Join our suite of live sessions to set yourself up for success in your first term at Imperial
Where do the Primers take place?
On-campus (OC) sessions take place in the Centre for Academic English, accessed via Sherfield. From the main entrance or walkway, take the lift or stairs to Level 3 and follow the signs.
Online (OL) sessions take place on Teams. As these are interactive, please join from a quiet, private space where you can use your microphone and camera.
Starting a STEM degree at Imperial can feel like a big step up. Understanding complex ideas is only part of the challenge; you also need to communicate what you know clearly and confidently.
Our practical Primers will help you tackle communication challenges you will meet from the start of your degree. Each session is hands-on and interactive, with practical strategies you can apply immediately. Together, the Primers will help you communicate with greater clarity, confidence and precision, setting you up for success at Imperial and beyond.
Primers
1. Explaining your work clearly
Discover how to use narrative to explain technical ideas clearly and help your audience understand why your scientific work matters.
- Mon 28 Sept, 12.00–13.00, OL & OC
- Wed 7 Oct, 17.00–18.00, OL
- Thurs 15 Oct, 12.00–13.00, OL & OC
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2. Making your writing flow
Analyse how paragraphs function within larger STEM texts, and practise planning and editing for precision, coherence and flow.
- Wed 30 Sept, 12.00–13.00, OL & OC
- Thurs 8 Oct, 17.00–18.00, OL
- Mon 12 Oct, 12.00–13.00, OL & OC
3. Contributing effectively in group discussion
Explore common barriers to participation and practise strategies for entering, extending and guiding discussions appropriately.
- Thurs 1 Oct, 12.00–13.00, OL & OC
- Mon 5 Oct, 17.00–18.00, OL
- Wed 14 Oct, 12.00–13.00, OL & OC
4. From results to meaning: making data make sense
Move beyond describing data to interpreting it through explanation, comparison, calibrated claims and discussion of unexpected findings.
- Mon 28 Sept, 17.00–18.00, OL & OC
- Thurs 8 Oct, 12.00–13.00, OL & OC
- Wed 14 Oct, 17.00–18.00, OL
5. Communicating to different audiences
Examine how the knowledge, needs and expectations of a particular audience shape content, narrative and structure, and practise techniques including definition, contextualisation, transition and emphasis.
- Wed 30 Sept, 17.00–18.00, OL & OC
- Mon 5 Oct, 12.00–13.00, OL
- Thurs 15 Oct, 17.00–18.00, OL
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6. Using AI to improve, not replace, your thinking
Use AI as a resource to support your academic communication and critically evaluate its outputs, while retaining agency, accountability and your own academic voice.
- Thurs 1 Oct, 17.00–18.00, OL & OC
- Wed 7 Oct, 12.00–13.00, OL & OC
- Mon 12 Oct, 17.00–18.00, OL
View our full Primers timetable
|
Date |
Time | Session | Delivery format |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Monday 28 Sept |
12.00–13.00 |
Primer 1 - Explaining your work clearly |
Online & on campus (ASL 316) |
|
Monday 28 Sept |
17.00–18.00 |
Primer 4 - From results to meaning: making data make sense |
Online & on campus (ASL 315) |
|
Wednesday 30 Sept |
12.00–13.00 |
Primer 2 - Making your writing flow |
Online & on campus (ASL 316) |
|
Wednesday 30 Sept |
17.00–18.00 |
Primer 5 - Communicating to different audiences |
Online & on campus (ASL 316) |
|
Thursday 1 Oct |
12.00–13.00 |
Primer 3 - Contributing effectively in group discussion |
Online & on campus (ASL 316) |
|
Thursday 1 Oct |
17.00–18.00 |
Primer 6 - Using AI to improve, not replace, your thinking |
Online & on campus (ASL 315) |
|
Date |
Time |
Session |
Delivery format |
|
Monday 5 Oct |
12.00–13.00 |
Primer 5 - Communicating to different audiences |
|
|
Monday 5 Oct |
17.00–18.00 |
Primer 3 - Contributing effectively in group discussion |
|
|
Wednesday 7 Oct |
12.00–13.00 |
Primer 6 - Using AI to improve, not replace, your thinking |
Online & on campus (ASL 316) |
|
Wednesday 7 Oct |
17.00–18.00 |
Primer 1 - Explaining your work clearly |
|
|
Thursday 8 Oct |
12.00–13.00 |
Primer 4 - From results to meaning: making data make sense |
Online & on campus (ASL S303a&b) |
|
Thursday 8 Oct |
17.00–18.00 |
Primer 2 - Making your writing flow |
|
Date |
Time |
Session |
Delivery format |
|
Monday 12 Oct |
12.00–13.00 |
Primer 2 - Making your writing flow |
Online & on campus (ASL 315) |
|
Monday 12 Oct |
17.00–18.00 |
Primer 6 - Using AI to improve, not replace, your thinking |
|
|
Wednesday 14 Oct |
12.00–13.00 | Primer 3 - Contributing effectively in group discussion |
Online & on campus (ASL 316) |
|
Wednesday 14 Oct |
17.00–18.00 |
Primer 4 - From results to meaning: making data make sense |
|
|
Thursday 15 Oct |
12.00–13.00 |
Primer 1 - Explaining your work clearly |
Online & on campus (ASL S303a&b) |
|
Thursday 15 Oct |
17.00–18.00 |
Primer 5 - Communicating to different audiences |
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