Alice Roberts is a clinical anatomist with a PhD in paleopathology and the Professor of Public Engagement in Science at the University of Birmingham. As well as being the author of a number of best-selling popular science books, Alice is perhaps best known for presenting a wide range of science documentaries for the BBC including ‘The Incredible Human Journey’ and ‘Ice Age Giants’. I’ve...
Professor Raymond Tallis has been listed as one of the top living polymaths in the world. He is a philosopher, a poet, novelist, critic and a retired physician and clinical scientist specialising in geriatrics. Ray is a distinguished supporter of the British Humanist Association and a patron of Dignity in Dying. True science is full of bitter disappointments, only charlatans win a prize...
Mitch Benn is a comedian, musician and science fiction author. Much of his work has a scientific or rational approach. A regular touring comedian, Mitch is also a frequent contributor to The Now Show on BBC Radio 4 and many other programmes. All kinds of things from science fiction have become science fact On becoming interested in science I don’t have a scientific...
Stephen Curry is a Professor of Structural Biology at Imperial College London. After starting his career in physics his research now deals with applying physics to biological problems. He is also a regular writer and blogger on science for the Guardian. It actually took until the 1950’s before the very first protein structure was solved. On becoming interested in science So I did...
Chris Lintott is an astrophysicist working as a researcher in the physics department at the University of Oxford. His work focuses primarily on the chemistry associated with star formation and citizen projects relating to galaxies. Chris is perhaps most well known around the world as the host of ‘The Sky at Night’, which also co-hosted for many years with the late Sir Patrick Moore....
Max Tegmark is a physics professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the scientific director of the Foundational Questions Institute. Originally from Sweden, he studied in Stockholm before obtaining his PhD at Berkeley. His work focuses on theoretical work within cosmology and formulated the ‘ultimate ensemble theory of everything’ discussing the underlying mathematics of the universe. His first book, ‘Our Mathematical Universe’, was...
Chiara Mingarelli is a PhD student in the Gravitational Wave Group at the University of Birmingham. She is part of a team testing Einstein’s theory of gravity by attempting to detect and measure gravitational radiation. Chiara is also heavily involved in astrophysics outreach, speaking at a number of science events and festivals. We think we live in a finite universe where we don’t have...
Lewis Dartnell is an astrobiologist working in the Centre for Planetary Studies searching for the possibility of micro bacterial life on the surface of Mars. He also gives regular talks on the subject at schools and science festivals and has published a number of popular science books. We’ve found more and more Earth-like planets orbiting other stars in the night sky. On early inspirations...
Mark Lorch is a lecturer in biochemistry at the University of Hull and a researcher in the field of the structure and function of proteins. Mark is also a strong science communicator who writes for the Guardian and runs a website showing students simple experiments they can do at home. The cells in your eye have the same genes as the cells in your...
Mark Watson is a comedian, author and son of a chemistry teacher. As well as writing a number of novels and regular TV and radio appearances, Mark is perhaps best known for pioneering marathon stand up shows which usually involve him being on stage for an epic 24 hours straight. These shows often feature a wide range of guests from Tim Minchin to...
Hugh Warwick is an ecologist and writer who is also an expert on, and lover of, hedgehogs. He has been studying the animals for over 30 years and has written numerous articles and books about the animals. He does regular talks and events throughout the UK about ecology and conservation. And hedgehogs. Nobody in their right mind could have anything negative to say about...
Kat Arney is a science communicator with a PhD in developmental biology. She spent over a decade working with Cancer Research UK whilst also making radio programmes and writing about science and genetics. She is a regular on the Naked Scientists podcast and her first book, ‘Herding Hemingway’s Cats’ was released in 2015. I think that I am a writer trapped in...
Jamie Gallagher is an energy materials scientist and a PhD student in chemistry and engineering at the University of Glasgow and works regularly as a science communicator performing at schools and science festivals across Britain. He is also a salsa teacher. I think one of the oddest things is that Helium is running out. On getting interested in science I first knew I was...
Simon Munnery is a comedy writer and stand up comedian. Simon read natural sciences at Cambridge and then had a short lived career as a video game programmer before becoming a full time comedian. His stand up is often political, almost always surreal and sometimes involves guitars, props and harmonicas. He is also known by the stage names of Alan Parker: Urban Warrior...
Pete Etchells is a lecturer in psychology at the Bath Spa University. His PhD focuses on fast eye movement (saccadic) motor behaviour and how the human visual systems process velocity information. Pete’s current research is focusing on perceptions of motion and human gait. He is also a science blogger for the Guardian. A lot of people will try and use eye movements to...
Robin Ince is a comedian, writer and presenter who’s work focuses primarily on the world of science. He is the creator of the hugely successful variety shows, ‘Nine Lessons and Carols for Godless People,’ ‘Book Club,’ and ‘Uncaged Monkeys’ amongst others. Amongst endlessly touring he finds time to co-host the Sony Award winning radio show ‘The Infinite Monkey Cage’ with Professor Brian Cox...
Brian Cox OBE is particle physicist, a Royal Society University Research Fellow and Professor at the University of Manchester. He also works on the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. He is the author of two best selling physics books with Professor Jeff Forshaw and co-host of the Sony Award winning radio series ‘The Infinite Monkey Cage’ with Robin Ince. However,...
Commander Chris Hadfield is a retired Canadian astronaut who was the first Canadian to walk in space. He is a former Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot, has flown two space shuttle missions and served as commander of the International Space Station. Commander Hadfield gained worldwide fame during his time on the ISS. As well conducting a wide range of scientific experiments he chronicled...
Helen Czerski is a physicist and oceanographer specialising in bubbles and is currently based at the University of Southampton after spending four years in the US working in oceanography teams. She regularly presents a variety of science programmes for the BBC on both television and radio including ‘Orbit: Earth’s Extraordinary Journey’ and ‘Dara O’Briain’s Science Club’. I’ve always been more interested...
Professor Richard Dawkins is an ethologist, evolutionary biologist, author and documentary presenter. An Oxford University graduate, he has been responsible for some of the biggest ideas in biology including his work in popularising the theory that the gene is the principal unit of selection in evolution and proposing the concept of memetic evolution. His books have been some of the highest-selling popular science...
Josie Long is a stand up comedian and writer. Her material usually focuses on politics, science and social justice. In 2006, she won Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Fringe and regularly tours the world performing stand up. Josie is a co-founder of the Arts Emergency Service charity. When you’re talking about the Universe it brings up a lot of poetic and...