Supporters attended Imperial’s celebration event to connect and learn about exciting ventures supported by philanthropy.
More than 70 donors and friends of Imperial filled the Scale Space building at the White City Campus on Wednesday 22 May 2024 to hear about the impact of philanthropic giving at Imperial and learn about the university’s future priorities.
The room is palpable with talent and innovation realised thanks to the opportunities philanthropy has enabled. Professor Hugh Brady President of Imperial College London
President Hugh Brady welcomed guests and thanked them for their support for Imperial. He shared the university’s new strategy Science for Humanity, saying: “Our strategy is an actionable plan that unlocks more of the power of science to serve humanity. Imperial was founded to ‘be useful’, and it is the power of philanthropy that has enabled us to do just that.
“For proof of the impact your support has, all you need to do is look around. The room is palpable with talent and innovation realised thanks to the opportunities philanthropy has enabled.”
The event takes inspiration from Imperial’s annual Impact of Giving report for donors, which is a celebration of philanthropy at the University, bringing stories of philanthropic support on research and student support to life.
Giving back
Guests also heard from Imperial alumnus Shiladitya Ghosh, Co-Founder of Mission Zero Technologies who spoke about his decision to support Imperial through the Entrepreneurs’ Pledge. Established in 2022, this scheme invites founders to pledge a philanthropic gift in the future to support the next generation of Imperial students and innovators.
Bringing research to life
A series of display stands allowed guests to connect with Imperial researchers, including the teams behind Makerspace Manual, a workbook for promoting STEM activities for school pupils, and the Paediatric Blast Injury Field Manual which provides guidance for medical professionals to treat severely injured children. Supporters also had the chance to learn about work in the Mohn Centre for Children’s Health and Wellbeing on youth mental health in North West London.
Several startups whose journeys were supported by philanthropy were also involved at the event, enabling guests to learn about the breadth of innovation at Imperial. Some of the ventures included Dotplot, an at-home breast monitoring tool, MakeSense, a portable digital guide dog that delivers mobility improvements to the vision impaired community, and Lylo, an eco-startup that finds new and innovative ways to reuse water. Imperial’s White City Incubator and Advanced Hackspace were also represented, allowing guests to learn how Imperial supports enterprise.
Meeting future generations
The event allowed donors to meet Imperial students who have received financial assistance in the form of scholarships or bursaries. The university received donations of more than £13 million to support students through scholarships and support funds in the 2022-23 academic year. Thanks to philanthropy, talented young people, regardless of their background and where they come from, can access an Imperial education.
I am beyond grateful to the donors for creating opportunities that grant young people from diverse backgrounds to access a world-class education at Imperial. Reisha Chudasama Recipient of the Dr Theo George Wilson Scholarship for Molecular Engineering
Reisha Chudasama, recipient of the Dr Theo George Wilson Scholarship for Molecular Engineering said: “Receiving the scholarship alleviated my anxieties about the financial burden of pursuing my master’s in London and boosted my confidence, reassuring me that I am a good fit for such an interdisciplinary course. I am beyond grateful to the donors for creating opportunities that grant young people from diverse backgrounds to access a world-class education at Imperial.”
President’s Scholarship recipient Vanathi Pugalendhi shared how the scholarship supports her time studying Medicine at Imperial as an international student. She said: “Coming from Singapore, I have to adapt to London’s high cost of living. The scholarship has made this easier, and I can focus my energy on other opportunities that are meaningful to me and my academic career.”
The Impact of Giving report is an annual publication that thanks donors and supporters for their support, highlighting philanthropic impact in Imperial. Over £59 million was raised in 2022-23, including £41.5 million for research and £13.1 million for scholarships and student support. More than 3.800 individuals and organisations contributed a gift to Imperial in 2022-23.
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