For the largest national event of its kind, 210 early career scientists, engineers and mathematicians will arrive in Parliament on Monday 17th March to exhibit their ground-breaking research to politicians during SET for Britain 2014.

From the mathematics of swarming locusts to a gene therapy being designed for treatment of a blistering skin disease, these early career researchers have been shortlisted to showcase the best of UK science.

As Andrew Miller MP, Chairman of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee and the event’s parliamentary host, said: “This annual competition is an important date in the parliamentary calendar because it gives MPs and Peers an opportunity to speak to a wide range of the country’s best young researchers. 

“These early career engineers, mathematician and scientists are the architects of our future and SET for Britain is politicians’ best opportunity to meet them and understand their work.”

All of the exhibitors are entered into competition with researchers from their discipline – be it biology, chemistry, engineering, maths or physics – for a bronze (£1,000), silver (£2,000) and gold (£3,000) prize and certificate.

At the end of the exhibition, the gold winner from each discipline will explain their research to a panel of judges to convince them that their research, and their ability to convey it, leaves them deserving the over-arching Westminster Medal.

Dr Mark Downs, chief executive of the Society of Biology, says: “Scientists and politicians both have major roles in addressing some of society’s biggest challenges, from climate change to food security. SET for Britain is a rare opportunity for politicians to meet some of our most promising young scientists.

“It is important that MPs make policy decisions informed by evidence, and a greater mutual understanding between MPs and scientists will improve this.”

The Parliamentary and Scientific Committee run the event in collaboration with the Society of Biology, the Council for Mathematical Sciences, the Institute of Physics, The Physiological Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the Society of Chemical Industry, with financial support from BP, the Clay Mathematics Institute, Essar, INEOS, Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), Germains Seed Technology, Boeing, the Bank of England and the Institute of Biomedical Science.

For updates during the day, follow @SET4Brit on Twitter or the hashtag #SciParl.