The British Science Association has named psychologist Professor Dame Uta Frith as its next President. Professor Frith will take up the role in September, succeeding current BSA President, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell.
Her year-long term will begin at the British Science Festival 2017, hosted by the Universities of Brighton and Sussex, where she will deliver the annual Presidential Address and host the Festival dinner in September.
Professor Frith is one of the world’s most distinguished developmental psychologists, she specialises in the studies of autism and dyslexia and has become a leading voice in her field, pioneering research into these conditions and authoring a number of books
She was elected as an Honorary Fellow of Newnham College in 2008.
She studied at the Universität des Saarlandes and at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, and spent the majority of her career at University College London. With her husband, she was the joint recipient of the 2009 European Latsis Prize, awarded by the European Science Foundation for outstanding and innovative contributions in a selected field of European research. Her influential research seeks to improve the quality of everyday life for those with development disorders.
Professor Frith has a particular interest in increasing the profile of women in science, developing ‘Science & Shopping’, a support network to “encourage women to share ideas and information that are inspiring and fun” and co-founded UCL Women, a networking and social organisation for female UCL academic staff. She is a Member of High Table and has given lectures to Newnham’s graduate community and as a Henry Sidgwick Lecturer. She is currently Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Development at the University College London Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Research Foundation Professor at the Faculties of Humanities and Health Sciences, University of Aarhus.
Professor Frith works at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London she has also featured in the media on many occasions, with her most notable work being the focal point of a number of Horizon documentaries, one of which she presented.
Katherine Mathieson, Chief Executive of the British Science Association, said: “Uta has been a champion for both science and public engagement throughout her career. She is passionate about telling compelling, important stories from the frontline of scientific research.
“She supports colleagues and collaborators to work with public audiences. She has also worked hard to encourage women and other under-represented groups into science careers, and to tackle unconscious bias. For these reasons, I am delighted that Uta has accepted the prestigious role as President of the British Science Association for the coming year and I look forward to hearing her Address this September at the British Science Festival.”