Passing the DNA Test

Subhadra Das is a writer and historian who looks at the relationship between science and society, and what those histories mean for our lives today. For nine years, she was Curator of the Science Collections at University College London, where she was also Researcher in Critical Eugenics at the Sarah Parker Remond Centre for the Study of Racism and Racialisation. Her research centres around critical approaches to the history of science, particularly race science and eugenics, along with the history of museums, particularly the colonial history of natural history museums. She has written and presented podcasts, curated museum exhibitions, done stand-up comedy and regularly appears on radio and television.

Dr Alex Lathbridge is a biochemist, broadcaster and podcast producer. He’s one quarter of the award-winning podcast – ‘Why Aren’t You A Doctor Yet?’ – and you can find him trekking around the globe to report for CrowdScience on the BBC World Service, presenting or helping people pass their biology exams with Bitesize. He’s worked with Nature, Channel 4, BBC Three, the Royal Society of Chemistry and more to share science and tech stories across screen and sound.

Sam Allen is an arts and heritage consultant, and Director of Creative Arts Social Consulting Ltd. She is a passionate advocate of anti-racism and social justice in the arts and heritage. Sam has worked with a wide range of leading cultural, heritage and educational organisations in the UK and internationally. She is frequently invited to share her expertise as a keynote speaker, guest lecturer and thought leader on anti-racism in practice, identity, belonging, Black British history and decolonisation. Sam is Chair of the board for Seeta Patel Dance, a trustee of UP Projects, a mentor for the Women of Colour Global Network, a member of the Museums Association’s Decolonisation Leaders Network and a fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts. Sam previously served on the board of Museum Detox as a director.

Leo is a Sir Henry Wellcome fellow at UCL and the Francis Crick Institute, where he develops new statistical techniques to analyse the rapidly growing numbers of DNA sequences available from modern people, and DNA sequenced from ancient bone, to reconstruct the human genetic past. His work focuses on uncovering how genetic differences between people arise, their impact on human health, and what this genetic variation can tells us about human history. He holds a DPhil from the University of Oxford and an MSc and BSc in mathematics from the University of Tokyo and University of Munich, respectively.

Professor Turi King is scientist, presenter, speaker and author who is passionate about communicating science to the public. She is Professor of Genetics and Public Engagement at the University of Leicester and uses genetics in the fields of forensics, history and archaeology. She is perhaps best known for her work "cracking one of the biggest forensic DNA cases in history” (Globe and Mail, February 2013) leading the identification of the remains of King Richard III. She also co-presents the BBC’s DNA Family Secrets with Stacey Dooley, using DNA and genealogy to answer family mysteries around ancestry and trace missing family members.