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.

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Copyright Subhadra Das

Subhadra Das

Curator

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.

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Dr Alex Lathbridge. ‘whatisthis’

Alex Lathbridge

Facilitator

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.

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Sam Allen

@creativeartssocial on Instagram

creativeartsocial.org

Speaker

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.

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Leo Speidel

@leo_speidel

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. 

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Turi King

turiking.co.uk

@Turi__King on Twitter

@Turi__King on Instagram

<p>A chance to hear about and talk about ideas with others.</p>

Discussion

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This is a relaxed event, which means that if you need to, you are welcome to move around and make noise at any time.

Relaxed

Key visual elements referred to during this event will be described.

This event will be audio described for blind or partially sighted people.

Audio described

There will be a hearing loop at this event.

Hearing loop

We’ll be in the Forum. To get there, take the lift or stairs up to level 1 and then follow the signs through the ‘Being Human’ gallery.

The Forum

Booking a ticket for a free event does not guarantee you a place. You should aim to arrive 15 minutes before the event is scheduled to start to claim your place. If you do not arrive on time, your place may be given to someone on the waiting list.

Place not guaranteed

If this event is fully booked, you may still be able to attend. We will operate a waiting list, which opens 30 minutes before this event starts. Arrive early, and we’ll give you a numbered ticket. If there are any unfilled places just before the start time, we will invite you to enter in order of ticket number.

Waiting list

What we pass on

Passing the DNA test

Join comedian and scientist Alex Lathbridge and a panel of experts to grapple with what it really means to take a DNA test to investigate your ancestry. 

The panel will explore what we think these tests tell us about ourselves, what information they actually tell us, and how we can reconcile the differences. You will hear about how, like many scientific tools, ancestry DNA tools mirror and replicate the systemic injustices in our society, particularly when it comes to race. 

There will be time for you to ask your questions. 

There will be a Chill-Out Room next to the event space if you’d like to lie down or relax. There will be low lighting, comfortable seating, cushions and mats throughout the room. Make use of ear defenders, earplugs, board games and materials with different textures.

This is the first of three events curated by writer and historian Subhadra Das in response to the exhibition ‘Genetic Automata’ and the new work ‘_GOD_MODE_’. 

Join comedian and scientist Alex Lathbridge and a panel of experts to grapple with what it really means to take a DNA test to investigate your ancestry.

Wellcome Collection

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