SCIENTISTS of the future questioned the Government about modern medicine after being invited to join a House of Commons select committee.
Priestley College students Jasmine Morris and Lizz Tebbutt – who are both on Priestley’s unique Graduate programme – were chosen as the ‘Voice of the Future’ after a national search for the best science questions.
They quizzed the Science and Technology Committee in a session that was broadcast by the BBC.
“I gained a lot of knowledge about the different controversial topics in science today,” said aspiring chemical engineer Jasmine, who is a former pupil at Altrincham Grammar.
“It was good to find out more about what is going on in terms of fracking, space programs and how science is portrayed in the media. I learnt that you have to be critical about what you read and to analyse everything.”
Lizz asked the MPs whether they believed medicine would ever become so advanced that it will cure all disease?
Along with Jasmine she was chosen to appear at the Select Committee by Dr Sarah Peters of the New Engineering Foundation, which aims to support the advancement of education.
“The other organisations asked questions about a range of controversial topics and scientific policies so it was interesting to hear all those answers as well,” said ex-Ormiston and Bolingbroke Academy pupil Lizz, who is aiming for a career in computer sciences.
Voice of the Future was held in the Boothroyd Room, which has previously heard evidence spoken by prime ministers as well as eminent scientists.
Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow welcomed the students to the meeting which was chaired by Sir Mark Walport, the Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor.
Both Priestley students are on the college’s Graduate programme, which aims to prepare young people for studying at the UK’s top universities.
Jasmine also studies AS Levels in Chemistry, Further Maths and Physics while Lizz is focussed on Art, Computing, Maths and Physics.
Senior Tutor Mark Salmon, who heads up the Graduate, said: “This was an excellent opportunity for the students who came up with an impressive range of questions.
“They represented Warrington and the college extremely well and it was an experience that will benefit them in both their studies and future careers.”
