Nomination for the Faculty of Natural Sciences 2026 Annual Prizes for Excellence through partnership with 10,000 Black Interns

Posted on July 09, 2026
Lorraine Gibson
By Lorraine Gibson

Communications Officer, Imperial College London
Target Malaria UK

It was an honour to have Target Malaria’s partnership with the 10,000 Black Interns programme highlighted and nominated for the Faculty of Natural Sciences’ Annual Prizes for Excellence. This nomination recognises Target Malaria’s contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion within Target Malaria’s Global Communications team.

The 10,000 Black Interns programme, led by the 10,000 Interns Foundation, supports undergraduate students and recent UK graduates from under‑represented minorities as they transition into professional roles. It equips emerging talent with essential skills and experience in their desired fields.

For the communications team, this initiative plays a vital role in helping strengthen the pipeline of people of African descent entering the science communication field. Because Target Malaria’s communications is centered on African voices, it is important for us to bring on board people who are connected to the Continent. The British African diaspora brings an increasing pool of talent.

By removing barriers and stigma, providing targeted support and training, and fostering an inclusive environment, the 10,000 Black Interns programme empowers young professionals to thrive. In 2021 and 2022, 10,000 Black Interns reported that almost 80% of interns felt they would not have got an internship without the programme, and 40% of interns in 2022 received other opportunities directly after completing their internship.

Through this partnership, we aim to encourage young professionals to take up careers in science communications. We’ve been pleased to welcome Stella Attah, Zainab Shire, Lord Cobbinah, Chloe Cole, and now, Regina Chosen, as interns through this programme. They have worked to support Target Malaria’s Communications team through fields ranging from social media and media to graphic design and animation. We remain committed to recruiting individuals from diverse academic disciplines, including media, politics and the arts, recognising that varied perspectives are essential for reaching broad and global audiences.