Monday, 23 March 2026
A group of students 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 reseachers, 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.
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.
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.
Story credits
More information is available from Jane Icke, Media Relations Manager for the Faculty of Science at the University of Nottingham, on jane.icke@nottingham.ac.uk
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About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 97 in the world and 17th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the third most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2024 report by High Fliers Research. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home. More news…