BURSThrough

BURSThrough (Black and Under-Represented into Science Training) is a one-day workshop for Year 12 students who come from Black or other backgrounds under-represented within the scientific research community. Created by Professor John F. Marshall, the goal of BURSThrough is to encourage students with a passion for science at school to develop that passion by choosing to go to university to study a STEM subject.

Participants are selected through our collaboration with the Mayor’s Fund for London, a charity that supports young Londoners facing the greatest barriers to opportunity. The Mayor’s Fund’s Accession team works with Widening Participation schools, where students are statistically less likely to progress to higher education, to promote both initiatives.

The workshop began with short talks from PhD, master’s and undergraduate students also from underrepresented backgrounds who shared honest insights into their own journeys into science. Participants then spent the rest of the day in the lab, learning key research skills side by side with PhD student demonstrators, where they can continue their conversations about higher education and career paths. The end of the day allows for feedback and reflection, which will help develop the course for the future.

The inaugural BURSThrough Workshop held on July 15th 2025 at Barts Cancer Institute. Professor John Marshall and Dr Angus Cameron developed and ran the day and feedback from the students showed that they loved the experience. We intend to run the BURSThrough Workshop as an annual event.