KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 — Malaysian-born final-year PhD student May Ching Lai, who is studying at the University of Cambridge, has won a bronze award at the STEM for BRITAIN competition, held at the UK Parliament on March 11.

May, under the university’s Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, presented her research on how compression affects battery performance through sophisticated 3D imaging techniques using advanced electron microscopy.

STEM for BRITAIN is an annual event where early career researchers from across the UK showcase their cutting-edge work to MPs, peers and expert judges, aiming to raise awareness of leading scientific advances and foster dialogue between science and policymaking.

Prior to taking part in the competition, the University of Cambridge in a statement quoted May as saying, "I applied to take part in STEM for BRITAIN to showcase how advanced imaging techniques can help optimise battery design for longer-lasting, high-performance energy storage.

"With the growing demand for electric vehicles and sustainable energy solutions, understanding how battery compression influences performance is crucial,” she added.

She also thanked her professor, Professor Caterina Ducati, for the support in her research journey.