Outreach at 50: Celebrating five decades of inspiring young minds

A special exhibition at Imperial celebrates 50 years of schools outreach.

Imperial has marked a major milestone in its commitment to widening participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics with a special exhibition celebrating 50 years of schools outreach. 

Held at the South Kensington Campus, the Outreach at 50 exhibition reflects on Imperial’s pioneering journey since the launch of the Pimlico Connection in 1975 – a student-led tutoring initiative that laid the foundation for one of the UK’s most enduring outreach programmes. 

The exhibition showcases fifty portraits and personal stories from students, staff, teachers, and alumni whose lives have been shaped by Imperial’s outreach efforts. It is the culmination of a special series of interviews that have been published across the academic year.

From early tutoring sessions in local schools to the creation of dedicated outreach spaces like the Wohl Reach Out Lab and the Dangoor Reach Out Makerspace, Imperial’s approach has evolved into a dynamic, inclusive programme that reaches thousands of young people annually. 

A celebration event featured speeches from young people who have benefitted from Imperial’s Outreach work. Vanessa Madu, a PhD student in the Department of Mathematics, shared her story of how taking part in an Imperial Summer School at the age of 14 changed the course of her life.

Yemi Abe, a Student Ambassador studying Design Engineering, shared his journey to Imperial and why he is determined to ensure no young person is held back from reaching their full potential. 

Another key feature of the event was a showstopping 40kg cake to look like school science textbooks. It was cut by Professor Lord Robert Winston whose contributions to Imperial’s outreach work have been transformational. 

Dr Melanie Bottrill, Head of Outreach, said: “It has been a privilege to oversee this year of celebrations. I am astounded every day by the students and staff we work with who choose to spend their time being part of outreach schemes. Being able to share their stories has been very special.” 

Professor Maggie Dallman, Associate Provost (Societal Engagement) also spoke about the recently-launched Centre for Societal Engagement: “With so many allies, champions and practitioners possessing the enthusiasm and conviction that is needed to make a difference, the new centre will be a hub for supporting all individuals, both new to, and experienced in, working with different audiences. We will raise the profile of our work across the globe and act as a beacon for other universities to follow suit.”

Over the past five decades, Imperial’s outreach has grown to include hands-on workshops, mentoring schemes, summer schools, and digital programmes – many designed to support students from underrepresented backgrounds. To date, nearly 50,000 young people have engaged with STEM through the university’s dedicated outreach facilities. 

The exhibition also looks ahead, highlighting Imperial’s ambitious plans to expand its reach and deepen its impact through new collaborations and innovative programming. 

Outreach at 50 is open to the public until 22 June and forms part of a wider series of events and stories celebrating the people and partnerships that have defined Imperial’s outreach legacy. 

More information on the campaign, including the series of special feature interviews, can be read on the Outreach at 50 webpage.  

Photographer: Eleanor Bentall