Professor Dame Athene Donald Announced as British Science Association President-Elect
LONDON, February 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
The British Science Association (BSA) has today announced that Professor Dame Athene Donald is to be its next President. Athene will take up the role, succeeding current BSA President Sir Paul Nurse, in September.
Her year-long term will begin at the British Science Festival 2015, hosted by the University of Bradford, where she will deliver the annual President's Lecture and host the Festival dinner, on Thursday 10 September.
During her time as President-Elect, she will serve on the BSA's Council, alongside immediate Past-President Professor Lisa Jardine and current President Sir Paul Nurse. Athene will become the 31st President of the British Science Association, and will help integrate the organisation's vision of a society in which science is seen as part of culture and society at large.
Professor Dame Athene Donald said: "I am hugely honoured to have been asked to take on this role, a role that some of the most famous names in science have filled in the past. The British Science Association has a key role to play in making sure that science is integrated, respected and understood in our society and I look forward to playing my part in helping to make that happen."
Imran Khan, CEO of the British Science Association said: "For nearly two centuries, we've been privileged to have some of the most inspiring and influential individuals in British science take up the post of President. I'm delighted that we're strengthening that tradition with the appointment of Athene Donald - at a time of change for the Association, we're lucky to have someone of her energy and intellect as an example for us."
Athene Donald is Professor of Experimental Physics at the University of Cambridge and the Master of Churchill College, Cambridge. She holds Honorary Doctorates from several universities including the University of Exeter and the University of Sheffield and was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the BSA in 2014.
Athene is a champion of diversity in science, especially better representation and promotion of women. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society, sits on their Council and is the immediate past chair of its Education Committee; she is also a Trustee of the Science Museum Group and member of the Scientific Council of the European Research Council.
Notes to editors
The President of the British Science Association is an advisory and supportive position, to help improve the quality and impact of BSA programmes and raise the profile of the organisation.
The President is not ex-officio a Trustee of the organisation but is invited to attend meetings of the Council in a non-voting capacity, in addition to chairing General Committee.
The British Science Association (BSA) believes that science should be part of - rather than set apart from - society and culture, and owned by the wider community. Our programmes encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to engage with science, become ambassadors for science, and ultimately to be empowered to challenge and influence British science- whether they work in science or no.
Established in 1831, the BSA is a registered charity that organizes major initiatives across the UK including British Science Week, the British Science Festival, regional and local events, the CREST Awards and other programmes for young people in schools and colleges. The BSA organises specific activities for professional science communicators, including a specialist conference and training. For more information, please visit: http://www.britishscienceassociation.org
For further information, please contact:
Matt Hepburn, PR Officer, British Science Association on
T: +44-(0)20-7019-4953
E: matt.hepburn@britishscienceassociation.org
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