the future is life sciences! liminal space x job design lab

Spiral Skills is excited to partner with The Liminal Space on The Job Design Lab, a vital program funded by Lambeth Council addressing the borough's growing Health and Life Science sector. Recognising the potential for 50,000 new jobs, this initiative ensures young people are engaged in opportunities in this thriving industry.

Job Design Lab (JDL) is a place-based programme that invites people and their communities to explore, shape and prepare for their future of work. Their immersive programme harnesses creative learning methods to help people step into the future and respond to how work could change.

Spiral Skills engaged 40 local young people and consulted on the session design in highlighting opportunities in health and life sciences, aiming to provide practical skills, dispel misconceptions, and empower young people to seize these future employment opportunities.

INTERACTIVE EXPERIMENTS & INSIGHTFUL DISCUSSIONS

The workshops facilitated by Dr. Ron, Joel, and Sarah generated incredible energy through interactive experiments, eye-opening discussions, and insights to innovations in life sciences. Participants engaged in conversations about the future of biotechnology and emerging careers in life sciences. The workshop’s distinguishing feature was the practical application, critical thinking, and personal exploration of future career pathways. By the conclusion of the day, each participant departed with a broadened perspective, a defined personal action plan, and a sense of excitement for future opportunities

Science in Action: Extracting DNA from a Tomato 🍅🔬

Ever thought you’d be extracting DNA from a tomato? Neither did most of the young people who joined, but that’s exactly how we kicked off the day.

This wasn’t just any science experiment—it was a team challenge. Each group was handed jumbled-up instructions and had to figure out the right order before even touching the materials. The result? A mix of laughter, intense debates, and a little bit of panic, but ultimately, a new understanding of real-world lab work.

💬 “The workshop was very exciting, informative, and intriguing. When it’s different, it’s just that much better!” — Marie, participant

The best part? It showed just how collaborative and hands-on life sciences can be—it’s not just about sitting in a lab with a pipette.

The Bigger Picture: What Even Is Life Sciences? 🤔

After the experiment, we zoomed out to the bigger picture—what life sciences actually looks like today and where it’s going next.

Dr Ron and his team walked us through what’s happening in Lambeth right now, followed by some eye-opening videos on groundbreaking discoveries. It got us thinking—what do we imagine when we hear "life sciences"? And what’s missing from that picture?

Then came "This is Me", an activity where we put stickers on lab coats to reflect different skills and roles. It was like a real-world career vision board, but way more fun (and with actual lab coats involved).

More Than Just Learning – It’s About What’s Next

The goal of this workshop wasn’t just to share cool science facts. It was about helping young people see a place for themselves in this field—whether as a researcher, tech specialist, innovator, or something completely new.

By the end of the day, each participant walked away with:

✅ A clearer idea of where life sciences is headed
✅ A personal next step to explore
✅ A better understanding of the skills they already have and how to use them
✅ More confidence in their role in the future of work

And, as an added bonus, everyone got paid £80 for their time—because opportunities like this should be both accessible and rewarding.

🧪 Blending It All Together: My Unique Formula

To wrap up, each participant created their own “Unique Formula”—a test tube filled with their reflections on the day.

They wrote down:
1️⃣ One thing that excites them about the future of work
2️⃣ A skill they want to develop
3️⃣ Their next step after this workshop

It was a simple but powerful reminder that everyone in the room had a unique role to play in shaping the future.

Final Thoughts

This workshop—hosted with The Liminal Space—was proof that learning about science and careers doesn’t have to be dull or complicated. It’s about exploring, experimenting, and seeing where your skills fit into a changing world.

💬 “There were so many things I learned, from communication to collaboration!”

By making these conversations engaging, interactive, and accessible, we’re ensuring that more young people see the opportunities available to them in industries like life sciences. And this is just the start.

We’d like to give a special thank you to the team at Liminal Space for such a wonderful experience.

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