Posters in Parliament (#PostersInParliament)

Posted on 12 March 2018

Posters in Parliament 2018 took place on 21 February 2018, at the Houses of Parliament. This was the sixth event of its kind, and this year it was hosted by University of Sheffield and funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry. This exceedingly exciting event featured over 25 universities and provided an insight into the important, and varied, research undertaken by undergraduates across the UK.

The event is organised by the British Conference of Undergraduate Research (BCUR). This is an open coalition of universities dedicated to encouraging a national culture of undergraduate research. Each year BCUR grows and gives students endless opportunity to present their cutting-edge research to other academics, Members of Parliament, and the Lords. Many of the posters that are created can be published in highly-rated journals or form a basis for their authors to develop further research as postgraduate students.

It was amazing to be surrounded by exceptional minds all passionate about their research. They accepted a variety of fields of research which meant for really interesting knowledge exchanges across disciplines.

Demi Daniel, third year BSc Psychology in Education student

The University of York’s representatives were: Hayley Marsden, a second year Psychology in Education student, and Demi Daniel - a third year Psychology in Education student. Both are Laidlaw scholarship holders and originally developed their posters under that scheme. Their excellent posters represented their vastly different areas of interest, notwithstanding their studying the same programme. Hayley’s research title was; Exploring risk and protective factors of resilience in children with reading difficulties, and Demi’s; is YouTube a gateway to upward social mobility. I attended the event to provide social media coverage of the day for the department (you can find my posts on the department’s Instagram account, deptedyork, and Twitter account, @DeptEdYork).

To be chosen to represent the Education department and York at this event is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You are representing the next generation of innovators and academics, to current scholars and people of importance across academia and policy-making. When Hayley was chosen to represent the department, she said she felt “proud, excited but apprehensive”. The latter mainly because of the nerves she felt about speaking about her work, about which she is passionate. After the event, I spoke to Demi and asked her what thought of the event. She enthused, “I love the event. It was amazing to be surrounded by exceptional minds all passionate about their research. They accepted a variety of fields of research which meant for really interesting knowledge exchanges across disciplines”. Both students rose to the challenge and also received feedback on how to take their projects further.

I managed to get a quick response from Hana Rose, an undergraduate studying Politics at Oxford Brookes University, her poster was shortlisted for winning – alongside five other contestants. I asked Hana what she believed the event was good for: “I think it is important for undergraduates to be able to exhibit their research and to be recognised for their efforts. Parliament was a perfect location to do this”. Furthermore, I asked Hana how she felt when she found out she was shortlisted to win: “I was really pleased I had been selected and was able to speak to the judges. I was more pleased that so many people came to speak to me about my poster and the discussions that came from it”.

To be in the chance of getting your Poster in Parliament next year you need to do one of three things:

Firstly, you need to have a passion for a particular topic of research, whether that be something you are studying for your dissertation, or something you have developed in your own time e.g. through undertaking a research or student internship, being a research assistant, or participating in schemes like the Laidlaw.

Secondly, you need to create an outstanding A0, portrait-orientation poster with key information about your topic (as an undergraduate student in the department, you will likely have experience in creating research posters for assessments; if not, further guidance will be given in the email invitation).

Finally, you need to keep your eyes peeled for the email (around December 2018) which will tell you about closing dates, further requirements and how to apply.

This event brings together a remarkable collection of the best undergraduate research from multiple disciplines across the country… And next year it could be yours!

Kayleigh Hughes, third year BA English in Education student