Dr Bella Starling

After studying for her BSc and PhD in Neurosciences at The University of Edinburgh, Bella pursued a research career in the genetic differentiation of neural stem cells at King’s College London. During this time, she became active in science communication and gained a Distinction in the Diploma for Science Communication at the University of London (Birkbeck). This led to a stint as an editor and science news writer at Elsevier Publishing before she joined the Wellcome Trust in 2002. There, she was the Programme Manager for the Biomedical Ethics programme, which funds research into the social, ethical, legal and public policy implications of biomedical science; then the Grants Manager for Public Engagement, overseeing and directing the Wellcome Trust’s portfolio of public engagement funding. Her last role at the Wellcome Trust, as Head of International Activities, Medical Humanities and Public Engagement, was to set up an international programme of public engagement – the first of its kind – funding and carrying out activities in public engagement with science in low to middle income countries. As Director of Public Programmes at Nowgen, she leads and directs Nowgen’s work in public engagement, education and professional training.