Alice Roberts

Professor Alice Roberts is a distinguished anatomist, author, and broadcaster at the University of Birmingham, holding the title of Professor of Public Engagement in Science since 2012. She chairs the university’s Public Engagement with Science Committee and teaches courses in biological sciences, sport and exercise sciences, and BMedSc Clinical Sciences. Her academic journey includes a PhD in palaeopathology from the University of Bristol and prior lecturing roles at Bristol University.

• Education
  • BSc (I) in Anatomy, University of Wales College of Cardiff (1994)
  • MB BCh, University of Wales College of Medicine (1997)
  • PhD, University of Bristol (2008)
  • Honorary doctorates from Royal Holloway, Bournemouth, Open University, and Sussex

Her research spans evolutionary anatomy, osteoarchaeology, and palaeopathology, focusing on human and primate skeletal analysis, joint pathology, and evolutionary morphology. Her recent publications explore primate skeletal preparation, bipedalism evolution, and historical disease patterns.

Roberts has received significant recognition, including Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, Honorary Fellow of the British Science Association, and multiple honorary doctorates. She contributes extensively to science communication through BBC programs like Coast, Digging for Britain, and Horizon, alongside seven popular science books.

Alice Roberts co-supervises postgraduate students in locomotor behavior and ageing studies in primates. She actively engages with scientific societies as a patron of the Association of Science and Discovery Centres, Natural Sciences Collections Association, and Twycross Zoo.