Imperial Lates

Imperial Lates: Robots

29 October 2026, 18.00-21.00

Step into the world of tomorrow and meet the robots of the future.

At Imperial Lates: Robots, you can get hands-on with all things robots, tech and AI at this free evening event for adults. Where will robotics go in the next ten years, and what does intelligence mean in our ever changing world?

How would you feel about a robot doing surgery on you? Put your skills to the test by controlling a robotic arm to play our version of the classic game, Operation. Then get crafty and design your own soft, squishy body-bot to take home, inspired by flexible fibre-bots that can navigate inside the human body.

See if you or your friends are faster than a machine in a pipetting race, then watch robots play football where every pass, tackle and shot is decided in real time by AI. Join a discussion on the ethics of companion robots and what they could mean for our relationships and society, and check out the mini droid powered by plants, before you step behind-the-scenes in a tour of the labs and meet Imperial's robotic sea turtle. Then head to the bar, grab a drink and soak in the music from the DJ.

With hands‑on activities, fascinating talks, real robots and inspiring research at every turn, you can indulge your creativity and curiosity by learning all about the research driving the technologies of tomorrow. Whether you’re looking to discuss the future of robotics with the people on the cutting-edge, or wanting a sociable night with science, music and conversation, this Lates has it all.

Imperial Lates are adult events for ages 18+

About Imperial Lates

Imperial Lates are fun and social post-work events where visitors can interact with the latest scientific developments at Imperial College London, centred around a new theme for each evening.

The 2026/27 season will include:

29 October 2026: Robots

To find out when registration opens, and to hear about other public events at Imperial, please sign up to receive our event update emails, or follow us on @ImperialSpark

Want to get involved?

Imperial researchers are invited to submit ideas for taking part in the Lates series, and applications are now open. Please complete the open call Qualtrics form to register your interest, and if you have any queries about the ideas submission process, please get in touch via email (lates@imperial.ac.uk)

The team welcomes fully developed activities or initial ideas. The Imperial Lates programming team can help you develop an idea further, discuss opportunities to host a talk or take part in a panel discussion, or connect you with a creative practitioner to explore your research through an artistic workshop. 

If you are an Imperial staff member or student interested in volunteering at Imperial Lates, you can sign up to the volunteer portal to be the first notified when shifts open. Learn more about volunteering with the public engagement team. 

If you are an artist or facilitator interested in working with the Imperial Lates team,  please get in touch via email (lates@imperial.ac.uk)

What to expect?

Check out some photos from our past evenings of discovery!