The Gene Editors team leads (Dr Kalpana Surendranath and Professor John Murphy) an active programme of school and community engagement, bringing together student researchers interested in gene editing to develop essential skills, and form meaningful authentic learning experiences. The program has co-created and collaborated with over 700 students of all levels and international scholars through co-curricular and extracurricular activities through partnerships within the University and external organisations. leverage students’ leadership potential to drive positive change with a strong dedication to ethical and sustainable practices.
Alongside their work within the University the team empower their students to also introduce school-level pupils to genome editing, molecular biology and hands-on experimental design. In addition to working with partner schools, they also support civic facing outreach: Westminster students recently took on community engagement roles to brief Members of Parliament on emerging genetic technologies, helping translate complex scientific ideas into clear, accessible messages for policymakers. Together, these activities reflect a commitment to widening participation, strengthening public understanding of genetics and enabling young people to experience research led learning.