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News, Events, and Communications

The Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise), Professor Mary Ryan, oversees a diverse range of engagements, encompassing visits, collaborative research efforts, and active participation in a range of events. Professor Ryan frequently hosts senior leaders from government, academia, and industry, holding exploratory conversations, strengthening collaborative ties, and formalising Research and Enterprise partnerships. Furthermore, she plays a pivotal role in the initiatives under her purview at Imperial, focusing on vital areas such as materials science, achieving net zero emissions, and promoting sustainability.

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Spring Term (January - March)

Spring Term (January - March)

Hosting visits

Professor Ryan attended the UK-Germany bilateral Memorandum of Understanding event hosted at Imperial. This event marked a significant milestone in enhancing the strong ties between the UK and Germany in the realms of science and innovation. The MOU aims to facilitate co-funding opportunities across diverse scientific disciplines, promoting bilateral cooperation, and creating avenues for joint funding calls in both countries. It was truly inspiring to witness the commitment to collaboration and knowledge exchange between two leading nations.

Additionally, Professor Ryan hosted a visit with the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) leadership. This meeting provided a valuable platform for both Imperial College London and STFC to engage in fruitful discussions, exchange ideas, align on strategic priorities, and explore potential areas for collaboration in research and innovation. The interaction between Professor Ryan, Imperial College London, and STFC leadership signifies a shared commitment to advancing scientific knowledge, driving innovation, and fostering partnerships that can lead to impactful outcomes in various scientific domains.

Furthermore, Professor Ryan hosted executive leadership colleagues from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to our South Kensington and White City campuses, showcasing our incredible research and strengthening the relationship between the non-profit and our university. The team, who were visiting from the US, were divided into groups, and taken on respective tours covering three research areas: malaria, disease surveillance and agricultural development. The Gates Foundation’s substantial contributions to our malaria research endeavours, through significant funding support, have been instrumental in driving advancements in this critical field. Furthermore, their generous donations towards disease surveillance initiatives underscore their commitment to global health security. Their expressed interest in our agricultural development projects further highlights the alignment of goals between the foundation and our institution.

Events

This term saw the official naming ceremony of the Abdus Salam Library, paying tribute to the esteemed Nobel laureate and Imperial Professor. Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formalized for a strategic partnership with the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), emphasizing our commitment to scientific endeavours and global cooperation.

In February, Professor Mary Ryan joined the UK and EU science communities for the UK Government and European Commission’s official launch event to celebrate the UK’s association to Horizon Europe. The event was opened by the UK Secretary of State for Science, Research and Innovation Michelle Donelan MP and European Commissioner for Research, Culture, Education and Youth Iliana Ivanova and celebrated UK participation in European funding programmes with key members of the UK and EU research communities.

Additionally, Professor Ryan attended the LSE German Symposium where panel where members discussed critical topics such as energy security, net zero emissions, and technological advancements.

Professor Ryan, as part of the “In Conversation: Science and Policymaking” series organized by the Imperial Policy Forum, hosted Dr. Hayaatun Sillem CBE and Greg Clarke MP. These discussions underscored the importance of evidence-based decision-making, collaboration between academia and policymakers, and the role of research in informing effective policies for societal advancement.

The launch “Science for Humanity” Imperial’s new strategy represents a significant milestone towards maximising the college potential as a global force for good through a series of bold new initiatives. Professor Ryan’s address at the Science Museum highlighted the ambitious nature of this strategy, which is poised to revolutionize the landscape of scientific research and innovation. The launch of four cross-cutting Schools of Convergence Science that build on Imperial’s disciplinary strengths and interdisciplinary culture to create research communities in key areas including sustainability, human and artificial intelligence, health, and security sciences. These Schools will create interdisciplinary science at unprecedented scale with an unflinching focus on addressing global grand challenges.

International Travel

Imperial University achieved a significant milestone by opening its first overseas research and innovation centre in Singapore, this move is a testament to Imperial’s commitment to expanding its global reach and fostering international collaboration in education and research.

