CEPS CDT PhD student inspires the next generation of neuroscientists at Neuronauts Summer Camp
PhD students play a vital role in inspiring future scientists and engineers. This summer, CEPS CDT researcher Laura Damm demonstrated the impact of doctoral researchers in STEM outreach by delivering an engaging neuroscience session at Neuronauts, a free science camp for secondary school students, hosted by UCL and the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre.
Neuronauts is a two-week educational outreach programme designed to introduce students in Years 9-12 to engineering, computer science, neuroscience and artificial intelligence through hands-on activities and direct interaction with researchers. By connecting young people with scientists at different stages of their careers, the programme helps participants explore STEM subjects in an accessible and engaging way.
As part of this year's programme, Laura Damm, a PhD student on the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Connected Electronic and Photonic Systems (CEPS CDT), delivered an introductory session on neuroscience. Drawing on her research experience, Laura introduced students to the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord and nerves, and explored how these systems enable us to perceive the world, control movement, form memories and imagine future possibilities.
The session formed part of Neuronauts' mission to inspire young people from diverse backgrounds to explore scientific research and potential future careers in STEM. It also provided students with a unique opportunity to learn directly from an early-career researcher working at the forefront of interdisciplinary research.
For Laura, the experience was equally valuable, offering the chance to develop her science communication and public engagement skills while sharing her enthusiasm for neuroscience with young audiences.
Laura said:
"It was a fantastic experience to introduce young people to neuroscience and engage with their thoughtful questions. It was incredibly rewarding to see their curiosity and enthusiasm for learning."
The impact of the session was reflected in the feedback from participants. Students described the experience as both inspiring and transformative:
"I have never been so motivated to wake up early in the morning to learn."
"This has been the best part of my summer."
"Thank you so much for taking the time to share your knowledge and skills. You have really helped me consider what careers there could be for me."
By sharing their expertise, researchers like Laura help spark curiosity, broaden horizons, and inspire the next generation of scientists and innovators.
Find out more
Laura Damm is a PhD student at UCL on the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Connected Electronic and Photonic Systems (CEPS CDT) programme. Her PhD research is on The Effect of Single Session Implicit Motor Learning on Finger Motor Imagery for
EEG BCI, supervised by Professor Andreas Demosthenous, funded by EPSRC programme grant EP/S022139/1.
Connect with Laura Damm: https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/95926-laura-m-damm
About Neuronauts: https://www.sainsburywellcome.org/content/neuronauts
Photo credit: Copyright © 2026 Sainsbury Wellcome Centre.
Published: August 2026