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King's student takes home gold STEM for Britain award

King's Undergraduate student, Maria Karabova has won this year’s prestigious STEM for Britain Mendel award. 

The STEM for Britain awards give early career researchers the chance to present their work to policymakers, politicians and local MPs through poster presentations at the House of Commons. It is organised by the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee with support from a number of societies.

Stephen Metcalfe MP, chair of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, said: ‘These early career engineers, mathematicians and scientists are the architects of our future.'

Maria is currently undertaking a BSc (Hons) in Neuroscience and her research shows that regular exercise at a young age could have long-lasting benefits for cognitive health. Such findings are particularly important in the light of Britain's ageing population and the rise of neurodegenerative diseases.

The gold Mendel award is named after Gregor Mendel, known as the "father of modern genetics". On winning the award, Maria said: ‘10 years ago, I used to walk by St. Thomas' Abbey on my way to biology lectures every Monday morning, feeling privileged to study in town where G. Mendel built the foundation for modern biology. Perhaps, that is why winning the Mendel Award for excellence in research so very early in my career is all the more special to me.’

‘I am overwhelmed with surprise and gratitude, and I sincerely hope that the work I presented will serve as a catalyst for implementing more youth movement programs in the battle of the alarming rise in age-related memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease.’

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FLTR: RSB Director of Parliamentary Affairs Dr Stephen Benn, Deputy President of the Physiological Society Professor Bridget Lumb, Maria Karabova and Stephen Metcalfe MP