor to the Principal at the University of Strathclyde and President of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, delivers the Athena Lecture 2024: Why evidence matters

Athena Lecture 2024

Why evidence matters

Professor Dame Anne Glover, President of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society

Professor Dame Anne Glover, Special Advisor to the Principal at the University of Strathclyde and President of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, delivers the Athena Lecture 2024: Why evidence matters

Athena Lecture 2023

Taking off to new horizons - how diversity propels aerospace

Grazia Vittadini, Chief Technology Officer, Rolls-Royce

Grazia Vittadini, Chief Technology Officer, Rolls-Royce, delivers the Athena Lecture 2023: Taking off to new horizons - how diversity propels aerospace.

Athena Lecture 2021

Passions, failures, bold decisions and alternative careers

Dr Magdalena Skipper, Editor in Chief of Nature and Chief Editorial Advisor for Nature Research

Dr Magdalena Skipper, Editor in Chief of Nature and Chief Editorial Advisor for Nature Research presents the 2021 Athena Lecture: Of passions, failures, bold decisions and alternative careers.

Athena Lecture 2018

Experiments in Chemistry and life

Dame Mary Archer DBE, Chair of the Science Museum Group

Experiments in Chemistry and Life. Dame Mary Archer, Chair of the Science Museum Group gives the annual Athena Lecture with celebrates the achievements of women in science.