The Salters’ Institute Annual Lecture 2026

In the first week of February, the Salters’ Institute held our 2026 Annual Lecture in the beautiful Salters’ Hall. It may have been raining outside but our guests arrived in high spirits, eager to open their minds and ignite their curiosity. Among our esteemed guests were Scholars from Harris Westminster Sixth Form and Christ’s Hospital School, who were able to experience the Hall and begin to network with members of the Salters’ Alumni, a scheme which they will be eligible to join once they leave school.

We were delighted to welcome Dr Baljit Thatti, who presented her lecture titled The Power of Analytical Thinking. Baljit is the Head of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Kingston University, and our guests got to explore her exciting and varied career in research. As her lecture title suggests, Baljit gave us a glimpse into the power of analytical thinking – from solving problems in chemistry, medicine, and forensics, to applying these principles to everyday challenges and diversifying the STEM workforce.

Baljit opened her lecture with an example we are all familiar with – trying to get your laptop to charge! Upon closer inspection, the audience realised that how we approach this issue is an example of analytical thinking in action.

Her talk continued by exploring her extensive research, beginning with the ongoing research into intraocular lenses (IOLs) that she is currently working on. Baljit uses analytical chemistry techniques to explore improvements to current IOLs used in less developed countries.

She then highlighted the role of analytical chemistry in forensic science and crime scene investigation – a particularly exciting topic given the proportion of the audience already interested in CSI dramas. She was quick to note, however, that a lot more analytical work goes into this than you might see in a typical crime drama. From lipstick and foundation traces left on fabric to tyre marks following a hit-and-run, analytical chemistry plays a crucial role in understanding a crime scene.

The lecture came to a close with reflections on analytical thinking in a broader sense, and in particular Baljit’s work in making STEM more accessible for people from diverse backgrounds, something we are particularly passionate about here at the Salters’ Institute. She spoke about identifying problems with access to higher education and careers, and how data analysis can help address these challenges. This gave an incredibly informative lecture a truly inspirational finish.

After a round of insightful Q&A with Baljit, chaired by Dame Mary Archer, it was time for drinks, nibbles, and networking in the Court Room. We hope that all our guests were able to have some insightful conversations and foster new connections.

Many thanks to everyone who attended our Annual Lecture this year, and special thanks to our wonderful speaker, Dr Baljit Thatti. We were delighted to host all of our esteemed visitors and hope to return with another insightful lecture in 2027!

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