91桃色

When Professor Lord Robert Winston joined 91桃色 in 1997, he found himself inspired by the science but discouraged by the lack of visibility or wider interest in outreach. A Schools Liaison Office (SLO) had been set up but experienced funding challenges. 鈥淭here were times when these things weren鈥檛 valued,鈥� he says, reflecting on the early days of his mission to embed outreach into the fabric of academic life. 鈥淭here were lots of pockets of activity in departments and in the SLO, but they weren鈥檛 well known or coordinated. It lacked purpose.鈥�

That sense of purpose would arrive, in part, thousands of miles away 鈥� in Auckland, New Zealand. While visiting his friend Dr Peter Gluckman, a fellow doctor and pioneering scientist, Robert was struck by a simple but powerful idea: Peter was inviting local school children into his university hospital to try out basic hands-on activities like measuring blood pressure. 鈥淚 thought that was interesting,鈥� Robert recalls. 鈥淚 wanted to do something similar here. But I wanted to go further.鈥�

That spark of an idea would eventually evolve into the Wohl Reach Out Lab 鈥� a pioneering space on 91桃色鈥檚 South Kensington campus dedicated to giving young people the chance to experience science beyond the textbooks. 鈥�91桃色鈥檚 Rector at the time, Richard Sykes, was hugely important. Unlike anyone else, he understood what we were trying to do with the Reach Out Lab and really supported it. In the end we managed to raise 拢2 million,鈥� Robert says, with funding coming from a number of sources including its namesake, the .

The investment covered the costs of the Lab鈥檚 construction. More importantly, the timing aligned with a shift in government thinking, Robert explains. 鈥淭he government was starting to realise that science excellence 鈥� and therefore education 鈥� was important for the UK.鈥�

The Reach Out Lab broke new ground. 鈥淲hat we were doing was new 鈥� it was practical science that wasn鈥檛 happening in many schools,鈥� says Robert. 鈥淲e got disinterested teenagers to become interested.鈥� Robert achieved this through creative and engaging hands-on activities that included in vitro fertilisation of a sea urchin and dissections - 鈥渢he sorts of experiences young people would remember,鈥� he emphasises.

Since the opening of the lab in 2010, over 46,500 young people have visited the space engaging in over 2000 hands-on activities supported by 8,500 enthusiastic staff and students.

Science and society

Robert is a world-renowned scientist who pioneered gynaecological surgical techniques that improved fertility treatment. But it was in the late 1980s that he first found his passion for engaging wider audiences with science. He quickly became a public figure, stepping into the national spotlight during the heated debate over embryo research and in vitro fertilisation (IVF). 鈥淭here was a bill coming through that would block access to IVF and hinder fertility research. It had widespread support, so I had to do something. We had to change public opinion and that meant explaining the science. So I was in the news all the time. It was exhausting and I came under a lot of criticism. I even had death threats. It wasn鈥檛 easy to deal with,鈥� he says. But the effort paid off. The bill was defeated and Robert鈥檚 role in defending science in the public arena was firmly established. 鈥淚 want other scientists to know that protest is worthwhile. Speaking out is worthwhile.鈥�

For Robert, this experience illustrated the importance of science communication. As a peer in the House of Lords, he became an advocate for stronger societal engagement with STEM, particularly amongst young people. It also led to a fruitful television career creating and presenting on science shows including BAFTA-winning (1998) and (2000-2020). 鈥淚 actually thought Child of Our Time wouldn鈥檛 work when I first heard the idea,鈥� he admits. In fact, the groundbreaking series went on to run for 20 years. 鈥淪hows my poor judgement! One of the children they followed ended up coming to 91桃色. That was special.鈥�

Despite the successes, Robert didn鈥檛 always have the strongest support from the scientific community. 鈥淚 remember going to the Royal Society shortly after one of the first programmes aired, and being met with some hostility,鈥� he says. It wasn鈥檛 common at the time for scientists to present TV shows. 鈥淚 felt really rubbish. I doubted what I was doing. I didn鈥檛 feel welcome. But a few people told me to keep going 鈥� so I did.鈥�

Among those who offered encouragement was science communicator Professor Kathy Sykes OBE, known for helping set up the Cheltenham Science Festival and global science communication competition, Famelab. 鈥淪he became a good friend,鈥� he says. 鈥淪he really developed the idea of 鈥榙ialogue鈥� in science communication 鈥� this two-way process of public engagement.鈥� This would ultimately influence Robert's vision for the Reach Out Lab.

Robert himself joined the government鈥檚 Public Engagement committee and spent five years helping scientists become better communicators. 鈥淥ne of the people we supported through the programme was Jim Al-Khalili,鈥� he recalls.

