Renowned forensic geneticist and Director of the Milner Centre for Evolution, Professor Turi King, has been appointed a trustee of the British Science Association.

Established in 1831, the British Science Association is a registered charity, working to bring people and science together in ways that will have a lasting, positive impact on communities, research, and society.

Collectively, the association improves young people’s experiences of science in their education; works with community groups and grassroots organisations to provide opportunities to be involved in science; showcases the work of researchers and academics through our events and activities; and advocates for a more inclusive science community.

The charity is governed by a Council which forms the Board of Trustees. Turi takes up her position on 1 March this year.

As Director of the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath and Professor of Genetics and Science Engagement at the University of Leicester, Turi brings together her love of genetics, history and media to bring scientific research to life. Her past projects have seen her analysing forensic, ancient and modern DNA samples, most notably leading to the identification of the remains of King Richard III.

Speaking on her appointment, Turi said: “As a big part of my career has developed in public engagement in science over the last two decades, I’ve been a huge admirer of the British Science Association and their work in this area.

Their remit is to connect science and society, be that through making science more accessible through working with young people or community groups, through to organising big events like the British Science Festival and British Science Week, two intiatives I’ve been involved with in the past as well as being named a BSA Honorary Fellow in 2016.

I’m really passionate about public engagement in science so I’m really looking forward to being part of the work that the British Science Association does and how we can grow that in the future.”