IFR scientist takes her research to Parliament

Tharsini Sivapalan, 26, a PhD student at the Quadram Institute (formerly Institute of Food Research), hailing from Hayes, London, attended Parliament to present her bioscience research to a range of politicians and a panel of expert judges, as part of STEM for BRITAIN on Monday 13 March.

Tharsini’s poster on research about the bioavailability of naturally occurring compounds from novel broccoli soups was judged against dozens of other scientists’ research in the only national competition of its kind.

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

“It is an exciting opportunity to present my science research to all the MPs at Parliament and see other people’s research outside my field” said Tharsini

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.”

Tharsini’s research was entered the biosciences session of the competition, which ended in a gold, silver, and bronze prize-giving ceremony.

Judged by leading academics, the gold medalist receives £3,000, while silver and bronze receive £2,000 and £1,000 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 Mathematical Sciences, with financial support from the Clay Mathematics Institute, Research Councils UK, Warwick Manufacturing Group, Society of Chemical Industry, Institute of Biomedical Science and the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research.