Interactive exploration of how science is creating the surgery of tomorrow

Taking place inside Charles Bell House, the hub for WEISS research, the event featured sixteen different activity stations organised across major research areas and covering a wide range of topics, including sensors, imaging, 3D printing and robotics.

Activities included magic tricks to demonstrate the tricky nature of selecting and using medical data, give-it-a-go mock robotic surgery, using paints to replicate cell samples and the chance to use a real da Vinci system!

The event attracted a wide range of ages, from younger children and teenagers to parents and older people, with many residents from UCL's local Borough of Camden amongst the visitors. In total around half of the visitors came from the borough and neighbouring areas through the help of local organisations such as Fitzrovia Community Centre and Age UK Camden.

The activities were developed by each of the WEISS major ‘platform’ research projects, with a dedicated team lead for each managing the team’s response, bringing together over 50 members of the centre on the day. By designing the activities to be interactive and fun, event staff were able to break down concepts for younger visitors while discussing research themes with those looking for more detail. 

Public Engagement Co-ordinator, Dan Taylor, said “It’s been fantastic to see the enthusiasm and delight on the faces of not just the visitors to Science of Surgery but also our centre staff that have been busy developing some incredible activities over the last few months. This is an important way for the whole centre to explore the work we do with the public and for us to hear their questions and views – hopefully paving the way for further public engagement with research across our work”.