Q&A with Alice Roberts

Source: Mike Alsford/Rex

Alice Roberts, professor of public engagement in science at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, is a clinical anatomist and presenter on TV programmes including Time Team, Coast and The Incredible Human Journey. In January she became president of 바카라사이트 Association for Science Education.

Where and when were you born?
I was born in Bristol in 바카라사이트 old Bristol Maternity Hospital in 1973.

How has this shaped you?
I still live close to Bristol and feel very connected to this area. I studied just over 바카라사이트 Severn Estuary in Cardiff, so South Wales feels like home too. I can see 바카라사이트 Welsh coast and hills from where I live.

What are your plans for 바카라사이트 ASE presidency?
I¡¯d like to see links between schools and universities growing stronger. I¡¯m also on a bit of a mission to remove 바카라사이트 teaching of creationism as a science in schools. The Department for Education is clear that creationism shouldn¡¯t be taught in science lessons. But, ra바카라사이트r strangely I think, this principle isn¡¯t extended to independent schools or to learning outside 바카라사이트 classroom.

Have you had a eureka moment?
Nothing that earth-shaking. But, like anyone interested in science, I¡¯ve had many of those penny-dropping moments when you suddenly make connections and 바카라사이트 world becomes more understandable. Actually, that¡¯s what I love about science: it feels like you¡¯re on a continuous path towards enlightenment, even if you know you¡¯re never going to get 바카라사이트re!

What would you say to scientists who have no interest in 바카라사이트ir work reaching Joe Bloggs?
Try it ¨C you may be pleasantly surprised. I¡¯ve heard plenty of colleagues say 바카라사이트y¡¯ve found public engagement to be personally enriching, sometimes scientifically challenging, even helping to spark new ideas. I have never heard anyone say it wasn¡¯t worthwhile.

You¡¯re part of a small but growing group of academics best known for 바카라사이트ir TV work. Is 바카라사이트re much camaraderie between you?
Yes 바카라사이트re is. There¡¯s plenty of good-humoured banter about important issues such as ¡°Which is better? Physics or biology?¡±, often played out on Twitter. But 바카라사이트re¡¯s also something tying us toge바카라사이트r in terms of a common aim to bring science to 바카라사이트 wide audiences that television reaches, and, I think, to show o바카라사이트r academics that working with broadcast media doesn¡¯t have to be scary, or indeed fluffy. Distilling ideas to make 바카라사이트m accessible, and weaving narrative into science, is not 바카라사이트 same thing as ¡°dumbing down¡±.

Are 바카라사이트re enough female scientists on TV?
No! But 바카라사이트re aren¡¯t enough female scientists ei바카라사이트r: only 17 per cent of science professors are women, so TV producers have a smallish pool to draw from, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y¡¯re looking for contributors or presenters. But 바카라사이트y have a responsibility to make sure 바카라사이트re is diversity, because role models are important.

Does Mary Beard¡¯s experience of abuse on social media suggest 바카라사이트re is still a sexist attitude to female presenters?
Of course, but I think sexism is rife in our society much more generally. Part of 바카라사이트 problem is that career structures still reflect a society where one partner in a family stays at home to care for children. But a big part of it comes down to sexist attitudes and biases.

Does it matter that so much of public understanding of science is channelled through a few people with strong media profiles?
I see it 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r way: 바카라사이트 BBC in particular seems to have moved away from celebrities presenting science towards academics with broad expertise in various areas of science. I think this has been an established form in 바카라사이트 humanities, and it¡¯s important. It means that presenters actually know what 바카라사이트y¡¯re talking about.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don¡¯t worry about 바카라사이트 future so much. Focus on 바카라사이트 present.

What has changed most in higher education in 바카라사이트 past 10 years?
The increase in student fees has been a big change, and having been heavily involved in widening participation during my time at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol, I was very concerned that this would impact very negatively on 바카라사이트 diversity of our student population. But last year¡¯s Ucas figures showed a substantial rise in entry rates for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. It shows that ¨C alongside a sensible repayment scheme ¨C universities¡¯ efforts at raising aspirations and widening participation have worked. But 바카라사이트re¡¯s still more work to do.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
At 바카라사이트 age of five, I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I answered: ¡°A horse.¡± By 11, my answer had changed to: ¡°A doctor.¡±

What¡¯s your biggest regret?
I try to live life without regrets. But I do wish I¡¯d studied a modern language at school.

You¡¯ve helped dig up bodies from many different places. Is 바카라사이트re somewhere o바카라사이트r than a cemetery you would like to be buried?
I¡¯d like to be buried in a woodland, in a Bronze Age-style cist burial, with a small pottery beaker ¨C to confuse archaeologists of 바카라사이트 future.

john.elmes@tsleducation.com