What we see, and what we think we see, has always shaped science. Join The Story Collider in London for a live show featuring true, personal stories about how science changes the way we understand the world… and how the world changes science right back.
You can expect stories that are funny, vulnerable, surprising, and deeply human, told by people who’ve experienced firsthand how a shift in perception can change a career, a discovery, or an entire worldview. Whether you’re a lifelong science lover or just curious about the stories behind the breakthroughs, this is a chance to experience science not as an abstract idea, but as something lived.
Hosted by Richard Kemeny and Misha Gajewski.
Part 1: 16.20–17.00 // Part 2: 17.20–18.00
This event is part of The Great Exhibition Road Festival.
Stories by:
Alex Lathbridge Alex is a science journalist, writer and biochemist, with a background in developing peptide therapeutics for “undruggable” cancers. He explores science and society, across the UK & West Africa, and can be found across the BBC World Service.
Kat Arney is a multi award-winning science writer, public speaker and broadcaster. Initially starting off as a scientist, she left the lab to work in science comms at Cancer Research UK, where she helped shape the charity’s public voice around cancer research. During that time she co-founded CRUK’s ground-breaking Science Blog and became a principal media spokesperson, translating cutting-edge research for journalists and the public. She is the author of three acclaimed popular science books — Herding Hemingway’s Cats, How to Code a Human and Rebel Cell — and has presented numerous radio programmes and podcasts including Ingenious and Bug in the System on BBC Radio 4, and Genetics Unzipped. Today she is the founder and Chief Creative Officer of First Create The Media - a life science communications and marketing agency that helps pioneering innovators in the life sciences find and tell their stories to the world.
Austen El-Osta is the Director of the Self-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU) at Imperial College London, where his work focuses on advancing self-care as a core component of health systems. He also serves as Director & Trustee of the International Self-Care Foundation & Trustee of the Self-Care Forum, contributing to global efforts to strengthen individual & community capacity in health management. His training spans biomedical science, public health & health system innovation. He began in highly controlled laboratory environments but transitioned toward complex, people-centred health systems work, recognising that impact lies not only in discovery, but in application, engagement & behaviour change. He has held senior roles within the NHS & the National Institute for Health and Care Research, working at the interface of research delivery, primary care & policy. Austen contributes to international expert groups, including work aligned with the World Health Organization on self-care interventions.
Becky Stewart is an Associate Professor in Interactive Systems in the Dyson School of Design Engineering at Imperial College London. She leads a research team that develops electronic textiles systems to build wearable interfaces for multi-modal interactions using haptics and audio. Her research centres around the body and how technology can be used to improve how that body interacts with the surrounding environment. After her PhD and before returning to academia, Becky co-founded a creative technology education company that ran workshops at institutions including the V&A, Tate Modern, and British Museum teaching kids and adults how to use technology to develop creative projects, and worked with artists to engineer interactive artworks from CCTV jackets to turning suspension bridges into musical instruments.