SET for Britain - Taking Research to Parliament

"There's something in me that just wants to create dialogue" - David Mamet

















As I drew back the curtains at a little after 6 am I was greeted by the freezing sight of a typical northern spring morning - a metallic grey sky and a fresh covering of snow. The day was Monday 18th March, the day of the eagerly anticipated annual Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) for Britain event at the Houses of Parliament.

After taking part in a national competition, I was lucky enough to have been selected to present a poster of my research to MPs from both Houses in the Terrace Marquee. The SET for Britain event was the inspirational idea of the late Dr Eric Wharton and has since gone from strength to strength with the ongoing work of Sue Wharton, the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, supporting MPs and a number of high-profile industrial sponsors.

Fostering dialogue

The aim of the event is to bring together early-career researchers working in areas of national importance and to foster greater dialogue between scientists and members of Parliament from both Houses. The event also gives researchers an opportunity to see the workings of Parliament first hand and to compete for prizes judged by an expert panel.

I was selected to present my poster 'Catching the Wind', which described low-cost tools for wind resource assessment*, in the engineering session. After making my way through the snowy streets of Leeds, I was soon on a train bound for London and doing some final preparation for the event.

Inside the corridors of power

Before I knew it I was passing through security for my very first visit inside Parliament. Right from the start, the buildings are incredibly impressive. Visitors first enter Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the palace and a building which from the ancient arched wooden ceiling to the enormous flag stoned floor literally breathes history. I could have stayed there many hours just soaking up the atmosphere but there was work to be done, starting with a private tour kindly organised by my MP Greg Mulholland.

The tour was fascinating and really brings home the historical evolution of our current democracy. A highlight had to be standing at the Prime Minister's lectern in the House of Commons, I could almost hear the jeering and cheering from the benches. The main event was yet to come, so after a quick lunch, I headed poster in hand, through the now familiar Parliament buildings to the Terrace Marquee.

On to the Terrace

Right from the start there was an incredible buzz of excitement as 60 researchers, an expert judging panel and a number of MPs animatedly discussed some of the cutting edge science taking place in the UK. Given the relatively short time period and the large number of posters to be judged, the presentations were a bit like a speed dating event -  two minutes to describe an entire thesis.

It was fast paced and thoroughly enjoyable. After the initial flurry of judging, things relaxed a little and we were able to have some more in depth discussions including describing my work in more detail to my local MP Greg Mulholland. The event ended with a prize giving ceremony for the top three posters.

A forum for the future

Overall the event provided a great forum for researchers to present their cutting-edge work to those involved in local and national decision making, and at least in my own case, to foster dialogue with their own MPs. The setting within the Houses of Parliament also provided the perfect environment to inspire early-career researchers to continue to push the boundaries of knowledge and to help shape Britain's future. 

It's certainly an experience I will remember for a long time to come!

*My work is supervised by Prof. Alison Tomlin of the Energy Research Institute at the University of Leeds and is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).