A high-flying Weymouth engineering student is to present her doctoral research at Parliament - and could win recognition as one of the UK’s most exciting young scientific talents.

Cerys Jones is a 24-year-old PhD candidate at University College London. She is a former pupil of All Saints Secondary School in Wyke Regis and Budmouth Sixth Form. She will present her engineering research on Monday, March 12, to politicians and a panel of expert judges as part of a national postgraduate science competition.

Competing in the contest’s engineering section, Cerys was shortlisted from hundreds of applicants to demonstrate her research, which involves using multispectral imaging to scan drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, donated by the Royal Collections Trust, to uncover any draught drawings beneath.

The groundbreaking technique, she explained, uses ultra-violet and infra-red light, which can uncover objects not visible to the human eye. Cerys has previously used multispectral imaging in similar multi-disciplinary projects to analyse historical artefacts such as ancient Egyptian papyrus and deeds belonging to Shakespeare.

“I am really excited to show the members of parliament how mathematics and engineering can be used to discover hidden information on historical artefacts,” said Cerys grew up in Preston outside Weymouth, where her family continues to live.

The contest, STEM for BRITAIN, is a research poster competition, with participants using combinations of graphics and text to present their research.

The winners of each of the first three rounds receive a bronze, silver and gold award, respectively, with a cash prize, while the overall winner of all four rounds is awarded the Westminster Wharton Medal.

Stephen Metcalfe MP, chairman of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, said: “This annual competition is an important date in the parliamentary calendar because it gives MPs an opportunity to speak to a wide range of the country’s best young researchers.

“These early-career engineers, mathematicians and scientists are the architects of our future and STEM for BRITAIN is politicians’ best opportunity to meet them and understand their work.”

The Parliamentary and Scientific Committee runs the event in collaboration with a number of research and educational institutions, including the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Cerys is hoping to complete her PhD next year.