CDT EDI and Outreach Activities

The CDT places a strong emphasis on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and public engagement as integral components of its remit to give back to the scientific community. Beyond academic excellence, CDT students actively contribute to widening participation in STEM, supporting underrepresented groups, and fostering inclusive research cultures. Through outreach activities, mentorship, public engagement, and EDI advocacy, the students have demonstrated a shared commitment to making science more accessible, representative and socially impactful. 

A major focus of CDT activity lies in outreach to school-aged students, with several students contributing to programmes designed to increase access to STEM education and build confidence in pursuing scientific careers. Antonia Gucic (UCL) co-organised and hosted a one-week laboratory placement for three A-levels students from low socio-economic backgrounds, giving them hands-on experience in a research environment and increasing their confidence in applying for STEM degrees. Antonia also joined Rama Hassoun (UCL) in The Brilliant Club’s Scholars Programme, where they delivered university-style tutorials to Year 9 pupils, helping to demystify higher education and develop critical thinking skills needed to succeed in their next stages of education.  

Engagement with younger audiences has also taken the form of interactive, hands-on science activities. Silvia Smith (UoN) has led ‘After School Molecules’ sessions in primary schools, introducing Year 5 and 6s to DNA structure through crafts such as building double-helix models from pipe cleaners and beads! Both Silvia and Mandy Cheng (UoN) have also lead a class on DNA structure, function and location at South Nottinghamshire Academy’s STEM Day, complete with a hands-on strawberry DNA extraction practical. Beyond the classroom, Mandy participated in Nottingham’s Biodiscovery Institute (BDI) Discovery Day, where she introduced school children to stem cells through plasticine models and microscopy slides, with students even observing scientists culturing live cells during a tour of the site. These activities not only inspire curiosity but also help to normalize participation in STEM for children from diverse backgrounds. 

Laura Koenitz (UCC), participated in the EBS Science Blast for the fourth time, which is a non-competitive educational programme that invites primary school classes to explore the science behind a research question and present their findings at a large showcase event. As Laura reflected “It is a wonderful opportunity to spark students’ interest in science, and their curiosity is a reminder of the exciting research questions that are remaining to be explored”.   

Large-scale public engagement has been another hallmark of CDT involvement. Nottingham students have contributed to Science in the Park at Wollaton Hall for many years, with Mandy, Silvia and Rachael Lever (UoN) among the most recent participants.  Barbara Lechnická co-organised and presented at the CABI show at Cheltenham Science Festival 2025, a two-hour showcase on medical imaging featuring live demos and special guests for an audience of 400 and is set to return this year with the theme “sound waves into the brain”. Rama has also been active on the public stage, delivering a talk at Soapbox Science -a global initiative that brings research into public spaces- on how smart nanoparticles could revolutionise cancer treatment. Reflecting on this experience, she described it as “a rewarding outreach experience that allowed me to communicate complex science in an engaging and accessible way”.  

The CDT has further supported participation in science communication and innovation-focused events. Stefania Gardoni (UCL) took part in the London Neurotech Hackathon, a 30-hour interdisciplinary competition focused on solving neurotech challenges, where her team developed Neurostasis -a wearable concept designed to stabilise disrupted circadian rhythms in people with Alzheimer’s- earning third place. Stefania also participated in the Crick Innovation Challenge, spending a week at the Francis Crick Institute designing a patient-friendly device for early melanoma detection. Meanwhile, Mandy and Silvia entered the Young Entrepreneur’s Scheme (YES) competition with HerMonitor, a continuous hormone monitoring device to support women managing menopause symptoms. After pitching to a panel of judge at GSK, their team won and advanced to the finals at the Royal Society, where they were awarded Best Market Penetration Strategy- Congratulation to Mandy and Silvia! 

EDI focused activities form another pillar of CDT engagement, with students contributing to national and international initiatives aimed at promoting inclusivity within the scientific community. Mary Flood (UCD/NIBRT) won the SSPC Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Award on behalf of the EDI committee of the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland Young Chemists’ Network (ICI-YCN). The committee’s efforts, including securing an RSC inclusion and diversity grant and organizing the first Young Chemists for Change (YCFC) conference, have played an important role in supporting underrepresented groups and strengthening the research culture and values of the Irish chemistry community. Helena Ros (UCL) had her work on ‘Efficient discovery of new medicine formulations using a semi-self-driven robot formulator’ featured in the RSC’s International Women’s Day collection, while Celina Worraker (UoN) attended a Women with Hidden Disabilities event at the House of Lords during Neurodiversity week, hearing inspiring talks that brought forward the importance of recognising hidden disabilities and the disproportionate impact it has on women when having to advocate for themselves.   

Finally, CDT students have extended their reach to peers and aspiring scientists through careers talks and science communication platforms. Rama was invited to deliver a careers talk to pharmacy students at Kingston University alongside hospital and GP pharmacists. She was able to discuss her PhD and industry pathways which fostered discussion around the evolving role of pharmacists, giving the students a broader view of the range of career options available within the profession. In November 2025, Hannah Cleary (TCD) was featured in Silicon Republic’s Science Uncovered Series, where she talked about her scientific journey and her article "Why novel drug delivery is this pharmacist’s cup of tea”, helped communicate her research on long-acting injectable drug delivery to a wide public audience. 

Together, the breadth of EDI and outreach activities undertaken by CDT students reflects a strong collective commitment to shaping a more inclusive and engaged scientific community. These efforts not only benefit the individuals and communities reached but also enrich our students’ own development as researchers with a clear sense of their broader social responsibilities.  

Written by Rachael Lever, edited by Nancy Moore and Rama Hassoun