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IAO Media Academy

Applications opening in 2026

The next IAO Media Academy will take place in Spring/Summer 2026. Applications will open in early 2026.

Questions? Don't hesitate to get in touch: media.academy@imperial.ac.uk

The Imperial As One Media Academy (IAO Media Academy) provides expert communications training for minority ethnic researchers who remain underrepresented in the media and wider public sphere.

This award-winning programme builds skills across a wide range of communications areas, including writing opinion pieces and blogs, media interview techniques, public engagement and influencing policy. Participants also gain practical experience in podcasting, video production and using social media to reach broader audiences.

Taking place annually, the IAO Media Academy is organised by a dedicated committee from Imperial's Faculty of Medicine, Communications Division and race equity network, Imperial As One. It is funded by Research England’s ‘Enhancing Research Culture’ award.

To date, 138 people have graduated from the IAO Media Academy, with many alumni featuring in national and international media outlets, appearing on podcasts and launching their own blogs. Find out what our graduates are saying and doing.

Discover how the Media Academy is creating space for more diverse expert voices in science communication

Effective communication is essential for scientists to build public trust and showcase how science benefits people and society. But the voices that represent science in the public sphere are overwhelmingly White. This, coupled with the fact that Black academic staff make up only 1 per cent of professors in the UK, perpetuates the false perception that Black and minority ethnic researchers make little or no contribution to scientific discovery and research. The Media Academy exists to change that.

Pros Awards

In 2025, the IAO Media Academy won Public Sector Campaign of the Year at The Pros Awards, celebrating inclusive communications work in the UK.
(Photo by Rob Greig)

2025 winners

Dareen Marghlani in an IAO Media Academy workshop

Times Higher Education

In 2024, the programme was shortlisted for Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion by Times Higher Education (THE) and the organising committee wrote a piece for THE on how Black and minority ethnic researchers can build their profiles.

THE article

Committee receiving certificates at an awards ceremony

President's Award

Internally, the programme was recognised in 2024 with an Imperial President’s Award for Excellence in Culture and Community.

2024 winners

Professor Mary Ryan, Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise) on the IAO Media Academy winning the BME Pros Award:

Through the Media Academy, over 100 BME researchers and PhD students have been trained to share their expertise, helping to amplify their voices both inside and outside academia. It is fantastic to see this work rightly recognised on a national stage. A huge thank you to the whole Imperial As One Media Academy team for their enthusiasm, vision and dedication to this programme.