Public and community engagement
Queen Mary is the sector leader in public engagement, and we are committed to engaging and collaborating with communities in East London and across the globe through our research, teaching and other core business.
The excellence of public engagement at Queen Mary was recognised by the award of the Platinum Engage Watermark for Public Engagement by the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement in 2021, the first award made at this level.
Queen Mary’s Civic University Agreement (CUA), launched in 2022, formalises our commitment to maximising our place-based impact in East London.
To get involved or find out more, you can contact the Centre for Public Engagement.
Local engagement through Centre of the Cell’s STEMPod
Many young people have limited opportunities to engage with science, meet researchers or explore future careers in STEM.
Through Centre of the Cell, Queen Mary works with schools, community groups and young people to create accessible and engaging science experiences. Located within working biomedical research laboratories, the centre delivers workshops, science shows, mentoring and youth programmes that connect young people with research and innovation.
Based on the information provided, Centre of the Cell has engaged more than 286,000 participants since opening in 2009 and delivered 449 curriculum-linked activities to more than 16,600 young people in 2024-25. By raising aspirations, supporting science engagement and creating opportunities for young people to explore STEM subjects, Centre of the Cell helps more people see themselves as part of the future of science and research.
Using state-of-the-art computer and film technology in the STEM Pod and a range of shows, workshops and events hosted in our Neuron Pod, schools and communities can participate in a range of activities reflecting the latest in biomedical research at Queen Mary.
Centre of the Cell continues to inspire young people in East London and beyond.
Local engagement through Centre of the Cell’s STEMPod
Encouraging eco-tourism by mapping turtles on Zakynthos
Protecting wildlife requires better understanding of how animals interact with their environment, but collecting this information can be challenging and resource intensive.
Queen Mary researcher Dr Kostas Papafitsoros has worked with conservation organisations on the Greek island of Zakynthos to create the Zakynthos Turtles platform. Visitors can upload turtle photographs, which are analysed using mathematical imaging techniques to identify individual turtles and build knowledge about their behaviour.
The project helps conservation groups better understand loggerhead turtles while encouraging tourists to engage with wildlife responsibly and support more sustainable approaches to tourism and conservation.