Professor Russell Foster is the lead investigator of a team of researchers funded by the Oxford Biomedical Research Centre to look at sleep and circadian rhythms, and how these areas of neuroscience impact upon patient care.
He has recently been appointed as the new Chair of The Times Cheltenham Science Festival. The Chair of the Science Festival is a non-executive member of the Cheltenham Festivals Board, selected for their expertise, knowledge and influence within the particular Festival’s discipline. In this position, Russell will play a crucial leadership role in developing future Science Festivals starting with its 10th anniversary next year.
Russell Foster is Professor of Circadian Neuroscience, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Oxford, Senior Fellow of Brasenose College and a Fellow of the Royal Society. As well as his research activities, Russell chairs and participates in multiple committees for RCUK, and is member of the Strategy Board for the Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council. He is also a frequent speaker at national and international conferences relating to both his research and areas of science policy.
He looks forward to working with the Cheltenham Science Festival team and said: “I am incredibly excited to work with the Cheltenham team – The Cheltenham Science Festival represents one of the few opportunities for scientists to discuss face-to-face cutting edge scientific progress and the sheer thrill of scientific discovery with the non-science community. Helping promote this exchange is both an enormous privilege and rather daunting.”
Science Festival Executive Director Sharon Bishop comments: “I am delighted that Russell Foster has agreed to be Chair of the Science Festival. He has been a very popular speaker at the Festival before and brings a wealth of experience, not only as a hugely respected neuroscientist and member of the scientific community but also as a strong proponent of public engagement with science. I am sure he will be a wonderful ambassador for the Festival and am very much looking forward to working with him.”