Advising on science policy at the House of Commons Library

Although it wasn’t an early ambition, working in science policy may have always been on the cards for Xameerah Malik, head of the science and environment section at the House of Commons Library. ‘I was really interested in what was going on in the world. I think there was a part of me that always wanted to do something that would impact decision-makers,’ says Malik. She now uses her chemistry background to provide MPs with accurate scientific information to deal with correspondence from constituents, as well as providing briefings for House of Commons bills and debates.

Malik moved with her family from Nairobi, Kenya to London, UK, when she was eight years old. She doesn’t remember being particularly interested in chemistry until her A-levels, probably due to bad teaching. However, she chose to do an A-level in chemistry with the view to studying environmental science at university. In the end a great chemistry teacher changed her mind and she opted for a chemistry degree at the University of Southampton, with six months in industry.

This led to a job with Syngenta as a research chemist, but after a year she realised it wasn’t quite right for her – she wanted her work to have more immediate impact. Joining the Royal Society of Chemistry’s graduate recruitment scheme led to a role in science policy. Malik admits leaving laboratory science behind did cause some guilt. ‘I certainly felt really conscious of how few women there were in science at senior levels,’ she says.