Engineering researchers showcase research in Parliament
Added by Love Business East Midlands | 24 March 2026
A group of researchers from the University of Nottingham were selected to share their research at the recent STEM for Britain event in Parliament, sharing their research with a range of politicians and a panel of expert judges.
Chemical and Environmental Engineering researchers, Monika Dabrowska, Alisa Wikaputri and Shyam Rana were shortlisted from hundreds of applicants from across the UK to appear in Parliament where they presented posters on their research.
Alisa is a third year PhD student, she presented on her work developing a scalable, sustainable route to produce high-value fragrance esters from waste rose oil. Using a biphasic continuous-flow microreactor, the process overcomes limitations of conventional batch biocatalysis, achieving faster reaction rates, high yields, and improved enzyme stability. This approach demonstrates how UK flower waste can be transformed into valuable bio-based ingredients, supporting circular economy goals.
Monika is an EPSRC Doctoral Prize Research Fellow who explores the use of renewable terpene feedstocks to develop novel bio-based polymers. By using chemo-enzymatic approaches to transform compounds from flower waste and turpentine into functional monomers, her research enables sustainable alternatives to petroleum-derived materials. These materials have applications in advanced manufacturing, including 3D printing, as well as in personal and home care products, supporting greener chemical innovation.
Shyam is a second year PhD student developing sustainable, bio-based polymer coatings to prevent infections in neonatal care. Using terpene-derived materials, his approach creates “passive” anti-biofilm surfaces that reduce bacterial attachment without promoting resistance. This innovation demonstrates strong potential to improve patient outcomes, lower NHS costs, and replace toxic, petrochemical-based coatings with safer, scalable alternatives.
Alisa commented:
“Being a finalist at STEM for Britain 2026 was one of the highlights of my research so far. Presenting to judges from completely different engineering backgrounds pushed me to think about my work in new ways, and the feedback highlighted directions I hadn't fully considered. Meeting other finalists doing amazing work across engineering fields was truly inspiring. I didn't take home a medal, but the experience gave me a clarity about my research that I wouldn't have found any other way."
Parimala Shivaprasad, Assistant Professor in Chemical and Environmental Engineering said:
“This is a fantastic achievement for Alisa, Shyam and Monika, demonstrating the strength and quality of their research. STEM for Britain is highly competitive, making their selection especially noteworthy. It reflects the excellence of research within the Faculty of Engineering and the supportive, high-impact research environment at the University of Nottingham.”
STEM for BRITAIN is a poster competition in the House of Commons – involving 120 early stage or early career researchers - judged by professional and academic experts. All presenters are entered into either the engineering, the biological and biomedical sciences, chemistry, mathematics and physics.
Sam Carling MP, Chair of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee APPG, 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.”
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, The Nutrition Society and the Academy for the Mathematical Sciences, with sponsorship from Clay Mathematics Institute, United Kingdom Research and Innovation, Warwick Manufacturing Group, Elsevier, AWE, the Society of Chemical Industry, Institute of Biomedical Science, the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research, the Biochemical Society and the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences.
