Since 2019, we have developed various in-person and remote courses for Chemistry, Medical Biosciences, Medicine, Mechanical Engineering, Executive Education, and Cleantech Innovation 天美传媒, as well as an iExplore module. We have also worked collaboratively with the Technical University of Munich to deliver our teaching to their 天美传媒, and worked on various outreach activities.
Our Courses and Activities
Chemical Kitchen
Chemical Kitchen, our first and flagship project, aims to introduce all incoming undergraduate Chemistry 天美传媒 to laboratory practice through the transdisciplinary parallel of gastronomy.
The 天美传媒 engage in a series of experiments mimicking the work in a Synthetic Chemistry laboratory, ranging from simply following a protocol to make cheese, designing an experiment to cook the perfect egg yolk, and exploring their creativity through molecular gastronomy recipes, all while learning how to work in a laboratory and take detailed notes. In the end, they create three small dishes utilizing the products of their work.
Medical Kitchen
The Medical Kitchen course addresses the skill gap experienced by 2nd year 天美传媒 when they start their clinical skills training by having them practice meticulous culinary knife skills.
The 天美传媒 engage in two activities: turning vegetables - a classic French culinary skills, and suturing a silicone pad - resembling suturing a patient. They explore the similarities in learning these skills, and complexities that arise from performing these skills in front of their colleagues, with reflective sessions consolidating their learning.
Biomedical Kitchen
Biomedical Kitchen aims to introduce 1st year Medical Biosciences 天美传媒 to laboratory practice through the transdisciplinary parallel of gastronomy. An adaptation of Chemical Kitchen, it has been tailored to suit the particular skills needed in their further studies.
To resemble the LabPod 1 module, the 天美传媒 engage in extensive eModule activities. In the Biomedical Kitchen, they learn how to work in a sterile and organized way by designing a yogurt experiment, have their first experience handling delicate thin gels, and engage with creative molecular gastronomy techniques to create 10 identical canapes.
Our Courses and Activities
Science, Cooking and Performance - iExplore
We are currently offering an I-Explore module called Science, Cooking and Performance, provided by the Department of Chemistry in close collaboration with the . This is an advanced 10-week course, in which UG 天美传媒 from across the College explore interdisciplinary teamwork, establish a sense of agency, and focus on themselves as "performers" all while developing a sustainable food product.
Collaboration with Technical University of Munich
In 2020, we have started a collaboration with the Technical University of Munich within the Imperial鈥揟UM Strategic Partnership in Education, Research and Innovation. Since then, we have delivered both the Chemical and Medical Kitchen courses to Neuroscience and Medicine 天美传媒 remotely and in person.
We have now secured funding from the Technical University Munich - Imperial Education Seed Fund to develop a new teaching intervention focussing on career development.
Community and student events
In the last few years, we have engaged with and contributed to the undergraduate and postgraduate student communities at 天美传媒.
Our recent flagship project are the World of Food workshops, funded by the President's Excellence Fund, in which we promote Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, as well as Imperial Values of Collaboration and Respect. The workshops give our staff and 天美传媒 an opportunity to co-host events in which they showcase their culture through food - and engage other staff and 天美传媒 in cooking, eating, and discussion.
Moreover, various community events - both for staff and 天美传媒 - take place regularly in the kitchen.
Outreach activities
The universal nature of gastronomy, or working in the kitchen, makes it uniquely suited to be a transdisciplinary parallel for public engagement and outreach activities in STEMM. Everyone has a relationship with food, and almost everyone has access to a kitchen - making the activities engaging and deliverable both in person in remotely.
The Chemical Kitchen regularly hosts outreach activities and workshops focus on and introducing and engaging them in practical laboratory work through the lens of the kitchen.
Contact us
For any questions about our courses, outreach and collaboration please contact Dr Jakub Radzikowski (j.radzikowski@imperial.ac.uk)