From inspired teen to inspiring others

For Iona Ferguson, a PhD student in the Cell Death and Immunity team, public engagement has been one of the most enjoyable and meaningful parts of her first year at the ICR.

“When I was 14, I went to a public engagement event at the CRUK Scotland Institute, and it completely changed my path,” she says. “Listening to scientists talk about their work and seeing their enthusiasm for discovery made me want to be part of that world. Now that I’m here, I want to do the same for others.”

Since joining the ICR, Iona has given short talks at local schools, helped at our Careers in Research open evening for sixth form students, led lab tours for charity sponsors, and volunteered at the Great Exhibition Road Festival.

“There’s a lot of misinformation about what scientists actually do,” she explains. “Engagement gives us a chance to show what our work involves and how it connects to people’s lives. It’s also a way to spark curiosity and hopefully inspire someone to see science as something they could do too.”

A moment that really stood out for her was after her first school talk. “The students asked so many thoughtful questions — it was great to see how engaged they were,” she recalls. “A few months later, I saw some of them again at the Careers in Research open evening for sixth form students, and they told me my talk had helped confirm their plans to study biology at university. That was a really special moment.”

Taking part in engagement has also helped Iona feel more connected to the ICR. “It’s helped me meet more people and feel part of the community,” she says. “It also reminds me of why we do this work—to improve outcomes for people affected by cancer. Whenever I take part in an event, it brings that purpose into focus and makes me even more motivated in the lab.”

Her advice for anyone thinking about getting involved is simple: “Send an email to the Public Engagement team—it only takes a minute! The events fit easily around lab work and don’t take up too much time, and they’re so rewarding. You get to share your passion for science and might even inspire someone the way I was inspired.”