Societal engagement

Societal engagement is a core part of Imperial’s mission to achieve enduring excellence in research and education in science, engineering, medicine and business for the benefit of society.

At Energy Futures Lab, we are committed to sharing our research and expertise in ways that inspire young minds, empower communities, and broaden the public’s understanding of complex energy issues. We do this, in part, through our involvement in a number of Imperial-led societal engagement initiatives such as the Great Exhibition Road Festival, Imperial Lates, and Sustainability Week, alongside outreach events run by partners including the Royal Society and the Science Museum.

Great Exhibition Road Festival

The Great Exhibition Road Festival is Imperial’s flagship public engagement initiative, with a major live festival weekend every summer in South Kensington, supported by year-round community and school outreach activities and regular digital events. This celebration of the sciences and arts launched in 2019, with over 60,000 visitors attending across the weekend. Exhibition Road is closed to traffic for the duration of the festival to make way for many local institutions – including the V&A, Royal Albert Hall, Natural History Museum and Science Museum – to collaborate and create a free programme of unique and creative workshops, talks, exhibitions and performances for all ages.

OUR STRATEGY FOR ENGAGING WITH SOCIETY 2022-2023

Imperial Lates

Imperial Lates is a regular programme of sociable and inspiring evening events, providing a fun way for London-based adult audiences to connect with Imperial’s latest research. Each event is centred around a topical and relevant theme, which is explored through talks, creative workshops, tours, games and more. Visitors can grab a drink and enjoy music while also getting the chance to meet scientists and researchers who are shaping the future in their field.