THE GAP
Most biology students think their options are medicine, teaching, or nothing.
The life sciences industry is one of the UK's fastest-growing sectors — generating over £94 billion annually and employing hundreds of thousands of people in roles most students have never heard of. Yet school biology rarely connects the subject to the careers it enables.
Ednova closes that gap. Each programme gives students direct access to working scientists and industry professionals, a real understanding of how biology is applied to global challenges, and the confidence to explore a much wider range of futures.
HOW IT WORKS
A three-session pathway for every topic
Every Ednova programme follows the same structure — so students know what to expect, and the experience builds progressively across the three sessions.
ROGRAMME CATALOGUE
13 topics across 4 pillars of modern biology
Students can attend a single programme or build a broader picture across multiple topics over time. Each programme is self-contained — and each one opens a different door.
THE EVIDENCE
What happened when we ran the pilot
In February 2026 we ran a three-session Gene Therapy programme at Tonbridge School with 17 students from three schools. Here is what they said.
Pilot School
Tonbridge School — one of the UK's leading independent schools — hosted the inaugural Ednova pilot in February 2026, bringing together 17 students from three schools for a three-session Gene Therapy programme.
OUR SPEAKERS
Delivered with people who actually work in the field
Ednova programmes are delivered with scientists and industry professionals from leading UK universities, research institutes, biotech companies, and the pharmaceutical industry — giving students direct access to people working at the frontier of biology today.
FOR SCHOOLS
Bring Ednova to your students
Ednova programmes can be delivered in-person at your school or online, require no preparation from teachers, and complement existing science and careers provision for Years 11–13. Each programme runs as three sessions of approximately 75 minutes.
Meet the Founder
Ali Alidoust
Founder & CEO, Ednova
Ali Alidoust is a scientist with over 20 years of experience at Cancer Research UK and The Francis Crick Institute, where he currently leads the Fermentation Team. His work spans biotechnology, biomedical research, and the application of science to real-world challenges.
Alongside his research career, Ali has extensive experience mentoring students, hosting work experience placements, and supporting apprentices — giving him a deep understanding of how young people engage with science beyond the classroom. He founded Ednova after recognising that most biology students have no clear picture of what a career in the life sciences actually looks like, and that the people best placed to show them are working scientists, not careers advisers.
Ali is a Trustee at Biotechmet, a charity working to promote greater public understanding of biotechnology and its role in medicine, and a recipient of a Royal Society Partnership Grant supporting collaboration between scientists and schools. He is a member of the Royal Society of Biology, the Genetics Society, and the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE).
Royal Society Partnership Grant — Science Outreach
