Biomedical Science Day 2025: Our biggest celebration yet!

On Thursday 5 June, biomedical scientists, laboratory staff, students and supporters across the UK came together to mark the biggest Biomedical Science Day so far.

Now in its ninth year, the annual celebration continues to grow in scale, energy and impact. Biomedical science was proudly on display everywhere on the day from hospital atriums to high-schools, laboratory departments, and across social media.

320 events: From labs to the community

A record-breaking 320 events took place across the UK – the highest number we’ve ever supported with our event packs. Most were held in hospitals, with wonderful displays set up in public areas by biomedical scientists and laboratory teams.

At St Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight, 30 sixth-form students took part in their very own lab tour, exploring microbiology, haematology and histology before trying out hand hygiene techniques and VR demonstrations.

Meanwhile, at Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn, the team used Biomedical Science Day to bring colleagues together, raising over £500 for Norfolk Blood Bikes through a hospital-wide raffle.

Reaching new audiences

One of the day’s standout educational efforts took place at Levenshulme High School in Manchester. As part of their Science Week, 90 Year 9 pupils attended a talk led by Tahmina Hussain, Programme Lead at the University of Salford. She was joined by students Saira Iqbal and Joy Chukwudolue, who shared their own experiences studying biomedical science and completing clinical placements.

Tahmina commented: 

“It was a pleasure to speak to such an enthusiastic group of students. They asked thoughtful questions — including how we deal with mistakes —  which showed how seriously they were thinking about the responsibility of the role.”

For many pupils, it was their first time learning about the profession. The session not only raised awareness, but also served as an empowering example of representation in STEM.

44 events funded by our bursary scheme

This year we also supported 44 events through our Biomedical Science Day bursary, awarding a total of £17,310 to help teams go even further with their celebrations. From helping fund promotional materials to buying merchandise for demonstrations, the bursary made a big difference in helping labs open their doors and tell their story.

We’ve loved seeing how the bursaries have helped make events bigger, bolder and more interactive – and even inspired some first-time participants to get involved.

At County Hospital Stafford, Akmal Sagheer used his bursary to host a busy haematology and blood transfusion stall in the hospital’s foyer. The stand featured posters, educational leaflets, and props from the blood bank, allowing staff and visitors to handle realistic blood unit models and better understand what happens behind the scenes. Visitors got to spin a prize wheel, guess the number of lab consumables in a tub, and chat with staff about the vital work done behind the scenes. 

“Many visitors commented on how informative and well-presented the materials were… Others praised the interactive nature of the stall, saying it made learning about science fun and accessible.”

These carefully planned, hands-on events helped people of all ages learn more about the science behind diagnosis, treatment and health monitoring, bringing biomedical science to life in memorable ways.

Lively labs and a big social media splash

Throughout the day, our live blog was buzzing with updates from across the country. We featured photos, videos and messages from Trusts, universities, schools and individuals who were celebrating in their own unique way.
And on social media, #BiomedicalScienceDay2025 and #AtTheHeartOfHealthcare trended across X, Instagram and LinkedIn, with hundreds of teams sharing their fantastic displays, fun activities and team pride.
Some standout moments included:

• Live lab quizzes, like “Who Wants to Be a Billionaire?” from NWL NHS Trust
• Thoughtful support from MPs, including Lauren Sullivan and Chi Onwurah, who highlighted the vital (and often unseen) work of biomedical scientists
• A heartwarming email from a parent at Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast, whose five-year-old daughter, inspired by the stand and Super Labs comic, announced she now wants to be a histologist

“She was fascinated by the display and the Super Labs comic. She’s now told me that she wants to be a histologist — which I rather approve of as a (former) anatomist! The biomeds there made her day so much happier. Thank you — it really made a difference.”

Harvey’s Lab Tours

A standout part of this year’s #BiomedicalScienceDay2025 celebrations was the spotlight on Harvey’s Lab Tours, an IBMS-led initiative that gives young patients the chance to go behind the scenes in hospital laboratories. These tours aim to reduce anxiety, build confidence, and help children understand the science supporting their care.

At NHS Bolton Foundation Trust, children visiting or staying at Royal Bolton Hospital were invited into the labs to meet biomedical science staff and see the testing processes behind their care. 

Christopher Hall, Biomedical Scientist, commented: 

“By opening the doors to our labs, we’re able to take children through step by step how we’re investigating tests… We hope that children and their parents will find comfort in seeing how healthcare science works.” 

At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, while not a formal Harvey’s Tour, the team brought the spirit of Harvey’s to life with a child-friendly public engagement stall on Biomedical Science Day itself.

 

Janet Hall, Senior Biomedical Scientist at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, said: 

“On Biomedical Science Day we had a stall in the hospital foyer… The children loved the test tube sweets. We also had some pipette demonstrations which again they loved. I enjoyed talking to the staff, visitors, and patients, many of whom were children and teenagers – I think we gave them a good idea about the role of a biomedical scientist. A couple of staff who helped man the stall are doing their registration portfolio and are going to use the experience in the communication section.”

These moments reflect the heart of Harvey’s Lab Tours, connecting biomedical science with real-life experiences for young patients and their families.

Celebrating in Holyrood

This year’s evening reception took place at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, bringing together IBMS members, political supporters and healthcare professionals to mark the occasion in the heart of Holyrood.

Hosted by Dr Sandesh Gulhane MSP, the event featured speeches from Professor Catherine Ross, Chief Scientific Officer for Scotland, IBMS CEO David Wells, and IBMS President Joanna Andrew, who welcomed attendees and celebrated the contributions of biomedical scientists across the UK.

Award-winning impact

We're also proud to share that this year’s Biomedical Science Day campaign won an Advancing Healthcare Award in the Campaigning with Power & Impact category – a huge recognition of the profession’s outreach and engagement across the UK.

"I want to say a huge thank you to all the brilliant people on our team who have worked on this campaign over the years. Your creativity, commitment, and passion have helped make it truly special.  

But we couldn’t have done it without our incredible members. Every year, hundreds of you give your time and energy to organise events across the UK – in hospital labs and beyond – shining a light on the vital role biomedical science plays in healthcare. Your efforts help make the unseen seen, and this award is a tribute to you."

Looking ahead: our 10th anniversary in 2026

As we wrap up our biggest and best Biomedical Science Day yet, we’re already thinking ahead to next year – which will mark the 10th anniversary of the event!

We’ve got exciting plans in the pipeline to make 2026 a landmark celebration. Expect more resources, more opportunities, and more ways for you to get involved and show the world what it means to be at the heart of healthcare.

Until then, thank you to every individual and team who took part in this year’s celebrations – whether you set up a display, shared a post, ran an event, or simply took a moment to reflect on your role in healthcare. You made this year’s Biomedical Science Day something truly special.

Competition winners announced

From bake-offs and photo challenges to lab displays and creative videos, this year’s Biomedical Science Day competitions brought out the very best of the profession’s imagination and enthusiasm. Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to everyone who took part.

View the full list of 2025 competition winners here.