Thomas gears up for his big day in Parliament

Dr Thomas Pozegic, Research Associate at University of Bristol

Oldhamer Dr Thomas Pozegic (29), a Research Associate at University of Bristol, is attending Parliament to present his engineering research to a range of politicians and a panel of expert judges, as part of STEM for BRITAIN.

Thomas’s poster on research about nanotechnology shaping the next generation of aeroplanes will be judged against dozens of other scientists’ research in the only national competition of its kind on Monday, March 12.

Thomas, who attended North Chadderton School, was shortlisted from hundreds of applicants to appear in Parliament.

He said: “I’m delighted to be part of STEM for BRITAIN 2018 and proud to present the outcome of my four-year PhD research project, which was conducted at the University of Surrey.

"My presentation will provide an exciting insight at promising technologies which could shape the future of transportation – such as materials which could harvest and store energy and even sense structural damage and self-heal.”

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.”

Thomas’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 £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.