Hundreds of early career researchers to descend on Parliament

Thirty talented young chemists are among more than 200 early-career scientists, engineers and mathematicians arriving in Parliament on Monday 17 March to exhibit their groundbreaking research to politicians and compete for the coveted Westminster Medal during SET for Britain 2014.

From finding new cheap catalysts for hydrogen-fuelled cars, to understanding how broccoli could help treat cancer, to using big magnets to study how osteoporosis affects your bones, these early career researchers have been shortlisted to showcase the best of the UK.

Andrew Miller MP, Chairman of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee and the event's parliamentary host, said: "This annual competition is an important date in the parliamentary calendar because it gives MPs and Peers an opportunity to speak to a wide range of the country's best young researchers.  
 
"These early career engineers, mathematician and scientists are the architects of our future and SET for Britain is politicians' best opportunity to meet them and understand their work."

All of the exhibitors are entered into competition with researchers from their discipline - be it biology, chemistry, engineering, maths or physics - for a bronze (£1,000), silver (£2,000) and gold (£3,000) prize and certificate.

At the end of the exhibition, the gold winner from each discipline will explain their research to a panel of judges to convince them that their research, and their ability to communicate it, leaves them deserving the over-arching Westminster Medal. 

The finale's judging panel will comprise of Andrew Miller MP, BBC Science Correspondent Pallab Ghosh and Professor Michael Elves.

The Parliamentary and Scientific Committee run the event in collaboration with: 

• Council for Mathematical Sciences
• Institute of Physics
• Physiological Society
• Royal Academy of Engineering
• Royal Society of Chemistry
• Society of Biology
• Society of Chemical Industry  
   

SET for Britain is supported by: 

• BP
• Clay Mathematics Institute
• Essar
• INEOS
• Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG)
• Germains Seed Technology
• Boeing
• Bank of England
• Institute of Biomedical Science