The British Science Association (BSA) today announced that it has awarded Honorary Fellowships to comedian and actor Ben Miller, mathematician and TV presenter Dr Hannah Fry, artist Jess Thom, BBC Horizon editor Steve Crabtree, and geneticist Dr Turi King.

Each year, members of the BSA are invited to nominate individuals to be considered as Honorary Fellows.  These are people who have made an outstanding contribution to promoting science, or who have engaged and inspired people directly through science.  Ben, Hannah, Jess, Steve and Turi join the Association’s illustrious rank of Honorary Fellows alongside individuals such as Sir David Attenborough, Professor Brian Cox, Lord Robert Winston and Professor Alice Roberts.   

Ben Miller said: “I'm covered in pride to have been made an Honorary Fellow of the BSA. Congratulations to the other worthy recipients, and I look forward to joining them on the BSA's quest to make science a part of culture.”

Dr Hannah Fry said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have been nominated as an Honorary Fellow of the Association. I think it is so important for researchers to be supported and encouraged to do public engagement, and the BSA offers people a lot of different platforms for getting involved in sharing their work. It’s a real honour to join such an illustrious list of previous Fellows.”

Jess Thom said: “I am delighted, and would like to thank the BSA for acknowledging my work and what Touretteshero is doing in encouraging people to overcome the challenges they face in life. I hope that I can help encourage more people to see that science is creative and that it is something for everyone.”

Steve Crabtree said: “Steve Crabtree said: “I would like to extend my gratitude to the British Science Association for this incredible honour. I very much believe in the BSA’s aim of making science a more fundamental part of society and culture. This is something we at the BBC can contribute to - through Horizon now entering its 53rd year, and also our other documentary, drama, news and online content.”

Dr Turi King said: “I am so pleased to be named as an Honorary Fellow of the BSA. I share the Association’s values of helping more people engage with science and feel part of it. I'm looking forward to being involved in future projects with the BSA’s team.”

Katherine Mathieson, Chief Executive of the BSA, said: “I am proud to be welcoming Ben, Hannah, Jess, Steve and Turi as Honorary Fellows of the Association.  They have each made a significant contribution to bringing science to a broad and diverse audience; challenging attitudes to who ‘does’ or is interested in science – and how we perceive it as an integral part of our cultural identity; and positioning science as something for all.  We are very much looking forward to working with them in the future.”