Young 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 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."

Contact

Please direct questions to events@rsb.org.uk

Voice of the Future 2024

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, Shador 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 the news story and the summary on LinkedIn. Explore attendee social media highlights on X using #VOF2024.

Voice of the Future 2023

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

Event coverage and recording

Watch the event on YouTube, read the news story and visit Twitter for social media highlights.

Voice of the Future 2021

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 coverage and recording

Each session of this event was recorded, and can now be watched on the RSB YouTube channel. You can also find a news story for a summary of the event, and a Twitter moment for social media activity from the day.

Voice of the Future 2019

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

Hear a recording of the event on Parliament TV, read our news story and view twitter moments.

Voice of the Future 2018

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, read our news story and view twitter moments. Read a blog from a member of The Nutrition Society.

Voice of the Future 2017

The 2017 edition of Voice of the Future was held on Wednesday 15th March.

Voice of the Future is held in the Boothroyd Room, which has heard prime ministers as well as eminent scientists and experts give evidence. As the tables are turned participants will emerge with a better understanding of how Parliament and Government functions.

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, read our news story, a news story by the Biochemical Society. 

Read blogs from members of the: Biochemical Society, British Ecological Society, Campaign for Science and Engineering, Institute of Physics, Royal Academy of Engineering and SCI.

Voice of the Future 2016

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, see Tim Peake's message to Parliament or read the news story.
Royal Society of Biology blog.
Royal Society blog.
RSE Young Academy of Scotland news.
Biochemical Society blog.
Royal Astronomical Society news.

Voice of the Future 2015

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)

Event coverage

Watch the event in full on BBC iPlayer or the Science & Technology Committee.
Read a report of the event.
The Royal Society blog
Biochemical Society blog
Microbiology Society blog
London Mathematical Society news
Institute of Physics news
City University London news
Cranfield University news

Feedback

"It was a fantastic opportunity to learn more about science policy and how scientists can get involved with politics. It has also made me want to investigate the career paths available for scientists in politics or related disciplines for when I finish my PhD."

Voice of the Future 2014

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

Event coverage

Watch a video of the full session on the UK Parliament website or read more about the event in our news story.

Voice of the Future 2013

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

Event coverage

Watch the event on the Parliament website.

Voice of the Future 2012

The Society of Biology, on behalf of the science and engineering community, organised this unique opportunity for young scientists and engineers, to participate in a Science Question Time with Members of the House of Commons Select Committee on Science & Technology. 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

Event coverage

Early day motion 2851; Voice of the Future 2012.
Watch the event in full on the Parliament website.