Patrons

We’re delighted to work with our patrons Prof Ben Garrod, Jon Chase, Lizzie Daly, Mark Thompson and Dr Jess French to champion the Norwich Science Festival. Our patrons help promote the Festival and are hands-on in suggesting ideas for new events and activities.

Mark Thompson - astronomer, broadcaster and author

Mark is a TV presenter and author with a passion for the night sky. He rose to popularity during his time on The One Show presenting space/science films and also presented on BBC Stargazing Live. He has written nine books, appears on Good Morning Britain and now tours his popular Spectacular Science Show around the country. He has recently launched a podcast called The Pocket Astronomer where he guides listeners around the night sky. 

Prof Ben Garrod - conservationist, evolutionary biologist and broadcaster

Ben is an evolutionary biologist and primate conservationist, broadcaster for television and radio, and author of several books, covering a range of subjects from evolution and anatomy to animal behaviour and natural history. He is the Professor of Evolutionary Biology and Science Engagement at the University of East Anglia. His TV credits include the award-winning BBC4 series Secrets of Bones (2014), Attenborough and the Giant Dinosaur (2016), The Day the Dinosaurs Died (2017), Hyper-evolution: the Rise of Robots (2017), Secrets of Skin (2019) and Baby Chimp Rescue (2020). He has also presented A Grown-Up Guide to Dinosaurs (an Audible Original) and Bone Stories and The Human Hive on BBC Radio 4.   

Lizzie Daly - TV presenter and wildlife biologist

From filming with penguins to conservation work with elephants, Lizzie has a fierce passion for caring for our oceans and protecting our wild spaces. Lizzie has worked as a presenter on Blue Planet Live Lessons, CBeebies, CBBC, National Geographic, BBC Two, Animal Planet and is a host on the BBC Earth Unplugged YouTube channel.

Jon Chase

Jon is a freelance science communicator, author and rapper. Jon is passionate about making science accessible to all. He has worked as a presenter for the BBC and Open University and is the UK’s foremost proponent of Science Raps having performed at The Science Museum, The Royal Society and The Royal Institution.

Dr Jess French

Jess is a vet, zoologist, presenter and author best known for her CBeebies show Minibeast Adventure with Jessand her books on animals, conservation and protecting the natural world. Jess is also an explorer, adventurer and traveller and has worked at a gibbon sanctuary in Thailand, a monkey sanctuary in Bolivia and a dog shelter in India.