Young STEM meets MPs

Naomi Clarke writes about the sixth annual Voice of the Future event where young STEM representatives quizzed political figures about science policy.

Last month, I made my way to Westminster, to represent CaSE at the annual Voice of the Future event, organised by the Royal Society of Biology, on behalf of the science and engineering community. I was part of a large and varied selection of young STEM representatives, aged 18-35, all ready for the unique opportunity to question senior figures from Parliament and Government on STEM issues close to their hearts.

The USP of this event is that the normal select committee format is reversed – the MPs and Government officials are those being questioned. This turn of events in today’s current political climate made for an interesting and informative afternoon with questions ranging from renewable energy to Trump’s science policy.

The first witness questioned was Chi Onwurah, MP, Shadow Minister for Industrial Strategy, Science and Innovation. I was lucky enough to ask the first question, about resistance to globalisation being an opportunity or a threat to UK science and technology. Onwurah answered swiftly, using no notes. She highlighted how science and policy are the engines of progress, saying the globalisation backlash is due to the increased economic inequality. Onwurah held up science and engineering as the tool to be used to help the world, for example, in tackling global access to clean water.

Next was Sir Mark Walport, Government Chief Scientific Advisor who backed up his answers using a large dossier of facts and figures. His recent appointment to Chief Executive Designate of UKRI, the new public funding agency, made him the perfect person to quiz about this merger and the risks involved. He reassured his STEM savvy audience that UKRI can make the whole greater than the sum of the parts and ensure interdisciplinary research doesn’t fall through the gaps.

The third witness was Jo Johnson MP, Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation. Seeking to reassure the concerned audience over Brexit concersn, he said that: “There’s no limit to the number of international students that can come to the UK.”

Finally, the House of Commons Science & Technology Committee were questioned. The need to prevent gender bias in STEM was addressed and ideas such as job shares illustrated how the Committee are striving to make it easier for women to get into, and stay in, the STEM workforce. The event demonstrated that engaging youth in science policy and addressing key concerns is a priority for Parliament and Government officials.

Author: Naomi Clarke, Communications at Campaign for Science and Engineering

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