The new centre in Singapore will facilitate the exchange of ideas and knowledge between #OurImperial scientists and their partners in Singapore, which includes universities, industry, government, and third-sector organizations.

Professor Ryan and President Brady also travelled to Malaysia to celebrate Imperial’s collaborations across the country.  

Spring Term (January - March)

Hosting visits: Professor Ryan and President Brady hosted UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Bill Gates for the launch of the Cleantech for UK coalition at the South Kensington campus. Imperial’s Undaunted initiative, a collaboration between the College and the Royal Institution, is a founding signatory of the coalition. During the visit, the Prime Minister and Bill Gates also attended a showcase of three leading UK cleantech scale-ups: Econic, H2GO Power and Crop Intellect. Additionally, Professor Ryan welcomed the Singaporean High Commissioner, H.E. Lim Thuan Kuan, at South Kensington campus, discussing some of Imperial’s work in sustainability and zero pollution, most notably the Transition to Zero Pollution initiative. Furthermore, Professor Ryan hosted Chris Skidmore MP at South Kensington campus to discuss the Vallance Review, green industries and how to support clean technology innovation in the UK.

Events: Professor Ryan, as part of the In Conversation series organized by the Imperial Policy Forum, hosted Professor Dame Angela McLean, then the Chief Scientific Advisor (CSA) at the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Their discussion encompassed the CSA’s role within the MOD, Professor McLean’s professional trajectory, and the significance of effective science communication. Additionally, Professor Ryan chaired a panel during the launch event of the Hitachi-Imperial Centre for Decarbonisation and Natural Climate Solutions. The panel featured speakers such as Alistair Dormer, Hitachi Europe Chairman, Prof Paul Monks, Chief Scientific Adviser at BEIS, Caroline Haas, Managing Director and Head of Climate and ESG Markets at NatWest, Jeremy Oppenheim, Founder and Senior Partner at Systemiq, and Andres Roberts, Founder of the Bio-Leadership Project and Founder/Programme Director for the Bio-Leadership Fellowship.

Furthermore, Professor Ryan co-signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Imperial and the Royal Air Force (RAF) alongside Air Commodore Jez Holmes. This MoU facilitates collaboration on security-related research themes, drawing on key initiatives from across Imperial, such as I-X and the Institute for Security Science and Technology. Another engagement involved Professor Ryan participating in a panel led by Philip Dunne MP to celebrate the Environmental Audit Committee’s 25th anniversary at the South Kensington Campus. This event, co-led by the Imperial Policy Forum and the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, included Dr Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government, Mary Creagh, Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee from 2016 to 2019, and David Shukman, former Science Editor of BBC News.

In addition, Professor Ryan delivered the opening keynote address at the inaugural Jawdrop Summit at Imperial’s White City campus, bringing together academics, startups, scaleups, enterprise, and investors to discuss the future of the UK’s life sciences sector. He also attended the launch of Imperial’s new Henry Royce Institute facility at the White City campus, focusing on advanced materials research for quantum technologies, materials for the energy transition, healthcare, and information technologies. Furthermore, Professor Ryan attended the opening of DIANA’s European Regional Office at the White City campus, led by Professor Deeph Chana. The event included Mircea Geoana, NATO Deputy Secretary General, and Alex Chalk, UK MoD Procurement Minister. DIANA, a NATO initiative co-located in London and Tallinn, was established to enhance security and technology collaboration. Additionally, Professor Ryan hosted Mircea Geoana, NATO Deputy Secretary General, at the South Kensington campus for the Institute for Security Science and Technology’s annual Vincent Briscoe lecture. This event also featured Ms. Barbara McQuiston, DIANA Board of Directors Chair, and Dr. Bryan Wells, NATO Chief Scientist.

International Travel: Professor Ryan and President Brady attended a series of events in Tokyo, strengthening Imperial ties with Japanese partners. Visits included a Net Zero and Healthy Future symposium with the Tokyo Institute of Technology and the Tokyo Medical and Dental University, meeting with Hitachi and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries officials, discussing research partnerships, and chairing a meeting with the Japan Bioindustry Association. Professor Ryan also attended an alumni event at the International House of Japan in Tokyo.

