Lancaster University PhD student Rebecca Barker has presented her research before Parliament as part of the STEM for Britain 2020 competition.

The event aims to raise the profile of Britain's early-stage researchers at Westminster by engaging Members of both Houses of Parliament with current science, engineering and mathematics research being undertaken in the UK, especially by the university in their local constituency.

Rebecca, from the Faculty of Health and Medicine, presented her research into the neglected tropical disease Leishmaniasis before approximately 100 MPs.

Her research looks at the innate immune response to Leishmania parasites which are the cause of the neglected tropical disease Leishmaniasis, which gives rise to a million more cases each year.

She said: “I am very excited to have the opportunity to attend STEM for Britain at Westminster to share my work and why it is such an important topic to research. Public engagement of science and research is incredibly important to keep the general public and policy makers informed of what is going on across the country in university labs, in addition to sharing the enthusiasm and excitement for new discovery in science."

The audience included Lancaster and Fleetwood MP Cat Smith, and other members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, as well as policy-makers and members of Learned and Professional Societies.

The event gives researchers a broad audience with whom to discuss their research, as well as enabling them to understand how science, technology, engineering and maths are discussed and dealt with in Parliament.