Leicester geneticist awarded prestigious Fellowship
Dr Turi King (pictured), Reader in Genetics and Archaeology at the University has been awarded a prestigious British Science Association (BSA) Honorary Fellowship for her outstanding dedication to engaging and inspiring people through science.
She joins the Association’s illustrious rank of Honorary Fellows alongside individuals such as Sir David Attenborough, Lord Winston, Professor Alice Roberts and Professor Brian Cox.
Each year, members of the BSA are invited to nominate individuals to be considered as Honorary Fellows. Those shortlisted must have made a significant contribution to promoting science as a fundamental part of our culture and society. Alongside Dr King, comedian and actor Ben Miller, mathematician and TV presenter Dr Hannah Fry, artist Jess Thom and BBC Horizon editor Steve Crabtree were also given Fellowships this year.
Dr King led the DNA analysis on the skeletal remains of King Richard III found in a car park in Leicester in 2012. The discovery attracted worldwide attention and Dr King was at the forefront of media interviews communicating the science to the public. Her research not only confirmed the skeleton was that of the last Plantagenet king but also determined what his hair and eye colour would have been.
She is carrying out the whole genome sequencing of Richard III which is funded by the Wellcome Trust, the Leverhulme Trust and Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys, the inventor of genetic fingerprinting at the University of Leicester.
Dr King will be presented with the accolade at the BSA’s annual gala dinner in London in November.