A SCIENTIST from Malvern presented research on the impact of pesticides on bees at the Houses of Parliament as part of a competition.

26-year-old Harry Siviter, who attended Malvern College, was shortlisted from hundreds of applicants to present his research to a panel of expert judges comprised of leading academics and politicians as part of the STEM for Britain competition.

He said: "Presenting my findings at STEM for Britain is an exciting opportunity to share our research findings to MPs. I believe my research has a clear and important application for both agriculture and wildlife conservation.

"I look forward to discussing these results with policy makers who will hopefully find the results of interest."

The event also gives researchers the chance to discuss the implications and importance of their work with their local MPs, other researchers, and senior science stakeholders.

Mr Siviter’s research is focused on neonicotinoid pesticides, the most commonly used insecticide worldwide.

Evidence shows that these pesticides have negative impacts on important pollinators such as bees, resulting in bans and restrictions in their use. These restrictions are driving an increased demand for novel pesticides.

Mr Siviter, now a second year PhD student at the Royal Holloway, University of London, and his team assessed whether these novel pesticides have negative influences on bumblebee health.

STEM for Britain is a yearly competition, organised by the parliamentary and scientific committee with support from a number of groups including the Royal Society of Biology.

The competition is open to early stage or early career researchers engaged in scientific, engineering, technological or medical research.

Stephen Metcalfe MP, chair 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."