Alice Roberts

Alice Roberts
Dave Stevens · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Alice Roberts
Caption	Roberts at the Cheltenham Literature Festival in 2019
Birth date	19 May 1973
Birth place	Bristol, England
Nationality	British
Occupation	Anthropologist, anatomist, television presenter, author
Known for	Presenting BBC science programmes
Alma mater	University of Wales College of Medicine (MB BCh), University of Bristol (PhD)
Spouse	David Stevens

Alice Roberts. Alice Roberts is a British anthropologist, anatomist, and broadcaster renowned for presenting accessible science and history documentaries on BBC television. She is a professor of public engagement in science at the University of Birmingham and has authored numerous popular science books. Her work spans academic research in osteology and bioarchaeology to significant media roles, making her a prominent figure in British public science communication.

Early life and education

Born in Bristol, she attended The Red Maids' School before commencing medical studies. She graduated in medicine from the University of Wales College of Medicine in 1997, becoming a junior doctor within the National Health Service. Her interest in anatomy and the past led her to pursue a PhD in palaeopathology at the University of Bristol, completing research on human remains from the Bronze Age site of Billingborough. This academic foundation combined clinical training with archaeological science.

Academic and medical career

Roberts worked as a clinical anatomist and senior teaching fellow at the University of Bristol, contributing to the medical curriculum. Her research focused on osteoarchaeology, involving studies of skeletons from sites like Roman Britain and the English Civil War. She later became a professor of public engagement in science at the University of Birmingham, a role created to bridge academia and the public. She has also served as the president of the British Science Association, advocating for wider science participation.

Television and media work

Her media career began as a bone specialist on the Channel 4 series Time Team, leading to broader presenting roles. She became a familiar face on the BBC, presenting major series such as Coast, The Incredible Human Journey, and Digging for Britain. Landmark programmes include Origins of Us, which explored human evolution, and Britain's Most Historic Towns, where she examined locations like York and Dover. She has also presented documentaries on Channel 4 and appeared on The One Show.

Writing and publications

Roberts is a prolific author, translating complex science for general audiences. Her books include The Incredible Human Journey, accompanying her BBC series, and The Complete Human Body, a detailed anatomical guide. Other notable works are Ancestors: A prehistory of Britain in seven burials and Crypt: Life, Death and Disease in the Middle Ages and Beyond. She has also written for publications like The Guardian and contributed to the New Scientist magazine, expanding her reach beyond television.

Public engagement and advocacy

A committed advocate for science communication, she regularly gives public lectures at events like the Cheltenham Science Festival and the Royal Institution. She has served as a trustee for the Cheltenham Festivals and is involved with organizations promoting archaeology and education. Roberts actively supports widening access to STEM fields and has debated topics from human evolution to museum ethics, emphasizing evidence-based discourse in the public sphere.

Category:British anthropologists Category:British television presenters Category:English anatomists Category:1973 births Category:Living people