At the end of January, we were delighted to virtually welcome Helen Sharman CMG OBE, the first British astronaut in space, to the College.  Helen gave a very informative and inspiring STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine) Careers talk to over 100 first and second year students and staff.  She talked about her life as a chemist, her time in space, STEMM careers, and university life as part of her outreach work with Imperial College.

We learned that Helen started her career in the food industry creating ice cream, which involved working on the first ‘Mars’ ice cream bar!  She saw herself working in the industry for the rest of her life, before an opportunity came her way that she couldn't refuse.  We all now know that this opportunity led her to become the first British astronaut in space; a phenomenal achievement.  After speaking, Helen then took questions from the students, which ranged from “What was the scariest thing to happen to you in space?” to, “How do plants grow in a zero gravity atmosphere?”

A student who attended the talk commented, “Helen was a very engaging and inspirational speaker.  She highlighted that a STEMM degree can lead to working in many different areas during your working life.  She emphasised the importance of 'grabbing opportunities' and explained how this played out in her own career.”

Another student commented, “The way her career changed because of the versatility of STEMM, and hearing her experiences from space travel and training, was really inspiring.”

Nikki Coleman, Head of Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance, said, “We can’t predict what jobs will be available in the future, but we do know that many of them will require STEMM subjects.  Helen's talk showed the students that studying a STEMM subject can keep many different career options open, and that where they start out doesn't have to be where they finish.  She encouraged the students to take advantage of opportunities that come their way, to challenge themselves daily, and to never stop being curious.  We look forward to working with Helen again in the future, and to meeting her in person.”