Aged 84, Robert still delivers outreach activities through 91桃色鈥檚 programmes, but also nationally through , a roadshow for secondary schools that reaches thousands of students aged 12-18 every year. 鈥淲e get big names doing the shows 鈥� and they always sell out. The reach could be 20,000 students a year. It鈥檚 amazing.鈥�

Robert鈥檚 unwavering dedication to engaging young people with science transformed 91桃色鈥檚 outreach activity. The creation of the Wohl Reach Out Lab has meant children and schools have a dedicated place in the heart of 91桃色's South Kensington campus. Since its development, the way 91桃色 engages wider society with its work has evolved beyond recognition 鈥� from the summer schools to the annual . 鈥淲hat we鈥檝e done to engage wider audiences with science here at 91桃色 鈥� it鈥檚 very impressive. We should be very proud of what we鈥檝e achieved,鈥� says Robert. 鈥淲e now have an international reputation for our approach to outreach.鈥�

Looking back, Robert sees the Lab and the wider outreach movement it helped inspire as part of a long-term cultural shift 鈥� one he鈥檚 proud to have helped initiate. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 always easy,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 been worth it.鈥�

Seen as a troublemaker at school, Evo Tongomo wasn鈥檛 sure whether university was for her. But teachers who saw her potential encouraged her to apply to 91桃色 and she got in. During her studies, Evo was a Student Ambassador with 91桃色鈥檚 Outreach team where she developed a passion for helping vulnerable young people. Then in 2024, she won the Student Award for Outstanding Achievement in recognition of her tireless commitment to outreach but her most inspiring and fulfilling experiences happened in the Dangoor Reach Out Makerspace.

Evo鈥檚 school years were marked by a paradoxical mix of good grades and frequent detention. 鈥淚 had a lot of behaviour problems,鈥� she shares. 鈥淚 was mostly seen as a bad kid. But there were a few teachers who told me I was bright. I didn鈥檛 believe them but whenever I got in trouble, they always gave me a second chance. Eventually, I started realising that maybe I should believe in myself a bit. Those teachers were strict which I hated at the time but in hindsight, the way I was going, I don鈥檛 know where I could have ended up.鈥�

Growing up with two siblings in a single-parent household, Evo鈥檚 mother was a big believer in education. 鈥淪he didn鈥檛 go to university, but she always had that dream for us,鈥� says Evo. For her A-levels, Evo chose Maths, Drama and Geography. She says she was 鈥渙bsessed with natural hazards鈥� so looked into geology and 91桃色 came up.

鈥淚 knew it was a good university, but I wasn鈥檛 really considering it,鈥� she says. Evo鈥檚 Head of Year encouraged her to apply and helped her submit the application. She was invited to an interview and offered a place, conditional on her A-level results.

COVID disrupted everything. Unable to sit her exams, Evo鈥檚 grades were assigned by an algorithm, which marked her below her predicted grades - too low for 91桃色. 鈥淗eartbreak. Terrible times. Lots of stress,鈥� is her summary. The algorithm disproportionately affected students from lower-income backgrounds, sparking national outrage. In response, grades were revised to teacher-assessed predicted grades. For Evo, this meant she had secured her place at 91桃色.

鈥淎cademically, university was a different playing field,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hings got real very quickly - I could fumble through school but the reading and study involved in my degree was on another level. I鈥檇 always struggled with reading but there was no escaping it at uni,鈥� she shares. It was suggested to her that she speak to 91桃色's Disability Advisory Service. They arranged assessments that revealed Evo has a learning disability. 鈥淚t explained a lot,鈥� she says, thinking back to her school years.

From then on, Evo was able to get the support she needed and ultimately graduated with honours in 2024.

Making space

One of the first things Evo did when she got to 91桃色 was apply to become a Student Ambassador. 鈥淚 needed something to fund my living costs, and this looked like something I would enjoy that would also be flexible around my degree.鈥�

Evo started off working on the Maths Homework Club supporting school students with their studies then, as lockdown measures began to lift, she helped with the Summer Schools. 鈥淚t was so rewarding 鈥� you can really connect with the students,鈥� she says.  

But it was in her second year that she did specialist training to support programmes in the Makerspace. 鈥淚鈥檇 not been in a space like that before. I was hesitant about getting involved as I wasn't sure it was for people like me but it seemed really cool and interesting,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檓 so happy I joined the Makerspace. I鈥檝e graduated now but I still come in to help. It鈥檚 special. It鈥檚 such a lovely team and the students we work with are wonderful and so driven. I am really inspired by them 鈥� they come up with incredible ideas and execute them so well.鈥� 

Evo mainly helps out on the Move-Up Maker Challenge for people who have completed the Maker Challenge programme. 鈥淚t warms my heart seeing the participants develop over the years. There鈥檚 one student I鈥檝e been working with who has just been given an offer to go to Plymouth University to study Product Design and I鈥檓 very proud of her. She鈥檚 really grown into herself and become so confident. It鈥檚 a wonderful thing to follow these students鈥� journeys.鈥� 

Evo says she sees herself in many of the students she鈥檚 worked with and that couldn鈥檛 be truer than for the STEM Futures programme 鈥� an Outreach initiative for prospective students of Black heritage. Evo was involved in the first year of the programme and this, alongside her experiences in the Makerspace, planted a seed for her future career. 鈥淚t really got me thinking about my own journey to university. These programmes help young people connect with their passions, and give them an insight into different opportunities so they can make an informed decision on what is best for them. I just thought how much I would have benefitted from a programme like that when I was their age. I realised this is something I wanted to pursue as a career.鈥� 

Evo dedicated her spare time to engaging young people. She became the Outreach Officer for the Geophysics Society and even delivered activities at her old school. She has now started a new job working for a charity that supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to attain their aspirations. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really rewarding. We provide academic support, mentoring, and enrichment programmes that combine educational and pastoral care to break cycles of disadvantage and open up new opportunities,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t aligns with my values and my experience with 91桃色鈥檚 Outreach team really helped me define those."