Healthcare Science Week is an annual opportunity to celebrate and raise awareness of the many biomedical science careers in healthcare. Each year, the event shines a spotlight on the incredible work of biomedical scientists, support staff and students across the UK.
It’s also a valuable opportunity to share the work you do at the heart of healthcare with patients, connect with other healthcare professionals, and inspire the next generation of biomedical scientists.
How you can get involved
There are lots of ways for you to take part in Healthcare Science Week 2026. You might run an activity, give a presentation, host a workshop, create content for social media, or sign up as a healthcare science Ambassador.
Below, we’ve shared some ideas and resources to help you get involved and make the most of the week.
However you choose to participate, we hope you’ll take this opportunity to raise the profile of biomedical scientists at the heart of healthcare and promote careers in our profession.
Shoot a video
Record a short 30-second video about your experience working in healthcare science and send it to [email protected]. We’ll collect videos throughout the week and share them on our social media channels.
You could include:
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a quick introduction to what you do
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the most exciting or rewarding part of your job
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advice for students interested in biomedical science
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a short tour of your laboratory
Run an event
Public engagement during Healthcare Science Week is a rewarding way to inspire future biomedical scientists and promote the profession.
You could:
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host a stand in a public area or hospital foyer
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give a presentation, in person or online, to a school, college, university, science society, club or trust board
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invite school or college students into your laboratory for a tour or workshop
Become an Ambassador
Run by STEM Learning, hundreds of healthcare science professionals across the UK are signed up as NHS Healthcare Science Ambassadors. Many say the role is great fun, rewarding, and excellent for personal development and professional networking.
You can also become a STEM Ambassador for healthcare science and help inspire young people to consider a career in the profession.
Tell us what you have planned
IBMS members are at the heart of healthcare, and we’d love to hear how you and your team are marking Healthcare Science Week.
Email [email protected] to tell us about your plans and we’ll help promote your activity where we can.
You can also tag us on social media and use the hashtag #AtTheHeartOfHealthcare on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter).
Follow the conversation throughout the week using #HCSweek26 and use it to promote your own events and activities.
Resources to help you celebrate
We provide a range of promotional materials, publications and online resources to support your events and activities.
Promotional items
If you’re an IBMS member planning a public engagement event and would like to order promotional items, we recommend requesting them as early as possible.
Non-members can also access free downloadable materials to support their events.
Become a Biomedical Scientist videos
We’ve produced a series of videos to support people at every stage of a biomedical science career, from those just starting out to those working in biomedical science roles who are not yet HCPC registered.
Sample journey videos
Our Sample Journey videos showcase different biomedical science disciplines through the stories of semen, urine, blood and tissue samples, helping audiences understand the vital role biomedical scientists play in patient care.
You can also access the Healthcare Science Ambassador Toolkit for additional support.
Engaging with primary schools?
SuperLab comics
SuperLab is our comic for Key Stage 2 pupils (ages 7–11), packed with fun, hands-on activities designed to introduce children to the science at the heart of healthcare.
The comic includes:
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diagnostic activities linked to clinical chemistry and microbiology
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a petri-dish biscuit baking activity
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activities to explore PCR and viruses
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and much more
Activity sheets
We also offer downloadable activity sheets featuring simple, engaging experiments suitable for use at home or in schools.
What we will be doing
Launching the new Harvey’s Lab Tours campaign
This Healthcare Science Week we are excited to launch the Harvey’s Lab Tours campaign, marking a major refresh of this powerful engagement initiative.
Harvey’s Lab Tours give young patients and their families a chance to step behind the scenes of biomedical laboratories and see first-hand how tests are processed and analysed, turning what can be an anxious experience into something empowering. Since its beginnings more than a decade ago, the programme has helped build confidence and understanding for children and families across the UK.
As part of the refresh, we’ll be unveiling a suite of new resources to support labs in running tours, including:
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a series of films that showcase the impact of the tours and illustrate how labs can set them up
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a revamped Harvey’s Lab Tours website packed with guidance, planning tools and tips
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practical templates and activity ideas to help you create engaging experiences
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an online community hub where organisers can share ideas, ask questions and learn best practice from peers.
These resources have been developed to help more laboratories offer tours, demystify biomedical processes for children, and enhance engagement with the public and families in their care.
We’ll be sharing previews of these new Harvey’s Lab Tours resources throughout Healthcare Science Week, with even more launching in early 2026.
