Leeds scientist takes her research to Parliament

Julia Gala de Pablo, 26, PhD student at University of Leeds, hailing from Madrid, Spain, is attending Parliament to present her physics research to a range of politicians and a panel of expert judges.

This is all part of STEM for BRITAIN on Monday 12 March where Julia’s poster on research about Raman Spectroscopy on Colorectal Cancer cells and Photodynamic Therapy will be judged against dozens of other scientists’ research in the only national competition of its kind.

Julia was shortlisted from hundreds of applicants to appear in Parliament.

On presenting her research in Parliament, she said, “I applied to STEM for Britain hoping to get a chance to talk about my research to a wider public, and I am very excited to be given this opportunity.”

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.”

Julia’s research has been entered into the physics session of the competition, which will end in a gold, silver and bronze prize-giving ceremony.

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

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.

For more information on STEM for Britain 

STEM for BRITAIN is a poster competition in the House of Commons - involving approximately 180 early stage or early career researchers - judged by professional and academic experts.  All presenters are entered into either the engineering, the biological and biomedical sciences, the physical sciences (chemistry), the physical sciences (physics) session, or the mathematics session, depending on the researcher’s specialism. 

Each session will result in the award of Bronze, Silver and Gold certificates.  Bronze winners will receive a £750 prize; Silver, £1,250; and Gold, £2,000 and a medal.  There will also be an overall winner from the four sessions who will receive the Westminster Wharton Medal.