Day 1: welcome and career journeys in STEM
The week began with a warm welcome to participants and an introduction to university life at UCL, including sessions on applications, funding, and insights from our student ambassadors.
The day’s keynote was delivered by Reni Magbagbeola, Robotics Systems Engineer, who shared her career journey from UCL student to postdoctoral researcher in medical robotics, to working in industry. Students were captivated by her stories, from transporting buckets of pig blood in hospital research to monitoring volcanic gases in St Lucia, demonstrating the diverse opportunities in STEM careers.
Students then began assembling their bioreactor hardware, the foundation for a week-long engineering project. The day concluded with a tour of the AI and Robotics Lab led by Igor Gaponov, Daniel Tozadore, and Pako Galeitsiwe.
Day 2: inclusive technology at the GDI Hub
The focus shifted to inclusive technology with guest speakers from the Global Disability Innovation (GDI) Hub.
Alice Benton shared her research on biomechanics for people with lower-limb amputations, exploring how computational modelling and experimental work improve rehabilitation outcomes.
Andreas Polydorides discussed the DIY Assistive Technology movement, highlighting the impact of 3D printing, digital manufacturing, and the Maker Movement in creating more accessible wheelchair designs.
Students toured the GDI Hub lab, gaining hands-on exposure to cutting-edge equipment. In the afternoon, they returned to the bioreactor project, learning Arduino programming to bridge computer science with real-world innovation.
Day 3: smart cities & AI in industry
Students applied their learning to the Smart Cities Challenge, brainstorming how technology can improve urban life. They considered applications such as smart traffic control, air quality monitoring, and accessibility apps while also addressing ethical challenges like surveillance, digital exclusion, and language barriers.
Citizen profiles were developed to ensure designs reflected the needs of vulnerable groups, such as refugees and people with disabilities.
Later, Professor Suran Goonatilake shared his journey from PhD research in AI and automated financial trading (co-founding Searchspace, later sold for $150m) to entrepreneurship in the fashion sector. He spoke about how AI, robotics, and spatial computing are transforming customer experiences and the future of fashion retail.
In the afternoon, students integrated a traffic light system and temperature sensor into their bioreactors.
Day 4: problem solving and smart city development
Day 4 began with computational thinking challenges from CS4FUN, where students tackled cipher-breaking, debugging, and logical reasoning puzzles.
Teams then returned to their Smart Cities projects, refining concepts for inclusivity, sustainability, and future-readiness. The afternoon was dedicated to preparing final presentations, with a competitive prize for the winning pitch.
Meanwhile, the bioreactor project progressed with deeper coding tasks and sensor calibration.
Day 5: final presentations and bioreactor completion
The final day showcased the creativity and problem-solving skills of the students. Each team presented their Smart City designs, all addressing inclusivity and accessibility in unique ways.
The winning team focused on Dhaka, tackling poverty and climate change with solutions such as AI-enhanced rail transport, telemedicine for underserved communities, and disability stigma reduction.
Students also met with representatives from ICE Futures, providing feedback on an outreach platform encouraging young people to consider careers in civil engineering.
In the afternoon, participants completed the final stage of the bioreactor project by integrating the pH probe, successfully bringing together hardware, software, and bioengineering principles.
Summer School wrap-up
The 2025 Summer School demonstrated the power of combining technical skills with creative thinking, ethical reflection and teamwork. Over five days, students explored real-world challenges, connected with leading experts, and built projects that demonstrated their technology, teamwork and talent.
A special thanks to Reni Magbagbeola for leading the bioreactor project and inspiring students with her expertise, guidance and career insights.
UCL Computer Science looks forward to welcoming the next generation of STEM leaders in future programmes.
Acknowledgements
We extend our gratitude to the inspiring guest speakers, lab guides, and student ambassadors who shared their knowledge and passion with our students:
- Reni Magbagbeola
- Alice Benton
- Andreas Polydorides
- Professor Suran Goonatilake
- Igor Gaponov
- Daniel Tozadore
- Pako Galeitsiwe
- Student Ambassadors: Tazrian Kabir, Tosin Fadahunsi, Shrimoyee Chaki, Vamsi Mukkamala, Ramneek Ahluwalia, Athena Chong
Their contributions were invaluable in making this summer school a rich learning experience.
