Reflecting on our community event
The event celebrated diverse role models in STEMM, inviting the Imperial community to reflect on who inspires them and why. Staff and students shared personal stories of unsung heroes, challenging traditional narratives.
The Imperial Role Models project, led by Katie Stripe and Linda van Keimpema, aimed to build community. Linda opened with her research on the impact of role models in academia, especially for underrepresented groups. Katie highlighted Alfie Hewett, a decorated wheelchair tennis player often overlooked in media, prompting reflection on visibility and inclusion.
Professor Fay Dowker shared how Nobel laureate Abdus Salam shaped her inclusive teaching philosophy, rooted in science as a shared human heritage. Postdoctoral fellow Aakeen Parikh echoed this, urging systemic change through an engineering lens. Their insights showed how diverse role models can reshape historical structures.
Jasmine, a physics graduate, spoke about how Professor Dowker’s presence helped her feel she belonged and inspired her research path. Mingke, a design engineering PhD student, shared the importance of finding mentors who bridge design and engineering.
Tamlyn Peel reflected on Charles Darwin’s legacy as both scientist and communicator, reminding us that how we share knowledge matters. Other staff also shared stories and posters about their role models.
The event was a reminder that inspiration often comes from quiet moments, peers, and mentors who help us see ourselves and each other differently.
To see more photos from our event please visit our flickr album.
Our Speakers
During this community event hosted by Linda van Keimpema and Katie Stripe we heard from colleagues from across Imperial talking about their role models. Click on the links below to listen to the voice recordings of the speakers at the event (Imperial login required):
Keynote talks:
- Aakeen Parikh Department of Mechanical Engineering - Deconstructing Pyramids.
- Fay Dowker Department of Physics - Science as interweaving relationships through time and space.
Lightening talks:
- Kasia Piotrowska discussing Marie Skłodowska-Curie
- Mingke Wang sharing her role models from design and engineering
- Jasmine Ajaz discussing Fay Dowker
- Tamlyn Peel discussing Griffith Pugh and Charles Darwin
Our posters
Staff and Student collegues also shared their stories via posters. Click the links below to see their webpages and below that a slide show of the posters.
- Shaway Yeh – Mingke Wang
- Wang Zhenyi – Linda van Kiempema
- Alan Turing – Katie Stripe
- Mark Layton – Steven Okoli
- Elizabeth Garret Anderson – Iro Ntonia
- Roma Agrawal – Chloe Agg
- Griffith Pugh – Tamlyn Peel
- Fay Dowker – Jasmine Ajaz
- Joana Atkinson – Indie Beedie
- Marie Curie – Kasia Piotrowska
- Gertrude Elion – Nessa Carey
