Voice of the Future
Early Career scientists and engineers quiz key political figures at the Houses of Parliament about the science policy issues that matter to them.
What is Voice of the Future?
This event offers young scientists and engineers the chance to put their burning science policy questions to key political figures, through a unique opportunity in Westminster. Organised by the Royal Society of Biology since 2012 on behalf of the science and engineering community, the annual event reverses the format of a Parliamentary Select Committee, giving a panel of early career scientists the opportunity to question senior figures from Parliament and Government on issues that matter to them.
What makes it special?
The Viscount Stansgate Dr Stephen Benn, the Society's former director of parliamentary affairs, describes its importance:
"This is a unique event – in no other part of Parliament is the normal select committee format completely reversed so that MPs have to answer questions rather than ask them. It is important that policy makers use reliable evidence in their decisions, and today's young scientists and engineers will be vital for this in the future."
Voice of the Future 2025 was held on Monday 17 March on Zoom.
Programme
- Session 1: Lord Patrick Vallance, Science Minister
- Session 2: Dr Ben Spencer MP, Shadow Science Minister
- Session 3:Emily Darlington MP, Dr Allison Gardner MP and Dr Lauren Sullivan MP, HoC ST&I Select Committee, Lord Drayson and Viscount Stansgate, Stephen Benn FRSB, HoL S&T Select Committee
Event coverage and recording
Watch the recording on YouTube, read more in our LinkedIn post, and hear from attendees in a blog post from a representative of SCI, a LinkedIn post from a representative of the Geological Society, and a post from an audience member.
Voice of the Future was held on Tuesday 12 March 2024 in in Committee Room 11, the House of Commons.
At this event committee seats usually occupied by MPs were occupied by young people and the MPs sat in witness seats ready to answer questions.
Programme
- Session 1: Chi Onwurah MP, Shadow Minister for Science, Research and Innovation
- Session 2: Katherine Fletcher MP, Stephen Metcalfe MP, Carol Monaghan MP, SI&T
- Session 3: Lord Drayson and Viscount Stansgate, Stephen Benn FRSB, HoL S&T Select Committee
Event coverage
Read our summary on LinkedIn, a blog post from a member of the Geological Society, and a report from a representative of the Association of Applied Biologists.
Voice of the Future was held on Monday 13th March 2023 in the Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House, Palace of Westminster.
Programme
- Session 1: Stephen Metcalfe MP, Carol Monaghan MP, Katherine Fletcher MP, S&T
- Session 2: Professor Gideon Henderson, Chief Scientific Adviser, Defra
- Session 3: Rt Hon Philip Dunne MP, Chair, Environmental Audit Committee
This event was held on Wednesday 10th March 2021 over Zoom.
Programme
- Panel 1: Amanda Solloway MP, Minister for Science, Research and Innovation
- Panel 2: Chi Onwurah MP, Shadow Minister for Science, Research & Digital
- Panel 3: Sir Patrick Vallance FRS FMedSci FRCP, Government Chief Scientific Advisor
- Panel 4: Rt Hon Greg Clark MP and S&T Select Committee MPs
Event recording
This event was on Tuesday 12th March 2019 in Committee Room 14, Palace of Westminster.
Programme
- Panel 1: Rt Hon Norman Lamb MP and Science & Technology Select Committee colleagues
- Panel 2: Dr Patrick Vallance, Chief Scientific Adviser to HM Government
- Panel 3: Chris Skidmore MP, Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research & Innovation
- Panel 4: Chi Onwurah MP, Shadow Minister for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Event coverage
This event was on Tuesday 13th March 2018.
Programme
- Panel 1: Sam Gyimah MP, Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation
- Panel 2: Chi Onwurah MP, Shadow Minister for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
- Panel 3: Stephen Metcalfe MP and Science & Technology Select Committee colleagues
- Panel 4: Dr Rupert Lewis, Director, Government Office for Science
Event coverage
Watch a recording of the event on Parliament TV and read a blog from a member of The Nutrition Society.
The 2017 edition of Voice of the Future was held on Wednesday 15th March.
Programme
- Panel 1: Chi Onwurah MP, Shadow Minister (Industrial Strategy, Science and Innovation)
- Panel 2: Sir Mark Walport, Government Chief Scientific Adviser
- Panel 3: Jo Johnson MP, (Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation)
- Panel 4: Stephen Metcalfe MP and Select Committee on Science and Technology colleagues
Event coverage
Watch a recording of the event on Parliament TV and read a news story by the Biochemical Society.
The 2016 edition of Voice of the Future was held in Parliament on Tuesday 1st March.
Programme
- Welcome by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP
- Panel 1: Professor Sir Mark Walport, Government Chief Scientific Adviser
- Panel 2: Members of Parliament on the Science & Technology Select Committee
- Video message from Tim Peake aboard the International Space Station
- Panel 3: Jo Johnson MP, (Minister of State for Universities and Science)
- Panel 4: Yvonne Fovargue MP, Shadow Minister (Business, Innovation and Skills)
Event coverage
Watch a recording of the event on Parliament TV and Tim Peake's message to Parliament.
The 2015 edition of Voice of the Future was held in Parliament on Wednesday 4th March.
Programme
- Welcome by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP
- Panel 1: Professor Sir Mark Walport, Government Chief Scientific Adviser
- Panel 2: Members of Parliament on the Science & Technology Select Committee
- Panel 3: Liam Byrne MP, Shadow Minister (Business, Innovation and Skills)
- Panel 4: Rt Hon Greg Clark MP (Minister of State for Universities, Science and Cities)
Young scientists quizzed key political figures on Wednesday 19th March in the House of Commons during the National Science & Engineering Week.
Programme
- Panel 1: Professor Sir Mark Walport, Government Chief Scientific Adviser
- Panel 2: Members of Parliament on the Science & Technology Select Committee
- Panel 3: Liam Byrne MP, Shadow Minister (Business, Innovation and Skills)
- Panel 4: Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Minister for Universities and Science
The 2013 edition of Voice of the Future was held in Parliament on Wednesday 20th March.
Programme
- Panel 1: Sir John Beddington CMG FRS, Government Chief Scientific Adviser
- Panel 2: Members of Parliament on the Select Committee
- Panel 3: Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Minister for Universities and Science, Professor John Perkins, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department of BIS
- Panel 4: Shabana Mahmood MP, Shadow Minister for Universities and Science
The inaugural edition took place on Wednesday 14th March 2012.
Programme
- Panel 1: Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Minister for Universities and Science, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills; and Professor John Perkins CBE FREng, Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for Business Innovation and Skills
- Panel 2: Andrew Miller MP and members of the Science and Technology Committee
- Panel 3: Chi Onwurah MP, Shadow Minister for Innovation and Science
Parliamentary Engagement