STEM for Britain is a poster competition for early career researchers (ECR) which takes place yearly in Westminster. This event on 9th March 2020 was an opportunity to network and explain my work to MPs, research council representatives, societies and other guests.
The Scientific Committee included representatives of Society of Chemical Industry, Institute of Physics, Royal Society of Chemistry and UK Research and Innovation among other relevant societies and industrial sponsors. Mari Ramos Suarez attended with other University of Southampton postgraduate students.
Elaine Ho and Maria Ramos Suarez explained their work to Members of the Houses of Parliament in the poster competition at Westminster’s Portcullis House. The pair were two of eight promising Southampton researchers to exhibit at the national showcase. Electronic engineer Ben Fletcher was awarded the event’s IEEE Communications Society Prize for his innovative stacking of silicon chips.
from SUSSED
Maria invited Royston Smith, MP for Southampton Itchen, to the event who engaged in conversation about the project and general waste management practices. ECR rarely have the chance to speak to politicians, who can highly influence environmental policies on a national level.
Maria’s research focuses on generating useful chemicals from biodegradable waste. The collaborative project with Fiberight Ltd is optimising the microbial production of volatile fatty acids during acidogenic fermentation.
“Volatile fatty acids are used in a wide range of applications, including biofuels, bioplastics, synthetic materials and nutrient recovery, but are currently sourced from fossil fuels,” she says. “This technology not only presents an alternative to petroleum chemicals but it can also reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, a waste management practice that has devastating consequences for the environment.
“The most encouraging part of STEM for Britain was speaking to MPs who have power over research budgets and can influence policies related to waste management. The event gave me a voice and I felt heard.”
-
- Maria presenting her poster
-
- Maria with Royston Smith MP
-
- Other female ECR, Professor Izzet Kale from University of Westminster and Dr Hoa Le-Minh from IEEE
Further information about the event on the STEM for Britain website
Reported for SUSSED on 02.04.2020 read article