New Exeter technology could remove carbon from oceans and keep rivers clean, MP told

Exeter MP Steve Race has met scientists from the University of Exeter who are developing new technology to remove carbon from the ocean and tackle pharmaceutical pollution in UK waterways.

The meeting took place in Westminster during Evidence Week, an annual event where MPs hear directly from researchers about emerging science and how evidence is used to inform policy.

Two Exeter research teams demonstrated work that could have major environmental applications: one designing systems to extract and store carbon from seawater, and another developing new methods to prevent medicines and chemical residues from entering rivers and coastal ecosystems.

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Steve said it was important for MPs to stay informed as they make decisions affecting national climate and environmental policy: “MPs face decisions on a huge range of topics every week, and it’s vital we have accurate evidence to rely on,” he said. 

“Exeter is a world leader in climate and environmental science, so it was good to see our local researchers showcasing their work in Parliament.”

He also received new data on how hands-on science education in schools influences young people’s chances of entering STEM careers, an issue particularly relevant as the South West continues to push for stronger skills pipelines in green industries.

Evidence Week, now in its eighth year, brings together MPs, researchers and public groups to scrutinise how scientific evidence shapes legislation. 

This year’s programme included briefings on climate, cost of living, children’s wellbeing, and AI, as well as training for parliamentary staff on how to interpret data and research.

Tracey Brown, director of the charity Sense about Science, which organises the event, said politicians do not need to be scientists but “need to be ready to evaluate evidence critically” at a time of rapid technological change and widespread misinformation.

Exeter researchers continue to play a national role in climate science, with university teams contributing to work on net-zero planning, ocean health and environmental resilience.