Over 150 guests attended the event which was held on the 8th floor of Bush House, on a bright and warm evening. In the spirit of our university's 200-year-old ethos 'in service of society', the reception was designed to allow guests to speak directly with leading academics and clinicians from across King's whose work is making a difference. From improving physical and mental health, tackling global challenges of inequity and sustainable development, to driving human-centric approaches to living well with technology, all their research is changing the world as we know it.

The Global Institute for Women's Leadership (GIWL)

The Hon Julia Gillard AC, Chair of GIWL and Professor Rosie Campbell, Director of GIWL, showcased the work they have been doing to break down barriers preventing women from becoming leaders. They highlighted their approach of using research to deliver evidence-based training and teaching which, in turn, leads to advocacy.

The King’s Sanctuary Programme

Dr Leonie Ansems de Vries, Director of the King's Sanctuary Programme, Dr Nicole Mennell, Sanctuary Programme Manager and Janahan Sivanathan, Sanctuary Project Officer, spoke with guests about King’s leading work to respond to the issue of forced displacement.

School of Global Affairs

Guests had the opportunity to meet Dr Eka Ikpe, Director, African Leadership Centre and Professor Astrid Nordin, Lau Chair of Chinese International Relations. They gave insight into the work happening at this hub of multi-disciplinary scholarship, that seeks to address and resolve the most pressing issues facing our world today.

The Simulation and Interactive Learning (SaIL) Centre for medical students at King's College London.

Numair Shahpur, Head of Simulation Operations, and George Keefe, Senior Simulation Technician brought their innovative and life-like simulation manikins to the event. The manikins are full-body patient simulators that mimic human anatomy and physiology and teaches clinical skills in safe, simulated hospital and community care settings, ultimately improving workforce ability, patient safety and outcomes.

Virtual Reality Research Lab, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience.

Jerome Di Pietro, Virtual Reality Research Lab Developer, and his colleagues showcased world-leading multidisciplinary VR-based research, assessment and treatments for mental health. Guests were able to participate in VR scenarios designed to help people with autism relive day-to-day experiences in therapeutic settings to recall their emotions and, teenagers to develop anger management techniques, and allow eating disorder patients to experience social eating scenarios in a safe space.

School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences

Together, academics in this space are advancing healthcare engineering research, teaching, and entrepreneurialism by bringing life-changing medical technologies to patients and clinicians faster. Head of School Professor Seb Ourselin was joined by Valentina Vitiello from the Surgical Interventional Engineering Lab, Dr Nicolas Huber from the London Institute for Healthcare Engineering, and Dale Waterhouse from the King’s spin-out Hypervision Surgical. Guest were able to experience advances in robotic surgery and identifying the different types of tissues in their own hands through the AI-powered hyperspectral imaging camera.

We hope this memorable event guests left feeling inspired by the incredible, impactful work happening across King’s. We frequently host events to highlight and celebrate work like this, and if you would like to be included in future plans, be sure to check we have you most up to date details via the link below.