Two UCL researchers win prizes for competition in Parliament

Renata Gomes, currently studying for a PhD at UCL Medicine, won Silver in the Biological Sciences section and received £2,000.

The academics presented their science research to politicians and a panel of expert judges as part of the poster competition SET for Britain on Monday 12 March.

SET for Britain is a competition in the House of Commons that involves researchers displaying posters of their work to panels of expert judges and politicians. The Parliamentary and Scientific Committee run the event in collaboration with a number of other institutions.

Dr Powner explained: "The research I undertake is fundamental research and it makes me proud to see something like this come out on top, at a time when there's such a big drive for research to deliver fast financial rewards."

Renata Gomes commented: "SET for Britain was a chance for me to communicate my science to lots of different people. My research is funded by charitable foundations, I wanted to give a bit back in return for the trust they have given me through their funds."

The event aims to help politicians understand more about the UK's thriving science and engineering base and rewards some of the strongest scientific and engineering research being undertaken in the UK.

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

Images from top: Dr Matthew Powner and Renata Gomes

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Dr Matthew Powner
UCL Division of Medicine
SET for Britain