Students showcase research in Westminster

Two of our students got a rare opportunity to showcase their research at a special event at Westminster in London.

Posters in Parliament is an annual event to celebrate British undergraduate research and provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to showcase their research in the prestigious location of Portcullis House in Westminster.

Department of Government students Mamadi Konde and Alex Sablich were invited to present their original research during a poster session to MPs and policy makers.

Accompanied by lecturer Professor Natasha Lindstaedt, the students were also given a tour of Parliament from Colchester MP Pam Cox, who was a professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminology before winning her seat at the General Election in July last year.

Mamadi, who is studying International Relations, showcased his research which is based on how resources sustain and foster conflict in Sudan.

“Being in Parliament was an unreal feeling,” he said. “Standing in a place where numerous important decisions have been made and where people have gathered was an amazing experience.

“During the event I also had the opportunity to connect with and speak to other students from various universities, gaining insight into their research and how they conducted it.”

Politics and International Relations student Alex showcased his research relating to the extent politics has become mediatized - the process where society is increasingly guided by the media.

“I was so very honoured to represent the University at the Posters in Parliament event,” he said. “As a politics student, it was really exciting to meet policymakers and gain an insight into what their day-to-day activities look like.”

Professor Lindstaedt added: “Both Alex and Mamadi are active members of our final year in the Department of Government. They are not only strong students who have been regularly on the Dean's List, and recipients of the Young Scholars award, but they are both have strong presentation skills and presented at the Annual Student Conference last year, even though they were only in the second year - it's usually just final year students that present.”

Pam Cox said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Alex and Mamadi and Natasha Lindstaedt to Westminster and to give them a tour of parliament. It was also great to see the University of Essex taking part in the Posters in Parliament event along with many other universities from across the country.”