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Artificial Intelligence Futurists

AI Futurists

“Our curiosity in exploring AI is shaped by our individual experiences of Imperial as a community that is open to innovation and positive change.” 

As Imperial’s newly appointed Artificial Intelligence (AI) Futurists, we hope to be at the forefront of how our community shapes its response to new technologies, particularly within the education field.  

Individually, we are a diverse group and bring our own experiences to these new planning, engagement, and ‘blue-sky-thinking’ positions which will sit within different parts of the university. We are all longstanding members of the community with day jobs across the three Faculties and the Business School, and we have been in our new roles for several weeks now. 

We consider AI to be emblematic of a deeper level of change within our professional and personal lives. When several of us first began our careers, the internet was a tool embedded across daily life in a way that few thought could be substantially ‘bettered’. Then came along social media and smart devices which provide us with significant access to information but can whittle away our time management skills and attention spans. Fast forward a decade, and we now find how we run our offices, our teaching activity, and our homes to be changed beyond recognition in positive and challenging ways. As AI Futurists, we want to support colleagues and students navigate another wave of change, and perhaps apply their approach toward other changes in education, employment, and wider society. Our curiosity in exploring AI very much feels shaped by our individual experiences of Imperial as a community that is open to innovation and positive change.  (more…)

Able@Imperial, Staff Network

Able Network. Able is open to all staff and PhD students with disabilities, and allies.

“Through our community we are changing the narrative of what it means to be disabled.”

Able is Imperial’s staff network which exists to provide community for disabled staff, PhD student and allies. They welcome all staff and PhD students who live with a disability and/or long-term condition, regardless of whether they identify as disabled or not.

Able is committed to raising the profile of disability awareness that focuses on the person’s ability and on addressing and removing the barriers that are disabling them – known as the social model of disability.

They act as a space for members to connect and support one another – through networking, events and an informal coffee session every Friday on Teams. (more…)

Giuseppe Masi, Security Officer, Community Safety and Support

Giuseppe Masi, Security Officer, Community Safety and Support

“Learning opens your mind, challenging your own thoughts and opinions and leading to better outcomes.”

I work at Imperial’s Hammersmith Campus as a Community Safety and Support Officer and I will be celebrating 25 years at Imperial on 2 August 2024. My role is very varied and I have a wide range of duties overseeing the safety and security of people of both our people and our buildings. I work both day and night shifts, and there is much more to my role than simply monitoring CCTV in the Control Room – no two days are the same. I patrol the Hammersmith Campus, addressing security issues as unauthorised people or unattended bags.  

In addition to security duties, I offer front line customer service to not only Imperial staff and students, but also to our visitors; this can be anything from helping with access issues, lost property, replacing lost ID cards or covering on reception. Health and safety is another key part of my role – not only do I look for building defects on the campus but I monitor a range of alarms for things like refuge points and changes in lab gases.   (more…)

Emma Bowman, Process Outcome Designer, Strategic Programmes and Change

Emma Bowman, Process Outcome Designer, Strategic Programmes and Change

“I feel really proud to work at Imperial, it is amazing to turn on the TV and see my colleagues on the news.”

I started working at Imperial in 2013 on a Faculty of Medicine graduate scheme. Since then I have undertaken a whole variety of roles across the university; I was the Cardiovascular Division Manager in the National Heart & Lung Institute, then the Institute Manager for the Data Science Institute, then the Director of Operations for the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment. I feel really proud to work at Imperial, it is amazing to turn on the TV and see my colleagues on the news. It is a privilege to work with such talented, motivated, and interesting people. 

Currently I am a Process Outcome Designer (POD) working on the Great Service Programme, implementing a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) IT system, to replace our very old system, ICIS. The project will have a really positive impact, as it will streamline processes, create efficiencies and reduce manual workarounds. Hopefully, it will make every-day processes like recruitment, purchasing and submitting expenses less cumbersome for everyone!  (more…)

Avi Ela (she/her), Medical Student and Imperial College Union LGBTQ+ Officer

Avi Ela, Medical Student and Imperial College Union LGBT+ Officer

“I have adored every moment of my time as Imperial College Union’s LGBTQ+ Officer 2023-24.”

As a queer British-Asian female of colour, I have experienced much hatred and prejudice. I believe that amplifying the voices of underrepresented people is vital. I wish for the world to become a more inclusive place for marginalised folk. I strongly believe that we are all capable of creating change for the better. I pride myself in wanting to help others and have found that a personal connection to the work fuels my passion. I will do all I can to fight the battles of discrimination inspired by fearless queer activists who came before me, such as Marsha P. Johnson.

