The EPSRC CDT in Smart Medical Imaging produced an exciting intersection of robotics, medical imaging, and healthcare through RoboDoc: Robots and Radiation in Healthcare, an interactive public engagement activity at the Great Exhibition Road Festival 2026. The installation invited visitors of all ages to discover how advanced imaging technologies and robotic systems are transforming modern medicine while exploring the safe and effective use of radiation in healthcare.
Held as part of the Festival’s “Be A Scientist” zone, RoboDoc was developed and delivered by CDT students Charel Junior Mangama Sindzi and Cliona Ní Chochláin, alongside King’s College London PhD researcher Adam Axelrod, with support from Senior Outreach Officer Esther Osarfo-Mensah. Their collaborative effort highlighted the CDT’s commitment to interdisciplinary research, public engagement, and science communication.
Marking 175 years since the Great Exhibition of 1851, the annual festival welcomed an estimated 57,000 visitors, bringing together science, technology, engineering, medicine, and the arts in a vibrant celebration of innovation and discovery.
Through a series of hands-on activities, Robodoc enabled visitors to explore how medical imaging technologies and healthcare tools have evolved over the past 175 years. Participants learned about the role of radiation in diagnosing disease and engaged with interactive exhibits designed to challenge common misconceptions about medical imaging. A popular “True or False” myth-busting game encouraged visitors to test their knowledge, while a feedback wall invited participants to share their thoughts on the growing role of robots within healthcare settings.
One of the standout attractions was a robot-assisted version of the classic game Operation. Visitors used a robotic arm to carry out precision movements, providing a fun and accessible introduction to concepts underpinning robot-assisted surgery. The activity drew on themes central to Adam Axelrod’s doctoral research and helped demonstrate how robotic technologies can support clinicians in delivering highly precise medical procedures.
Overall, the activities enabled our researchers to engage directly with members of the public and discuss both the opportunities and challenges associated with robotics and medical imaging in clinical practice.
Reflecting on the event, CDT student Charel Junior Mangama Sindzi said
The 175th edition of the Great Exhibition Road Festival was an unforgettable success. My favourite part was seeing the public’s bright smiles and excitement as they interacted with our stand.
The success of RoboDoc was supported by a team of 12 dedicated volunteers: Patricia Jensen, Dr Nikola Fischer, Dr Michelle Ma, AbdelRahman Sultan, Dr Miguel Shibata, Giselle Tang, Sarah Geha, Freya Hammers, Dr Asma Akter, Wing Yu Tse, Heqing Rong, and Yinka Fabusuyi, who helped engage hundreds of festival visitors throughout the weekend.
The team would also like to thank the wider network of supporters who helped make RoboDoc possible, including the Great Exhibition Road Festival organisers at Imperial College London, Dr Maria Ocampo-Hafalla, Professor Christos Bergeles, and the King’s Doctoral College, whose Public Engagement Small Grant supported the project.
AUTHOR
Esther Osarfo-Mensah
Senior Outreach Officer