The University of Westminster’s School of Life Sciences (SLS) recently hosted its 23rd annual event in collaboration with science4u to inspire Year 9-11 students from London schools to study science. This year’s theme, Science for Sports, focused on unlocking human potential and learning from each other.
The Annual Schools Science Conference, science4u, was launched in 2003 to inspire pupils from London to study science through demonstrating its importance in everyday life and showcasing future career options. Its success was recognised in 2020 when it was awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Westminster has hosted the event since 2015 and welcomes 350 students and their teachers from secondary schools across London each year. The schools are joined by 80-100 scientists from organisations including the NHS, Great Ormond Street Hospital, the Institute of Biomedical Science, as well as a range of universities and pharmaceutical companies.
This year’s theme focused on unlocking human potential and exploring how the body’s systems – muscular, skeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological – work together to fuel peak athletic performance and how that knowledge can inform us about health more generally. Held on 22 April at the Cavendish Campus, the day had a range of interactive demonstrations, displays, workshops, lectures and presentations revealing how healthcare scientists are the hidden champions behind both top-tier athletes and everyday wellbeing, from game-changing technologies and sports psychology to nutrition, physiotherapy and injury prevention.
During the event students presented a science project in a bid to win the Association for Laboratory Medicine Trophy for the annual Don Henderson Award. The winning school was Thomas Thallis School who presented a project on synthesising bioplastics, where they explored how everyday, environmentally friendly ingredients, including honey, vinegar, water and cornstarch, could be combined to create a biodegradable plastic. They tested different mixtures, adjusted the ratios to improve strength and flexibility, and compared their results to the properties of conventional plastics.
The day’s events, led by Director of Research and Knowledge Exchange at the SLS Professor Louise Thomas, included activities run by 40 academic, research and technical Westminster colleagues who were supported by doctoral researchers from the University’s Graduate School as well as postgraduate and undergraduate students. Students from Westminster’s Talent Bank also worked as ambassadors and took school groups on tours around the Campus. The University’s Records and Archives Team also participated, running an activity which highlighted Westminster's close history with the Olympics.
The event was sponsored by A. Menarini Farmaceutica Internazionale SRL, the Philip King Charitable Trust and the Strand Parishes Trust. It was also supported by GE Healthcare, GLOBE Locums, Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, Mast Group, Miltenyi Biotec, STEM Ambassadors, STEM Learning, the UK Health Security Agency and una health, whose contributions make the conference possible each year.
About the event, Professor Alistair Mathie, Head of the SLS, said: “Events such as this play an important role in nurturing curiosity, broadening aspirations and demonstrating the many ways in which science can shape our understanding of sport, health and human performance. We are proud to support opportunities that encourage young people to explore scientific ideas and consider the exciting possibilities that science can offer for their future.”
One of the pupils who participated added: “Today’s event helped me recognise the different opportunities science carries and that developments in healthcare can carry huge importance globally.”
Hiba Zouber Rechia, one of the student ambassadors from Westminster, added: “I had an amazing time assisting at the science4u event. Answering students’ questions about my Biomedical Science BSc Honours degree was incredibly rewarding and I loved seeing their curiosity come alive. It was just as inspiring for me to explore all the different stalls and discover the wide range of options available out there.”
Kimberly Gilmour, Principle Clinical Scientist at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, added: “We are delighted that the 2026 Science4U Conference showcased science careers to over 350 students and their teachers. Students attended from a wide range of backgrounds, with a significant proportion receiving free school meals. We hope that this event will inspire more young people to take science A Levels and to consider careers in science.”
Westminster’s collaboration with science4u directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4: Quality Education and 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Learn more about outreach for schools and colleges at the University of Westminster.
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