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Bristol engineers, scientists and mathematicians take their research to Parliament

STEM for Britain finalists

Press release issued: 12 March 2018

Five researchers from the University of Bristol will be taking their work as posters to Parliament on Monday 12th March for the annual STEM for BRITAIN awards.

Health scientist Helen Williams, physicist Kate Oliver, mathematician Celine Maistret and engineers Joshua Mudie and Thomas Pozegic will all travel to the Houses of Parliament to present their ideas to a range of politicians and expert judges.

PhD engineering student Joshua Mudie's poster illustrates his research about timber-concrete composites.  He said: "I'm looking forward to showcasing my research to MPs and leading academics, and making the case for increased use of this sustainable construction method in UK house building in the future.

Health science senior research associate Helen Williams will be taking her poster on the effects of increasing or decreasing molecule WISP-1 as a preventative tool for heart attacks. 

Physics PhD student Kate Oliver looks at using a home-made 3D printer to make soft, shape changing objects from heat responsive chemicals and seaweed extracts.   She said: "We hope to be able to print programmable soft units that could have applications in soft robotics, interfaces for devices, implantable medical treatments that unfold in the body or tiny self-regulating valves."

Postdoctoral engineering research associate Thomas Pozegic will present his research into technologies to shape the future of transportation such as materials which could harvest and store energy and even sense structural damage and self-heal.

Stephen Metcalfe MP, Chairman of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, said: "This annual competition is an important date in the parliamentary calendar because it gives MPs an opportunity to speak to a wide range of the country’s best young researchers.

"These early career engineers, mathematicians and scientists are the architects of our future and STEM for BRITAIN is politicians’ best opportunity to meet them and understand their work."

Judged by leading academics, the gold medalist receives £2,000, while silver and bronze receive £1,250 and £750 respectively.

Further information

The Parliamentary and Scientific Committee runs the event in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institute of Physics, the Royal Society of Biology, The Physiological Society and the Council for the Mathematical Sciences, with financial support from the Clay Mathematics Institute, UK Research and Innovation, Warwick Manufacturing Group, Society of Chemical Industry, the Nutrition Society, Institute of Biomedical Science and the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research.

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