Engagement
Free public lectures
Queen Mary's Department of Sociology, Politics and International Relations delivers a programme of free public lectures that provides lifelong learning opportunities for staff, students and members of the wider community. The lecture series showcases contemporary research and expert perspectives on topics including democracy, international relations, security, war and peace, climate change, and global politics. In 2024/25 two lectures were delivered by Professor Christopher Phillips in November 2024, and Professor Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, with Gary Younge as discussant in March 2025.
Events are open to the public at no cost and feature contributions from Queen Mary academics and internationally recognised scholars, enabling people beyond the University to engage with current research and debates. Through these accessible public events, Queen Mary supports lifelong learning and public understanding of major social and political issues.
Public Imagination Series
The Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IHSS) supports lifelong learning through its public Imagination Days programme, a series of free events open to students, staff and the wider community. In 2025, the programme included Imagining Justice, Imagining Nature and Imagining Lives, bringing together leading scholars from Queen Mary and international universities to explore topics including law and justice, environmental change, race, capitalism, history and political thought. Through public lectures, workshops and discussions, the programme creates opportunities for people of all backgrounds to engage with contemporary research and expand their understanding of major social, cultural and environmental challenges.
Annual Drapers' Lecture
Each year Queen Mary University of London delivers the prestigious Drapers' Lecture, supported by the Drapers' Company, focusing on themes in learning, teaching, and higher education. The lecture is open to the public and is free of charge. In November 2024 this was delivered by Professor Simon Marginson on the topic "The UK global research university in turbulent times," exploring the mission, internationalism, and accountability of UK universities.
Teachers’ and Advisers’ Conference
Queen Mary University of London's annual Teachers and Advisers' Conference provides a free professional development opportunity for education professionals across London and the UK. In 2025, the conference welcomed more than 160 teachers and advisers to explore developments in education and higher education through interactive workshops, specialist careers sessions and networking activities. Topics included generative AI in teaching and learning, higher education admissions, careers education, personal statements and UCAS references. By enabling educators to update their knowledge, share best practice and develop new skills, the conference supports lifelong learning and strengthens the guidance available to students progressing into higher education and beyond.
Centre of the Cell
Centre of the Cell is the first science education centre in the world to be located within working biomedical research laboratories, delivering groundbreaking education and health outreach. The centre focuses on inspiring and teaching children, young people, and local East London families about cell biology, biomedical research, and healthcare careers through paid workshops and free public engagement events. It has engaged with over 290,000 visitors since 2009, with its unique digital interactive STEM Pod experience and sixteen curriculum-linked science workshops delivered to over 20,000 young people annually. It provides mentoring, volunteering, university-application advice and summer-school opportunities to more than 1,200 young people through its Youth Scheme.
Centre of the Cell also delivers a programme of public engagement events that promote lifelong learning within local communities. Its annual Science Fun Day brings together families, researchers, healthcare professionals and community organisations for free hands-on activities, workshops and demonstrations designed to make biomedical research accessible and engaging for all ages. By creating opportunities for children, parents and residents to interact directly with scientists and healthcare experts, the event helps build scientific literacy, raise awareness of health and research, and encourage ongoing learning beyond formal education.
Nature educational outreach beyond campus
BioCapture, a student-created public education platform, has attracted more than 3,000 visitors and has supported school visits, guided nature walks, sustainability activities and public engagement, including New Scientist Live.
Lambeth Country Show
The Lambeth Country Show was a free, large-scale annual festival held in Brockwell Park, in Lambeth.
In June 2025, Queen Mary bought Teams of researchers and student ambassadors from the Centre of the Cell and the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences together to deliver educational outreach in the festival’s “Science Big Top”. Over the weekend, around 1,000 people dropped by to take part in the activities put on. Visitors designed and crafted cells, explored time and space relativity through biscuit decorating, and created sodium alginate ‘Jelly Worms’. After the event, one staff member reflected on the scale of the event, saying, “It was great to showcase our activities and connect with so many people in one event”.
Pint of Science
Pint of Science is the world's largest science festival, bringing researchers out of universities and into community venues where members of the public can engage directly with cutting-edge research in an accessible and informal setting. The annual festival takes place across the world, and in 46 locations across the UK, with no prior scientific knowledge required.
In 2025, Queen Mary University of London hosted eight Pint of Science events across East London, featuring researchers speaking on topics including healthy ageing, brain science, genetics, rare diseases, public health, art and physics. Events were held in local community venues and pubs, creating opportunities for lifelong learning, public engagement with research, and direct dialogue between researchers and the public.
Through its involvement in Pint of Science, Queen Mary helps make research accessible beyond the classroom, enabling people of all ages and backgrounds to learn about contemporary scientific developments and engage with experts in an inclusive community environment
Teddy bear hospital BARTS
The biggest volunteering group on our campus, Teddy bear hospital run fun, interactive clinics in local primary schools every Wednesday. These clinics help children learn about health and feel less scared about visiting the doctors and the dentist to stay healthy.
BARTS community smiles
Founded in 2017 to address an unmet need for raising awareness about oral and dental health within the community of Tower Hamlets, BARTS community smiles is a volunteering student group working to change that. They do this through running educational outreach events and talks in community and school settings, taking learning beyond our campus.
Engineering and Computer Science outreach
Queen Mary's school of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) offer free mobile interactive educational outreach sessions to local schools within commuting distance of London, when requested. The talks are suitable for students at all levels and the presentations are adapted according to the age and interests of the group. These include, but are not limited to, the "Magic of Computer Science", and 50-120 show, tailored to key-stage 3,4, or 5, and an Artificial Intelligence Masterclass, a hands-on 2-4 hour workshop. These can be requested via the EECS Outreach Activity form.