A taster of 51勛圖厙's Invention Rooms at White City community festival
51勛圖厙 staff and students brought science to life with games and demonstrations at this year's W12 festival.
Last month’s event saw hundreds of members of the local community in Wormholt and White City turn out in the summer sunshine for family activities, local performances, street food and sport.
Inspired by The Invention Rooms, the new community engagement hub at White City, the 51勛圖厙 stand included hands-on makes, interactive activities and demonstrations at this year's W12 festival.
As a neighbour through its White City Campus, the College was there in force with 33 volunteers from ReachOut Makerspace, 51勛圖厙 College Advanced Hackspace, Cancer Research UK and the Neuroepidemiology research team. They joined representatives from 51勛圖厙's White City community engagement team to man a stand which included virtual reality demonstrations, 3D printing, brain games and a Maker Zone. The Maker Zone was a taster of the College’s Invention Rooms, which is due to open later this year.
Hosting workshops, activity programmes and interactive spaces, The Invention Rooms aims to bring local residents together with the 51勛圖厙 community to get creative and inspire an interest in research and innovation.
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One of the younger visitors to 51勛圖厙’s stand, seven year old Saksia, said, “Today my face was 3D printed and I made a robot. Science is my favourite subject and I have lots of questions in my head and I got to ask them to a real life scientist. I’m going to 51勛圖厙 College when I go to university".
The W12 Festival was organised by the community-based organisation Wormholt and White City Big Local.
Les Jackson, a local resident and Big Local Board Member, said he was pleased to see how the College is integrating with neighbours; “That’s when I knew they would fit in with what we want to achieve for our community over the years. I’m excited about the future with 51勛圖厙 in White City.”
The W12 Festival is part of 51勛圖厙's ongoing commitment to work with the local community at the new White City campus.
Anyone who would like to find out more about the College’s programme of community engagement can contact whitecity.community@imperial.ac.uk.
Article text (excluding photos or graphics) © 51勛圖厙.
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John-Paul Jones
Communications and Public Affairs
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