Summer Term (April - July)

Hosting visits: Professor Ryan hosted Lord Sainsbury at the South Kensington campus for the launch of a series of reports outlining Imperial experts’ recommendations on improving the UK’s competitiveness in biopharma, medtech, and telecomms. Professor Ryan also chaired a panel discussing technological solutions and policy advice together with Richard Philips (Director of Strategy at the Association of British Healthtech Industries), Dr Mike Short (Chief Architect at Satellite Applications Catapult), and Dr Emily Pegg (Associate Vice-President (Medical) at Eli Lilly).

Events: During the Summer term, Professor Ryan participated in a multitude of significant events. She attended the launch of the Centre for Cryo Microscopy of Materials, hosted within the Department of Materials, which is globally unique and supported by ESPRC. This cutting-edge facility is dedicated to researching energy materials for catalytic systems and batteries, as well as materials for soft and hard matter interfaces and biological systems. It serves as a collaborative hub to address the UK's goal of achieving a sustainable zero-carbon future. Additionally, Professor Ryan chaired a panel organized by Octopus Ventures and the Department for Business and Trade’s Office for Investment, exploring collaborative approaches to help deep tech companies grow.

Professor Ryan, furthermore, was in conversation with OpenAI’s co-founder Wojciech Zaremba and Product Lead Arka Dhar during the keynote address of the Future of Generative AI symposium co-hosted by Imperial College London and London School of Economics’s Data Science Institutes. Emphasizing the importance of critically engaging with AI developments and ensuring ethical use, she highlighted the need for responsible AI practices. Professor Ryan also hosted the Q&A session of the annual Athena lecture, featuring Grazia Vittadini, Chief Technology Officer of Rolls-Royce.

Furthermore, Professor Ryan engaged in a dialogue with Professor Charlotte Watts, the former Chief Scientific Advisor (CSA) at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), as part of the ‘In Conversation’ series organized by the Imperial Policy Forum. Their discussion covered the CSA’s role within the FCDO, Professor Watts’s experience in both academic and government settings, and how the FCDO leverages academic evidence. Professor Ryan furthermore delivered a talk as part of the Great Exhibition Road Festival programme, exploring the Seven Material Wonders of the Ancient World, and co-hosted concrete block-building workshops. She also attended the Women in Engineering Network (WiN) event at the South Kensington campus, which she founded and chaired during her tenure as Vice-Dean for Research in the Faculty of Engineering.

Additionally, Professor Ryan participated in the TenU event discussing the recently launched USIT Guide in an international context, emphasizing the importance of aligning Imperial’s vision with like-minded universities for mutual support. She gave the opening keynote address at the second Jawdrop Summit on climatetech, held at Imperial’s White City campus, and chaired a panel on White City’s role as a climate technology innovation ecosystem for the UK. Professor Ryan also joined the launch of the Centre for Quantum Engineering, Science and Technology (QuEST), co-led by Professor Peter Haynes and Professor Myungshik Kim, aligning with the UK Government’s National Quantum Strategy.

Lastly, Professor Ryan organized the first-ever joint event of Imperial’s Global Challenge Institutes in partnership with Stemettes. The event involved translating complex science and technology problems into workshops, panels, and exhibition stands for an audience of 200 girls, young women, and non-binary individuals aged 5-25, fostering engagement and collaboration with Stemettes and industry partners.

International travel: Professor Ryan and President Brady attended the CNRS-Imperial College London opening plenary in Paris, the first annual workshop co-organised by the two institutions. Imperial and CNRS scientists discussed their work on a broad range of research areas, such as artificial intelligence, climate change, material sciences, medicine, and chemistry.

