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ImperiaLates: Science Across Africa

3 December 2026, 18.00-21.00

Join us for a night of bold ideas, big questions, and unexpected discoveries at this free ImperiaLates.

Explore how researchers, communities and innovators at ImperiaCollege London and across the African continent are working together to tackle shared challenges and change the future of science.

What can we learn from malaria outbreaks in East Africa? Step into a live theatre experience where you’ll debate whether genetically modified mosquitoes should be used to eradicate malaria. Get creative with a Kente cloth workshop, then talk to Imperiateams doing research in, from and with Africa and Africans, as you find out how these collaborations are leading to new ways of sharing knowledge across borders.

Discover how solar-powered mini-grids are transforming lives in rural communities in Rwanda and Ghana, and uncover what Kenya’s informal car repair garages can teach us about innovation, entrepreneurship and urban life. Tune into a talk about Afrofuturism and science fiction before you head to talks from next generation of Black scientists and engineers about the future of research.

What would it mean to decolonise science? Who sets research priorities, whose knowledge counts, and who benefits? Hear from the people working across the continent and explore how working alongside local communities is challenging conventional approaches to research. These projects go beyond shaping the future of science in Africa: they’re changing how research happens at º£½ÇÉçÇø, and are opening up new possibilities for researchers around the world to work together.

With thought-provoking talks, hands-on activities, and interactive exhibits, this free Lates is your chance to experience cutting-edge ideas, meet fascinating people and see how African research is shaping science far beyond just one continent. Throw in a DJ, tasty jollof rice for sale at Maame's African inspired street food kitchen, plus a bar, and you've got yourself a fantastic evening of free science.

This event has been developed with input from ImperiaGlobal Ghana, the Africa Innovates team, º£½ÇÉçÇø’s Black Doctoral Network, º£½ÇÉçÇø’s race equity network of Global Majority staff (ImperiaAs One) and º£½ÇÉçÇø’s Associate Provost (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion). 

ImperiaLates are adult events for ages 18+

ImperiaImperiaLates

ImperiaLates are fun and social post-work events where visitors can interact with the latest scientific developments at º£½ÇÉçÇø, centred around a new theme for each evening.

The 2026/27 season themes are:

29 October 2026: Robots

To find out when registration opens, and to hear about other public events at º£½ÇÉçÇø, please sign up to receive our event update emails, or follow us on

Want to get involved?

Imperiaresearchers are invited to submit ideas for taking part in the Lates series, and applications are now open. Please complete the  to register your interest, and if you have any queries about the ideas submission process, please get in touch via email (lates@imperial.ac.uk)

The team welcomes fully developed activities or initial ideas. The ImperiaLates programming team can help you develop an idea further, discuss opportunities to host a talk or take part in a panel discussion, or connect you with a creative practitioner to explore your research through an artistic workshop. 

If you are an Imperiastaff member or student interested in volunteering at ImperiaLates, you can to be the first notified when shifts open.  with the public engagement team. 

If you are an artist or facilitator interested in working with the ImperiaLates team,  please get in touch via email (lates@imperial.ac.uk)

What to expect?

Check out some photos from our past evenings of discovery!