It was a huge pleasure to welcome Professor Robert Winston to officially open Varndean College’s £2.9m STEM Centre yesterday. Delayed two years by the Covid pandemic, the centre was created to inspire the next generation of scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians and puts Varndean at the forefront of offering the finest opportunity to those students wishing to pursue a career in these fields.

Attended by the Worshipful The Mayor of Brighton & Hove, Councillor Lizzie Deane, along with a host of local dignitaries, as well as students from eight local secondary schools, the event included a dynamic and exciting Chemistry Magic Show by Chemistry tutor, John Luton; a range of STEM Masterclasses within the new centre; a 45 min inspirational talk given by Professor Winston, followed by the official opening and unveiling of the plaque.

Professor Winston is Professor of Science and Society at the Imperial College London, Emeritus Professor of Fertility Studies, Chair of the Genesis Research Trust and on the board of trustees of the UK Stem Cell Foundation. He truly is an inspiration to all and his prolific work in the field of science has been recognised by his numerous awards over the decades. He has produced over 300 scientific publications about human reproduction and is well-known from his ground-breaking TV documentaries ‘Child of our Time’, ‘Your Life in their Hands’, ‘A Child Against All Odds’, ‘Walking with Cavemen’ and the BAFTA award winning ‘The Human Body’.