Dr Meurig Gallagher, 29, a Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham, hailing from Tongwynlais, Cardiff, is attending Parliament to present his mathematics research to a range of politicians and a panel of expert judges, as part of STEM for BRITAIN on Monday 12 March.
Meurig’s poster on research about the use of mathematics in understanding the microscopic world of biological fluids will be judged against dozens of other scientists’ research in the only national competition of its kind.
Meurig was shortlisted from hundreds of applicants to appear in Parliament.
On presenting his research in Parliament, he said, "STEM for BRITAIN provides an exciting opportunity to present my work to politicians and to highlight the importance of the use of mathematics in understanding everything about the world around us.”
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.”
Dr Meurig Gallagher is a Teaching Fellow in Applied Mathematics. Meurig's research concerns the utilisation of numerical and analytical techniques to solve problems relating to fluid dynamics. His work to date spans several aspects of fluid behaviour, from free surface flows to the stability of non-Newtonian fluids, and has recently found interest in modelling behaviours of biological fluids.
Meurig’s research has been entered into the mathematical sciences session of the competition, which will end in a gold, silver and bronze prize-giving ceremony.
Judged by leading academics, the gold medalist receives £2,000, while silver and bronze receive £1,250 and £750 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, UK Research and Innovation, Warwick Manufacturing Group, Society of Chemical Industry, The Nutrition Society, Institute of Biomedical Science and the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research.