As LGBTQ+ Officer for the Imperial College Union, I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to make meaningful changes  that benefit Imperial’s community. I am particularly proud to have launched the LGBTQ+ Students of Imperial video series for Pride Month, produced in collaboration with Digital Media Lab. As a Medical student, it was also a fantastic opportunity to attend NHS England’s LGBTQ+ Health Conference 2024 and gain insights into various aspects of LGBTQ+ healthcare. Being short-listed for Activist of the Year by the nationwide Queer Student Awards and receiving a Union Fellowship Award are humbling accolades of my efforts this year for which I am beyond grateful. (more…)

Christopher Zhu, Taught Postgraduate, Centre for Environmental Policy

Christopher Zhu

“My commitment to climate action is driven by a sense of responsibility shared by my generation to safeguard our world for future generations.”

As an environmental policy student, Imperial has shaped my academic and personal growth over the past few years and motivated me to pursue a career addressing the significant challenges of climate change. My deep-rooted passion for environmental policy stems from a desire to understand and combat the detrimental impacts of human activity on our planet, ensuring a sustainable and equitable future for all. This commitment to climate action is driven by a sense of responsibility shared by my generation to safeguard our world for future generations.

Imperial has offered me the opportunity to be involved in a wide range of research projects, volunteer work, and mentorship activities aimed at tackling important sustainability issues, spanning in scale from global conferences to being active in the local and university community. (more…)

Simon Levey, Head of News and Media and Imperial 600 Co-chair, Communications Division

Simon Levey, Head of News and Media and Imperial 600 Co-chair, Communications Division

“For me, it’s always been important not to just turn up, do my job and leave, but to make a difference.”

My communications career began at the Science Media Centre, a charity that connects journalists with scientists to help communicate controversial topics responsibly to the public. I had just finished a degree in Biology at UCL, where I had taken a course in science and the media that sparked my interest in the field. Although, I clearly had a long way to go as I was turned down for a place on Imperial’s prestigious science communication Master’s. It was during my time at UCL that I also became involved with LGBT campaigning.

I started working at Imperial in 2010 as Research Media Officer for Natural Sciences, followed by a role as Research Events Manager. From there I became Communications Manager at the Grantham Institute. I’d always been interested in the environment and climate change and was known for encouraging others to think sustainably, often telling my previous long-suffering colleagues: “It’s my planet too”. One of the things I’m most proud of is introducing public engagement to the Grantham Institute and inspiring them to recognise the public as an important part of influencing policymakers or politicians. (more…)

Kyle Greenland, Research Postgraduate, Department of Surgery and Cancer

Kyle Greenland

“Growing up in a rural area and being the first in my immediate family to pursue higher education, it has become my personal mission to inspire the next generation of STEM innovators.”

My journey at Imperial began in 2017 when I joined the inaugural cohort of the new Medical Biosciences course. This program opened my eyes to a wealth of biological disciplines and the urgent need for research in areas like cancer. Since then, you could say that I caught the Imperial bug as I never left and have remained at Imperial while studying for a Master’s in Cancer Biology and now for a PhD. My current research focuses on using nanomedicines to target cancer therapy to tumours so that toxic side effects from medicines, such as chemotherapy, are limited. (more…)

Daniela Bultoc, Senior Organisational Development Consultant, People and Organisational Development

Daniela Bultoc

“My journey, from a tour guide in Transylvania to empowering individuals and universities, has been driven by a deep desire to make a positive difference.”

My fascination with human connection began at 14, guiding visitors through the historic birthplace of Dracula (yes, he was real!) in the heart of Transylvania in Romania. This sparked a passion for understanding and supporting diverse cultures, leading me to pursue a degree in social work and social policy followed by a Master’s in Human Rights.

However, it was in Higher Education that I truly found my calling: empowering individuals and teams to reach their full potential. Working in personal development for researchers and academics and supporting them in discovering their strengths and goals, ignited a deeper interest in how universities function as organisations. I fuelled this curiosity with a specialised MBA in Higher Education Management, further equipping myself to contribute to this unique sector and aiming to bridge the gap between the different areas and groups supporting a shared goal. (more…)

Aglaia Freccero, President’s PhD Scholar, Division of Psychiatry

Aglaia Freccero, President’s PhD Scholar, Division of Psychiatry

“Along with my studies, mental health activism has given me a sense of purpose as a means of personal and public empowerment.”

I am Aglaia, a first-year President’s Scholar in the Division of Psychiatry. I moved to London in 2017 to pursue my BSc at UCL. When my mental health started to decline, I had to interrupt my studies. In 2018, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but with the appropriate support, I eventually graduated. My mental health struggles fuelled my interest in psychiatry and public health. (more…)