The British Science Association (BSA) has today announced that Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell is to be its next President. Nancy will take up the role in September, succeeding current BSA President, Professor Dame Athene Donald.
Her year-long term will begin at the British Science Festival 2016, hosted by Swansea University and supported by Siemens. She will deliver the annual Presidential Address and host the Festival dinner, on Thursday 8 September.
During her time as President-Elect, she will serve on the BSA’s Council, alongside immediate Past-President Sir Paul Nurse and current President Professor Dame Athene Donald. Nancy will become the BSA’s 178th President, and will help promote the organisation’s vision, in which science is seen as part of culture and society at large.
Nancy said: “I am delighted and honoured to be asked to take up Presidency of the British Science Association for the coming year. I’m looking forward to helping the Association with its goals of making science a fundamental part of society and culture, which is something I feel particularly passionate about.”
Nancy is a Professor of Physiology and President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester – the first woman appointed to the role. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society and a former non-executive director of AstraZeneca. In 2009, she became the first president of the Society of Biology (now the Royal Society of Biology), and gave the 1998 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures on The Secrets of Life, which were broadcast on the BBC. Currently, Nancy is Chair of the EuroScience Open Forum 2016 (ESOF) Steering Committee. ESOF takes place in Manchester between 23 – 27 July.
Imran Khan, CEO of the British Science Association said: “Nancy Rothwell’s scientific record and public service alone make her one of the UK’s foremost scientists, but she has also consistently championed the importance of public engagement with science.
“She is an excellent communicator in her own right, and also supports and enables others to work with the public. We’re delighted that she’s chosen to serve as our President for the coming year.”
In 2012, Nancy was appointed co-chair of the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology. While, on its inaugural Power List in 2013, BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour named Nancy as the 15th most powerful woman in the United Kingdom. She has worked tirelessly to further the public’s awareness of science, and in particular, encourage women to pursue careers in science.