Furthermore, Professor Ryan signed a research partnership agreement with Professor Krystyn Van Vliet, Vice President for Research and Innovation at Cornell University, through which world-leading AI centres in London and New York will cooperate on using AI to accelerate scientific discovery and future technologies. Professor Ryan also met with Greg Morrisett, Dean and Vice Provost at Cornell Tech, hosted by Emma Wade at the British Consul General's Residence in New York. While in New York, Professor Ryan and President Brady met with Grace Wood, First Secretary & Head of Sustainable Development at UK Mission to the UN, Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator, and Amandeep Singh Gill, UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Technology to discuss how science and technology can contribute to major global issues such as health, climate and food security. Imperial has consultative status at the UN Economic and Social Council and leads on a number of development partnerships, primarily through its Global Development Hub.

Lastly, Professor Ryan attended the announcement of a key strategic partnership with the University of Tokyo, led by the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of the G7 summit. The collaboration builds on Imperial and Hitachi’s respective bilateral initiatives with University of Tokyo, building on major industry-research centres in climate repair and energy systems. The Presidents of Imperial and the University of Tokyo signed the agreement, witnessed by the Executive Chairman and the Chief Technology Officer of Hitachi Ltd.

Autumn Term (September - December)

Hosting visits: During the Autumn term, Professor Ryan hosted distinguished groups and individuals at Imperial College London, including visits from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory delegation, representatives from the University of Arizona and the UK Science and Innovation Network, Professor Dame Jessica Corner (Executive Chair for Research England), the Qatar Foundation, Rolls-Royce, Dr Itaru Nishizawa (CTO of Hitachi), and Thomas F. Hofmann (President of the Technical University of Munich). These engagements involved tours and discussions on collaborative opportunities, research initiatives such as decarbonization and AI, industry partnerships, and the renewal of flagship partnerships. The overarching goal of these visits was to foster innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration for the advancement of cutting-edge technologies and scientific discoveries.

Events: Professor Ryan was actively involved in a diverse set of events, including attending the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding between Imperial College London and the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International at the Silwood Park campus. This new research base will focus on collaborative efforts in teaching and research related to fragile ecosystems, sustainable agriculture, environmental concerns, and biodiversity management impacted by climate change. Additionally, Professor Ryan spoke at the Labour Party Conference on the role of science and innovation in driving economic growth, emphasizing the importance of connecting innovation ecosystems, securing stable funding, and integrating scientific research into policymaking. She also participated in Commemoration Day, congratulating graduating students and staff awardees. Other highlights include visiting the UKAEA FTF in York, meeting with Petronas to discuss the White City Campus, delivering a talk on ‘The Academic Leadership Journey’ during the New Academic Leadership Development Programme at South Kensington, attending the Imperial Black Entrepreneurship dinner, and participating in the Google-Imperial Research Showcase where topics such as sustainability, cybersecurity, and responsible AI.

International travel: Professor Ryan had the honour of contributing to significant initiatives in both Japan and San Francisco last term. In Japan, she met with Professor Yoichiro Matsumoto and Dr. Motoko Kotani, Science and Technology Advisors to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, outlining Imperial's research strategy and exploring potential academic collaborations and synergies between the two countries. Our discussions prioritized opportunities for aspiring PhD students and early career researchers. Professor Ryan also visited Hitachi at Origin Park and their R&D site in Ibaraki, delving into their environmental research and discussing decarbonization technologies. Additionally, she attended Imperial’s networking event at the British Embassy in Tokyo, focusing on Sustainable Decarbonization for Island Nations (where discussions centered around achieving flexible, secure, and zero-pollution energy solutions), and participated in workshops at the University of Tokyo.

Simultaneously, in San Francisco, Professor Ryan attended the WEF AI Summit and visited Insistro, where she had the privilege of meeting with Daphne Koller, the CEO and Founder. These engagements provided valuable insights into the fields of artificial intelligence and academic collaboration. Additionally, she held meetings with representatives from the British Consulate-General and Stanford University, contributing to a well-rounded exploration of opportunities and connections on both sides of the globe.

