A new destination

Today we find ourselves with a rare opportunity for place-making. The story of White City in West London is defined by constant making and re-making. We are creating an integrated collaborative campus, with embedded corporate, academic and community partners. We are creating a new paradigm to bring the disciplines and sectors together by making places for them to coexist more closely than ever before.

Instead of creating an ‘industrial park’ outside our campus, or a ‘community centre’ to work with the public, we are, in White City, intentionally opening up our campus to blend these groups from the start. Intermingling in buildings, sharing labs, collaborating on research and educating the new generation of researchers.

We are now in a period of rapid change that, on the one hand, is bringing exciting new capabilities to improve human health and society while, on the other hand is creating challenges for the population. We must pursue, with all of our talent, energy and focus, the opportunities to turn scientific discovery into benefit for society. Imperial College London, White City Campus is the place to lead this.

Professor Alice P. Gast

President, Imperial College London