Raphael Lwesya

Raphael develops interactive microbiology activities at Norwich Science Festival 2025

Raphael Lwesya, a Quadram Institute based second year student completed his professional placement with the Centre for Microbial Interactions (CMI).

The CMI is a new virtual centre aiming to support and promote the extensive microbiology community at Norwich Research Park (NRP), having launched in September 2024. It expands upon the Microbes in Norwich network to drive high-quality research and innovation in medicine, food, energy and climate change. A key focus is fostering collaboration within and beyond the NRP to enable large-scale funding bids, impacts on policy and increased recruitment of staff and students.

As a science communicator, Raphael runs a blog called The Phage, where he translates complex science into simple language for the general public. With the same aim, he wanted to further his experience by directly engaging with the community and working alongside more experienced people in the field, but from a different angle. He wanted to gain first-hand experience in public engagement and science communication, and the CMI project, which aimed to develop engaging activities for the Norwich Science Festival 2025, was a perfect opportunity for him. He wished to enhance his skills in project management, content creation, and collaboration by working with designers, city organisations, and volunteers. He also wanted to improve his writing and digital communication abilities by having responsibility for publishing articles on the CMI website and social media. His placement also provided an opportunity to network with professionals, contribute to The Microbiologist blog, and gain insights into effective science outreach.

During the placement, Raphael developed interactive microbiology activities (trail and stand) for the Norwich Science Festival 2025, to engage families and children, supporting the initiative of taking microbiology out of the lab and into the community, aiming to inspire curiosity and understanding about the invisible but incredible world of microbes. He managed this project, which ranged from content creation, collaboration with designers, liaison with outside organisations, and recruiting and training volunteers. He also ensured digital resources from the festival were uploaded and available for schools and other organisations to access.

Raphael acknowledges that his placement helped to increase his self-confidence, organisational and problem-solving skills and refined his professional voice and communication abilities. He said, "This experience allowed me to take the initiative, adapt to challenges, work efficiently under pressure, which boosted both my self-confidence and effectiveness in professional settings."

Sam Rowe, project manager at CMI commented, "Raphael’s placement meant we had much more capacity to develop interesting outreach activities for Norwich Science Festival 2025. He worked really effectively on the project and adapted well to any challenges to create the public-facing poster trail and interactive stand. Overall this really helped us showcase the CMI and microbiology expertise at Norwich Research Park to new audiences."

Raphael’s advice to students who have yet to organise their placement is to approach it with an open mind and a willingness to step outside of their comfort zone. Embrace the opportunity to develop transferable skills, such as project management, public speaking, and teamwork, which are valuable in any career. Take initiative and actively seek out collaborative opportunities with external partners, designers, or other stakeholders. Be proactive in managing your time and responsibilities, as placements often involve juggling multiple tasks. Do not be afraid to ask questions and seek feedback from mentors, as this can help you refine your skills and improve your work. Finally, make the most of the networking opportunities, as they can open doors for future career opportunities and collaborations.