Former Horsham Collyer’s pupils talks science to MPs

Gareth Ward, 24, a former pupil of Tanbridge House School and the College of Richard Collyer, was there as part of the SET for Britain competition on Monday (March 9).

The University of Southampton PhD student could be in line for a prize of up to £3,000 after being shortlisted from hundreds of applicants.

His poster on research about the design and development of a potential therapy for illnesses affecting the eyes will be judged against dozens of other scientists’ research in the only national competition of its kind.

He said: “It is truly a great privilege and honour to showcase my research at such a prestigious event, and I look forward to engaging the MPs in this field of work and meeting my fellow researchers in biomedical sciences.”

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