Leading lights

The young people photographed are all Stem ambassadors, raising the profile of careers in Stem subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths)

Graham Gannon covered in binary code Photograph: Richard Cannon

Stem ambassador Jo Carris is working to make the 2012 Olympics the greenest in history, as part of the Olympic sustainability team Photograph: Richard Cannon

John Gray, 37, has a degree in computational physics. He is a specialist engineer for the BBC, helping keep programmes on air and working on the digital switchover Photograph: Richard Cannon

Jonathan Taylor works as a materials technologist for Rolls Royce Photograph: Richard Cannon

Kandarp Thakkar, 31, is lead pharmacist for admissions and discharge at the Hammersmith Hospital.

'When people think of pharmacy, they picture someone behind the counter, but there is a lot more to it than that and my job never involves being stuck in a dispensary' Photograph: Richard Cannon

Kola Liadi Mudashiru, 32, a research associate at Newcastle University, is developing revolutionary techniques to produce energy from coal in a carbon neutral way.

'I want to help raise the ambitions, hopes and aspirations of the next generation of scientists' Photograph: Richard Cannon

Laurie Winkless, 25, is a higher research scientist at the National Physical Laboratory. Her main project is for the European Space Agency, looking into the use of nanomaterials in the space industry.

'I knew that I wanted to work in science when at aged five I used my first telescope to see the moon' Photograph: Richard Cannon

Liza Brooks, 25, is in the third year of her engineering doctorate at Cranfield University. She is also co-founder and technical director for True Snowboards.

'One day I can be in the laboratory testing materials for a new board and the next day I'll be out testing it on the slopes' Photograph: Richard Cannon

Luke Fowler, 28, began working for Allen Gears aged 16, as an apprentice. As a mechanical engineer he designs and tests gearboxes that typically measure two metres by two metres, and cost up to half a million pounds Photograph: Richard Cannon

Oliver King, 30, is a senior consultant at energy efficiency consultancy Faber Maunsell|Aecom. He improves the energy efficiency of a range of buildings, from modern office blocks to ancient cathedrals. Photograph: Richard Cannon

Ranna Patel, a bioprocess engineer, pictured inside a giant bubble. Her career as a process engineer has included making washing-up liquid and glycerine, the main ingredients of bubble solutions Photograph: Richard Cannon

Sean Tapodi, 31, has worked at Sellafield, the world's first commercial nuclear power station, for over five years.

'It’s great to see the pupils’ faces light up when they see something go bang or start fizzing as if from nothing! Science is fascinating and we need kids to realise that at a young age' Photograph: Richard Cannon

Clare Wood and Ben Evans, pictured in an industrial wind tunnel, are research officers at the civil and computational engineering research centre at Swansea University. They are working on one of the world’s most exciting engineering projects – a supersonic car designed to break the world land speed record Photograph: Richard Cannon

Samme Brough, 24, is an exploration geologist. She builds accurate computer-generated models of the earth’s sub-surfaces.

'You literally see the young people switch on when they understand that what they are learning is a real thing. They ask questions that an adult would never think of' Photograph: Richard Cannon

Shamon Ali, 27, is about to finish a thesis on microbiology investigating the possible risks to human beings of processing recyclable waste. He works at UCL hospital for tropical diseases. He has also been a scientific consultant on Channel 4’s How Clean is Your House?

The Leading Lights exhibition is on show throughout May at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, then tours to Cheltenham Science Festival, Birmingham and Bristol Photograph: Richard Cannon