Horizon Europe: Professor Ryan had participated in two significant events at both the Royal Society and Imperial that celebrated our association with Horizon Europe. The Foundation for Science and Technology event at the Royal Society highlighted the UK's active involvement in Horizon Europe and Copernicus programs, emphasizing strategies for optimizing collaboration. Additionally, delivering concluding remarks at Imperial's celebratory gathering brought together international science communities, symbolizing the initiation of the UK's partnership with Horizon Europe. The event celebrated our affiliation, showcasing collaborative projects and highlighting the impressive scientific progress fostered by EU programs at Imperial. An exhibition featured diverse EU-funded projects across various disciplines, demonstrating our commitment to impactful research and innovation.

Professor Ryan speaking on research culture at the Day of Doubt event organised by the Good Science Project (September 2023)

Professor Ryan hosting Imperial's startup showcase at SHACK15 in San Francisco (September 2023)

Professor Ryan with President Brady, Provost Walmsley, Peter Haynes, Vice-Provost for Education and Student experience, and William Hague at the launch of the Centre for Quantum Engineering, Science & Technology (July 2023)

Professor Ryan chairing a panel at the launch of Imperial reports on UK's competitiveness in biopharma, medtech and telecomms (July 2023)

Professor Ryan with Tim Campbell MBE and Dr Wayne Mitchell, Associate Provost for EDI at the Black Entrepreneurship event (July 2023)

Proffesor Ryan delivering the opening keynote address at the second Jawdrop Summit on climatetech

Profesor Ryan delivering the opening keynote address at the second Jawdrop Summit on climatetech (July 2023)

Professor Ryan at the Faculty of Engineering's Women in Engineering Network event (June 2023)

Professor Ryan delivering a talk on the Seven Material Wonders of the Ancient World at the Great Exhibition Road Festival 2023 (June 2023)

Professor Ryan with Imperial academics at the 2023 May graduation ceremony (May 2023)

Professor Ryan with Grazia Vittadini, Rolls Royce CTO at the annual Athena lecture (May 2023)

Professor Ryan representing Imperial at the League of European Research Universities (LERU) Rectors’ Assembly (May 2023)

Professor Ryan chairing a panel on the UK deep tech ecosystem co-organised by the Office for Investment Department for Business and Trade and Octopus Ventures (May 2023)

Professor Ryan at the launch of the Centre for Cryo Microscopy of Materials (April 2023)

Professor Ryan with President Brady, Cornell officials and the New York British Consul General signing a partnership on AI collaboration (April 2023)

Professor Ryan attending the launch of Imperial’s new Henry Royce Institute (March 2023)

Professor Ryan picking up her CBE in Windsor (March 2023)

Professor Ryan delivering the opening keynote address at the inaugural Jawdrop Summit for life sciences (February 2023)

Professor Ryan co-signing the RAF-Imperial College London MoU with Air Commodore Jez Holmes (January 2023)

Professor Ryan showcasing Imperial's medical robotics research with H.E. Lim Thuan Kuan, Singapore High Commissioner (January 2023)

Science & Policymaking Series

Science and research is a crucial component in public policymaking. The solutions to the global societal challenges we all face – from the impacts of climate change and decarbonising large parts of our society to realising the benefits of AI – all require extensive research and innovative. Yet there are sometimes challenges in pulling through academic expertise into the hands of decision-makers in governments and parliaments. Only through open dialogue and collaboration between academia and policymakers can we make sure that the latest evidence supports decisions impacting us all.

The Imperial Policy Forum runs a Science and Policymaking speaker series, which aims to do just that – facilitate open conversations with a range of policymakers and officials about how research is used to inform public policymaking, and their own reflections on how the science-policy interface operates. Hosted by Professor Mary Ryan, Vice-Provost for Research and Enterprise, the series is open to all Imperial staff, students and alumni to hear first hand the challenges and opportunities for scientists working in government and how their research can be used to evidence public policymaking across a wide range of topics.

Previous guests include:

Professor Charlotte Watts, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
Professor Angela McLean, Chief Scientific Adviser at Ministry of Defence (MoD)
Dr Mike Short, Chief Scientific Adviser at Department for International Trade (DIT)