A PhD student from the University of Dundee takes his science to Parliaments

21-3-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — A PhD student from the University of Dundee will have the chance to tell politicians and leading industry figures about his research at the SET for Britain competition in the House of Commons next week.

Muhammad Sadiq, 25, a final year PhD student in Bioengineering in the School of Engineering, Mathematics and Physics at Dundee, was among those chosen from hundreds of applications to attend the event on Monday March 18th, which brings together researchers from across the UK.

Muhammad’s research has been entered into the Engineering session of the competition, which will end 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.

Muhammad, who is from Pakistan, will make a presentation based around his research into using ultrasound in needle-based medical interventions.

“I applied for SET for Britain because it is an excellent opportunity to exhibit my work, and the quality of research being carried out at the University of Dundee, to a wide audience including many politicians,” said Muhammad. “It is also a good opportunity to meet with other scientists and engineers from the UK and get a wider perspective on cutting-edge research from across the country.”

Andrew Miller 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 are the architects of our future and SET for Britain is politicians’ best opportunity to meet them and understand their work.”

Neil Scott, Vice President Engineering – Airbus in the UK, the company sponsors of the gold medal, said, “High quality engineering is the life blood of the global aviation industry and it is only through the efforts of our teams of highly skilled and qualified engineers that we are able to stay ahead of our competitors and ensure that the UK aviation industry maintains its position as a world leading centre of engineering excellence.

“It is absolutely vital that we continue to invest in high quality training and in research and development and I’m delighted to say that we continue to work closely with the UK government to ensure this is happening. From Airbus’ successful application for Regional Growth Fund support, which is helping create 200 new engineering jobs, to the joint industry/government initiative that will fund up to 500 Masters Degrees in Aerospace Engineering – these are all steps that clearly underline our shared commitment to ensuring the continued success of the UK aerospace sector, both now and into the future.”

The Parliamentary and Scientific Committee run the event in collaboration with the Institute of Physics, The Physiological Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Society of Biology and the Society of Chemical Industry, with financial support from BP, Airbus/EADS, INEOS, AgChemAccess, Essar, the Institute of Biomedical Science, GAMBICA and WMG.

Contact
For further information about the event, images, or interview opportunities, please contact Joe Winters:
Tel: 020 7470 4815
Mob: 07946 321473
E-mail: joseph.winters@iop.org

SET for Britain
SET 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), or the physical sciences (physics) session, depending on their specialism.

Each session will result in the reward of Bronze, Silver and Gold certificates. Bronze winners will receive a £1,000 prize; Silver, £2,000; and Gold, £3,000. There will also be an overall winner from the four sessions who will receive the Westminster Wharton Medal.

SET for Britain was established by Dr Eric Wharton in 1997. Following his untimely death in 2007, the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, with support from The Royal Academy of Engineering, The Institute of Physics, the Society of Biology, The Royal Society of Chemistry, The Physiological Society and the Society of Chemical Industry are working together to further his legacy.

The event is made possible this year by industry sponsors BP, Airbus/EADS, INEOS, AgChemAccess, Essar, the Institute of Biomedical Science, GAMBICA and WMG.

Early stage or early career researchers include university research students, postgraduates, research assistants, postdocs, research fellows, newly-appointed lecturers, part-time and mature students, returners, those people embarking on a second career, and their equivalent in national, public sector and industrial laboratories, and appropriate final year undergraduate and MSc students, all of whom are engaged in scientific, engineering, technological or medical research.

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
Head. Press Office
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384910
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07800 581902