Looking back: the best of the 2019 UK Global Meeting

Update

Our recent United Kingdom Global Meeting was the first time two cohorts of Schmidt Science Fellows came together, with the interaction sparking rich interdisciplinary conversations. 

The 2018 Fellows returned to Rhodes House and Oxford to complete their Fellowship year with sessions aimed to support the next steps in their careers. Our 2019 cohort came together for their first Global Meeting and explored themes such as science communication, ethics, leadership, and problem-solving. They visited world-leading centers including the Blavatnik School of Government in Oxford, Imperial College London, DeepMind in London, the Sainsbury Laboratory University of Cambridge, and the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology.

All 34 Fellows engaged in combined activities aimed at building a sense of community and exploring shared interests, such as a session on engaging with global society challenges delivered by the How to Change the World program.

The Global Meeting program aims to provide Schmidt Science Fellows with the necessary skills to enable them to be effective future interdisciplinary science leaders.

Learn more about the UK Global Meeting experience, watch the highlights video, read blogs from our Fellows below, and view the photo gallery.

Dr Ina Anreiter, 2019 Fellow: Of Heart and Courage

During our first Global Meeting, we met an amazing and inspiring array of people, each person exceptionally accomplished in their profession. Not only is it inspiring to be surrounded by so much knowledge, initiative, and experience; it also makes made me wonder: what do these people, whose work has had genuine societal impact, have in common?…  Read more

Dr Jyotirmoy Mandal, 2019 Fellow: The importance of personal interdisciplinarity

If the goal of ‘interdisciplinarity’ is to create pathbreaking scientific ideas and perspectives, perhaps it should be fostered not only between research groups or individuals, but also within individuals themselves. The recent Global Meeting, centered in Oxford, was clearly designed to impress this idea upon us Fellows…  Read more

Cross-cohort working: Kaitlyn Gaynor (2019) in discussion with Mattia Serra and Karl Barber (both 2018).
The joint cohort session on exploring global societal challenges with the How to Change the World program involved Fellows working together to brainstorm approaches to challenges, identifying the potential contribution of science, and presenting back.
All 34 Fellows from the 2018 and 2019 cohorts in the gardens of Rhodes House, Oxford.
Fellows from 2018 and 2019 cohorts, Ryan Truby, Kaitlyn Gaynor, and Mina Konakovic Lukovic, in conversation with Chair of the Academic Council, Prof Sir Keith Burnett.
Fellows Grisha Spektor, Ahmad Omar, Peyton Greenside, and Megan Engel.
Jina Ko outlines her work on nanovesicles which offers the promise of improved early cancer detection to Rhodes Trust CEO and Warden, Elizabeth Kiss.
2019 Fellows Daniel Radabaugh and Andreas Schlueter talk to 2018 Fellow Wes Fuhrman about the progress of his research during his Schmidt Science Fellows placement.
Global Meetings are an opportunity for Fellows to share their science with each other and explore the potential for collaboration. Here, 2018 Fellow, Yogesh Goyal outlines his work to 2019 Fellows, Jyotirmoy Mandal and Asja Radja.
The Schmidt Science Fellows took over Rhodes House during the Global Meeting to turn the historic Milner Hall into a cutting-edge venue for presenting science to the public. Our inSPIREd event saw five 2018 Fellows give innovative and inspiring talks to an audience of the public, our Fellowship community, and invited guests.
The 2018 Fellows had the opportunity to try their hand at some traditional Oxford punting.
Our inaugural Fellows completed their Fellowship year at the close of the UK Global Meeting. The group of Fellows is here with our Schmidt Science Fellows team.
The 2018 Fellows marked the completion of their formal Fellowship year with the time-honored Oxford tradition of punting on the River Cherwell, followed by a presentation lunch.
The 2018 Fellows marked the completion of their formal Fellowship year with the time-honored Oxford tradition of punting on the River Cherwell, followed by a presentation lunch.
Global Meetings provide an opportunity for our Fellows to attend events that we open to the public to foster a wider discussion about the latest issues in science and the impact on society.
The 2019 cohort of Schmidt Science Fellows at the closing event for their first Global Meeting, with staff from Schmidt Futures, the Rhodes Trust, and the Schmidt Science Fellows team.
The joint cohort session on exploring global societal challenges with the How to Change the World program involved Fellows working together to brainstorm approaches to challenges, identifying the potential contribution of science, and presenting back.
2018 Fellows, Kadi Liis Saar, Wiriya Thongsomboon, Jyotirmoy Mandal, and Daniel Radabaugh.
Fellowship bonding is very important! The 2019 cohort experience a pasta making class where they made their own pasta dinner from scratch before enjoying the results of their efforts. Fellows Mercy Asiedu and Gladys Ngetich are tackling the pasta machine.
2019 Fellows met with Tony Danker, CEO of the ‘Be the Business’, to discuss his rich and varied experience of leadership in the public, private, and third sectors.
The joint cohort session on exploring global societal challenges with the How to Change the World program involved Fellows working together to brainstorm approaches to challenges, identifying the potential contribution of science, and presenting back.
The 2018 Fellows enjoying a ‘speed dating’ session to share their latest science developments.
To help our Fellows develop and strengthen their ability to communicate with a range of audiences they have the opportunity to work with the team at the Alda Center for Communicating Science.
Jason Blackstock, Founder of How to Change the World program, led a session with all our Fellows on identifying and tackling global societal challenges.
For our inaugural cohort, the 2018 Fellows, the UK Global Meeting marked the end of their Fellowship year – but the start of their lifelong fellowship as our first Senior Fellows!
Prof Tom Welton, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Imperial College and President-Elect of the Royal Society of Chemistry, met Fellows to share his thoughts on planning and managing an interdisciplinary career.
Our Chair of Academic Council, Prof Sir Keith Burnett, led the 2019 Fellows on a personal science tour of the sites of Oxford (in typically British summer weather!). The tour gave Fellows the opportunity to contextualize the rich and inspirational interdisciplinary science history of Oxford.
Schmidt Science Fellows at DeepMind in London.
Prof Alexandra Porter, Imperial College, discussed her science and shared advice on navigating interdisciplinary approaches within institutions.
Fellows had the opportunity to discuss the life, career and approach to science of Prof Sir Venki Ramakrishnan, Nobel Laureate and current President of the Royal Society.
Fellows had the opportunity to discuss the life, career and approach to science of Prof Sir Venki Ramakrishnan, Nobel Laureate and current President of the Royal Society.
Schmidt Science Fellows visited MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, outside of Cambridge, to learn more about their approach to interdisciplinary science that has delivered 12 Nobel Prizes.