OASIS Hub Researchers Inspire the Next Generation at Rae Harbird Day 2026
Student engaging with activity
Three researchers from the OASIS Hub brought cutting-edge technology to life for 85 London school students
Last month, researchers from the OASIS Hub took part in Rae Harbird Day, UCL Computer Science's annual outreach event that brings together Year 7-9 students from schools across London for a day of hands-on discovery.
Three OASIS Hub researchers - Dr Zhehua Mao, Dr Shuai Zhang, and Dr Eddie Edwards - delivered workshops, talks, and demonstrations to 85 students throughout the day, showcasing research spanning augmented reality, robotics, and AI in healthcare.
The event offered students a rare opportunity to engage directly with active researchers and get hands-on with technologies that are typically confined to university labs.
Students explored augmented reality headsets designed to support ultrasound scans and engaged with cutting-edge work in AI, MRI imaging, and clinical decision-support tools. Alongside these sessions, activities ranged from puzzle-solving and introductions to quantum ideas, to passive sensing for human activity recognition and collaborative virtual reality.
Rae Harbird Day celebrates the legacy of Rae Harbird, a pioneering UCL computer scientist and passionate advocate for widening participation in STEM.
Elaine Pimentel, CS Schools Outreach Lead at UCL, captured the spirit of the day:
“Rae Harbird was a truly lovely and genuinely kind person, deeply committed to outreach, education, and gender balance. A real inspiration. It is a privilege to honour her memory today as we celebrate those who inspire us.”