The Queen Mary Centre for Undergraduate Research (QMCUR) successfully hosted the second Undergraduate Research Forum: Engineers Meet Gene Editors (URFEMGE 2025).

Building on the previous year's success, the forum was again held in collaboration with the University of Westminster's Gene Editors of the Future group, led by Dr Kalpana Surendranath.

The three-day event featured a rich programme, including 33 student presentations from various universities, two expert seminars, a student panel, and a leadership and team-building workshop. The 30-minute format for each presentation allowed sufficient time for detailed discussions during the Q&A sessions.

All students demonstrated in-depth knowledge, remarkable engagement, and a surprising level of maturity, displaying the confidence and rigour of experienced researchers.

Dr Kalpana Surendranath, Director of Gene Editors of the Future, commented:

“It was wonderful to witness such energy, creativity, and passion at the second edition of URFEMGE 2025. The talks delivered by students from both the QMCUR and the Gene Editors of the Future programme were true gems of innovation and inspiration. The event clearly demonstrated the growing enthusiasm among students at all levels and across disciplines to collaborate for the advancement of science and society".

Dr Giuseppe Viola, Director of QMCUR, reflected on the event's significance:

“The forum was a memorable experience that left a lasting impression. It showed that students are ready to play an important role in research activities and to embrace interdisciplinarity. The quality of the presentations was exceptional, and the students’ preparation and professionalism were truly remarkable. A huge thank you to all the academic staff who guided them to achieve this. Special thanks to our expert speakers, Dr Sandeep Sundararajan, for sharing the latest developments in gene editing, and Dr Shahrar Ali, for his thought-provoking insights into epistemology. I look forward to hosting more events of this kind to broaden participation further, allowing everyone to enjoy the inspiring atmosphere of these unique learning environments”.