A PhD candidate from Bracknell is heading to Parliament to present her engineering research to politicians and a panel of judges as part of a national initiative to promote science.

Alexandra Stefanescu, 26, who studies at the University of Manchester, was shortlisted from hundreds of applicants to deliver her work for the only national competition of its kind, STEM for BRITAIN on Monday, March 13.

Alexandra’s poster on research about improving air flow predictions around race cars will be judged against dozens of other engineers’ research.

She said: "I am looking to take a topic which is not directly immediately impactful to the society, but yet very intellectually challenging, and use it to show how through the sport of technology, there are many lessons that can be learnt and applied to much wider aspect of our lives."

Professor Dame Ann Dowling OM DBE FREng FRS, president of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: “I’m delighted to see all the superb engineering research on display at STEM for Britain this year. From medical technology to transport systems of the future, the showcase provides a glimpse of the world-leading research taking place in universities up and down the UK. The talented engineers bringing their work to Parliament demonstrates just how varied the world of engineering is and the many ways in which it impacts our society.”

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.”

Alexandra’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 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 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, Research Councils UK, Warwick Manufacturing Group, Society of Chemical Industry, Institute of Biomedical Science and the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research.