Speaking scientific truth to power

The Ashok Kumar Fellowship, funded by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) and the Materials Processing Institute, gives engineers the chance to spend three months working in the UK Parliament. This year's Fellow on secondment, Joseph Greaves, discusses his experience... 

The fellowship places the selected candidate in the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST), a body that supports Parliament with scientific advice, research and policy insights. Fellows typically write a POSTnote, one of Parliament’s signature four-page briefings reviewing emerging areas of research, which are widely read by policymakers across both the House of Commons and House of Lords. POSTnote topics range widely across fields including AI, mental health, net zero and housing insecurity.

The scheme was established in 2010 in memory of Dr Ashok Kumar MP, a Fellow of IChemE and the only sitting UK Member of Parliament at the time with a background in chemical engineering. During his career, Ashok was an advocate for science in politics, with a particular focus on industrial strategy and sustainability. The fellowship continues his legacy by ensuring that the next generation of engineers can contribute to national decision-making.

The Ashok Kumar Fellowship has opened doors for many past fellows, several of whom have moved into careers in policy, public engagement or government. Others have returned to academia or industry with a new understanding of how their work connects to public life.

POST also provides formal training in policy writing, as well as opportunities to build a professional network in Parliament and Whitehall. For a young engineer, it’s a chance to influence national thinking and gain a broader perspective on how science and engineering shape society.

During my fellowship, I have worked on a POSTnote focused on the STEM skills pipeline in the UK. This pipeline refers to the journey of individuals through education and into careers within science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

For a young engineer, it’s a chance to influence national thinking and gain a broader perspective on how science and engineering shape society

The POSTnote examined the different stages of this pathway, from early education through to research careers, identifying specific challenges at each stage. At school level, I saw concerns around how students are divided into double or triple science tracks. This early decision can significantly impact whether students continue with STEM subjects later in their education. At post-16 education, the UK system’s narrow focus, where students typically select three A-levels, is contrasted with broader international models. This narrowing may limit engagement with STEM subjects.

In further education, there is something called the “missing middle”, a shortage of individuals with technical skills gained through vocational routes or apprenticeships. These level 4 and 5 skills are vital for STEM sectors, yet the UK has fewer people trained at this level compared to countries like Germany and Canada.

At the higher end of the pipeline, early-career researchers face difficulties due to job insecurity and pressures around academic publishing. These challenges can make academic careers less attractive and harder to re-enter once left.

While this work did not involve creating recommendations, the POST's role is to collate and present evidence gathered from key stakeholders, including professional societies and industrial bodies. 

These groups often suggest specific reforms, such as increasing funding for further education, widening subject choices at post-16 and improving careers education. These perspectives are compiled into the final POSTnote, which is then shared with interested parliamentarians, government departments and relevant committees. 

Complex issues benefit from input by people with experience across engineering, science, business, economics and education. This diversity leads to more balanced, effective policy discussions

With a background in chemical engineering, my technical training has helped me to adapt to the fast-paced and deadline-driven environment of Parliament. Similar to engineering, where delays can disrupt team workflows, parliamentary researchers must produce timely, high-quality work to inform debates. 

The fellowship shows the value of having a broad mix of perspectives in policymaking. Complex issues benefit from input by people with experience across engineering, science, business, economics and education. This diversity leads to more balanced, effective policy discussions. Contributing to policy when possible is incredibly important, as organisations like POST often seek input from professionals.

IChemE’s support for the fellowship reflects its commitment to equipping chemical engineers to be not only technical experts but also public voices. Engineers are often underrepresented in Parliament, despite the relevance of their expertise to some of the most pressing challenges the UK faces from energy and climate to food, water and health.

Pic: Marcin Nowak