IAO Media Academy

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.

The IAO Media Academy is delivered in partnership with Imperial’s race equality network, Imperial As One, the Faculty of Medicine and the Communications Division. The programme runs annually, is overseen by a dedicated committee, and is funded through 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, appearing on podcasts and launching their own blogs. Find out what our graduates are saying.

Tackling under-representation in STEM communication

Effective communications support various institutional objectives, from fundraising and student recruitment to influencing policy and expanding research impact. But the voices that represent universities 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.