Katy Owen (pictured), of UEA’s School of Environmental Sciences, and Lee Webster and Ausra Jablonskyte, both of UEA's School of Chemistry, were shortlisted from hundreds of applicants as part of the SET for Britain competition. They will present their research in the House of Commons on Monday March 12.

“It’s a great opportunity to present my work to such an important audience. I’m really looking forward to the experience,” said Katy, who studies phytoplankton populations in the North Sea.

Lee and Ausra work in the university's Energy Materials Laboratory researching solar fuels. This is the second year they have been selected to present their work in Parliament.

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

Judged by leading academics, the competition will end in a gold, silver and bronze prize-giving ceremony. The gold medallist 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 Institute of Physics, the Society of Biology, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Physiological Society, the Wellcome Trus,t and the Society of Chemical Industry. Financial support comes from BP, Airbus/EADS, the Institution of Engineering and Technology, AgChem Access, Oxford Instruments, IBMS, and GE Hitachi.