Week Six – Saturday 25 April 2026

This will be our final session in the series, and at the end we’ll hand out certificates so the departure time will be a little later than usual (obviously if people have to leave promptly I can post the certificate to them on request).

We are in the same Engineering Building, same entrance, and back in the G2/G2A room where we’ve had most of our previous sessions. I won’t put up any signs this weekend as I don’t think anyone needs them now. Students can have their break in the main room (we won’t be using the computers or laptops) or the foyer, as they prefer. Parents & guardians are welcome to join us at the end of the class for the certificate distributing.

Brief summary

Registration 9.45am for 10am start at the Engineering Building (entrance on Mile End Road) at https://what3words.com/preoccupied.fish.party. Bring a snack/drink for the mid-morning break. Please let Jo know if not attending. Parents / guardians can stay in foyer as long as another event isn’t happening there.

Please make a note of my (Jo) contact details – 07706148772 / j.brodie@qmul.ac.uk – a simple text or email “XYZ isn’t coming today” is all I need, if you can’t make it on the day.

Much more detailed info

Welcome to the our sixth session.

We’ll be in the G2/G2A rooms, as before, on the ground floor of the Engineering Building (details below in #2 and #5). Hopefully everyone is already familiar with the accessible gender-neutral loo on the ground floor / foyer.

Please let Jo know if you can’t attend this session: j.brodie@qmul.ac.uk. Please don’t rely on telling teachers as they might not have my contact details, thank you.

Remember to bring a snack for the mid-morning break. You can have the snack in Room 209.

1a. What (students), in G2/G2A

Prof Paul Curzon – Unplugged Computing (computing without computers!)

Twenty one years ago Paul (and collegue Prof Peter McOwan) co-founded ‘CS4FN’ (Computer Science For Fun) which is a print magazine and website to share his enthusiasm for computing, as a subject and to show that you can teach people about computer science without using computers – unplugged computing.

Paul regularly runs a range of masterclass sessions at Queen Mary and the Royal Institution on artificial intelligence, the magic of computer science and the illusion of good design (how the design of computers and other devices can help or hinder people in using them). He’s the reason why this series exists at QMUL (we’ve been running these for 11 years).

1b. What (parents & guardians), in foyer

If there’s not another event happening and the porter is happy for you to do stay you may be able to sit in the foyer and wait while the class runs. QMUL has free guest wifi (QM-Visitor – no login or registration required). There’s a Sainsbury’s nearby for snacks (also one right next to Stepney Green station and a Tesco very near the station). If porters or other staff ask you to leave though please do so, taking all belongings and any snack wrappers with you (or use the bins).

2. Where

It’s the same venue and entrance as for all previous workshops – we’ll once again be in The Engineering Building on Mile End Road. (Please see 5. Venue directions below for more detailed information).

Exact same entrance and building as last two weeks, marked in green.

That entrance looks like this, with 5 metal bollards in front. It’s right next to a bus stop (25, 205 buses). On Google Maps Streetview it looks like this.

What3Words for this entrance: https://what3words.com/preoccupied.fish.party

Note: the post code (E1 4NS) is not very informative as we are a campus university so all post arrives centrally before being redistributed, and we are some distance from the post code ‘point’.

3. When

Saturday 25 April 2026.
Registration will be from 9.45am but you can come to the building any time after 9.30am.
The class begins at 10am and ends at 12.30pm. We’ll have a short break in the middle for snacks.
I will wait with any student who hasn’t been collected but please collect everyone by 1pm, thank you.

4. Please bring a snack

We will have a mid-morning break at some point during the workshop. Please bring with you a snack and drink if you would like one. There is a Sainsbury’s on Mile End Road just across the road from the venue (also one near Stepney Green station, and a Tesco).

5. Venue directions

From Stepney Green tube station [NEAREST]

The nearest tube station is Stepney Green tube station. Exit the station and turn left (you are now on Mile End Road (A11) and Globe Road (B120) is on your left (you’ll cross Globe Road). If you need to get a snack you have Sainsbury’s on your left (on Globe Road) and a Tesco in front of you once you’ve crossed Globe Road.
Keep walking up Mile End Road, cross Bancroft Road and keep going until Bus Stop D. The entrance to the Engineering Building is on your left with the 5 metal bollards and glass door entrance. If you see an enormous white building (that’s the Queen’s Building) and clocktower, also the People’s Palace, you’ve gone a bit far :)

If you are arriving by bus it’s the 25 or 205 which will drop you closest, at Bus Stop D.

From Mile End tube station

Mile End station is a little further away (but not much).
If you want to take the bus (25 or 205) Stop C is to your right as you exit the station – alight at Bus Stop E (Queen Mary University of London) by the Sainsbury’s.
If you want to just walk then turn left as you exit the station (you are on Mile End Road) and keep walking in that direction (you’re walking in the direction of Stepney Green). There are plenty of shops on the way including a Sainsbury’s that’s close to the venue.
You can cross to the other side of Mile End Road at the Sainsbury’s and keep walking in the same direction.
When you cross the road you’ll be looking at a very large white building called the Queen’s Building which is set back from the road. Next to it is the People’s Palace and next to that is the Engineering Building – where we are. Look for the glass door entrance and five metal bollards.

Other bus routes that go nearby include 309 (Stepney Green station) and 339 (passes part of Mile End Road).

Return to the QMUL / Ri Masterclasses main page