Featured writer: Helen Rickard

Helen holds a PhD in Microbiology from University College London, carried out in collaboration with a local paediatric hospital. Her doctoral research focused on understanding how microbes are transmitted through the built environment, with the aim of informing infection prevention and improving healthcare design. With a strong foundation in biological and biomedical sciences, Helen has worked across academic, clinical, and public health research settings, gaining expertise in infectious diseases and the real-world application of science to protect health. Helen is now an Impact Fellow with UCL’s Institute of Healthcare Engineering, where she is learning more about how to increase the impact of academic research through communication, engagement, and policy to benefit both researchers and communities. She has a particular interest in using scientific evidence to guide policy and improve health outcomes, and has contributed to projects that connect research with decision-making at both local and national levels. Helen is also an experienced science communicator and has spent several years writing about scientific and medical research for a broad audience. She is passionate about making complex science accessible and meaningful to the people it affects.