Our President

ASE is delighted to welcome Professor Louise Archer as its new President from 1st August 2024 for a period of two years. Louise has been a long-term supporter of ASE and is currently the Karl Mannheim Professor of Sociology of Education at University College London (UCL). Her research focuses on educational identities and inequalities, particularly in relation to social class, gender and race/ethnicity. She is particularly known for her 13-year longitudinal ASPIRES study. You can read a more detailed biography of Louise below.

About Louise Archer

Louise is the Karl Mannheim Professor of Sociology of Education at University College London (UCL). Her research focuses on educational identities and inequalities, particularly in relation to social class, gender and race/ethnicity.

She has authored over 100 academic books and journal articles and has directed numerous research projects, including the research-council funded 13 year, longitudinal ASPIRES study. Her research on inequalities in STEM participation spans primary, secondary, higher education and informal learning settings.

Louise is particularly passionate about participatory research-practice partnership working with educators and young people and the national and international impact of her research on STEM education policy and practice has been recognized by prizes from the British Educational Research Association (2019), the UK Economic and Social Research Council (2020) and, most recently, through the 2022 Royal Society Athena Prize for work supporting diversity in STEM. She also co-founded the Athena SWAN Charter, which is now the main gender equality scheme across UK higher education.

Former Presidents of the Association for Science Education

2021 - 2024 

Professor Michael J. Reiss,  Professor of Science Education at UCL Institute of Education, University College London, a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and Visiting Professor at the Royal Veterinary College.

2018 - 2021

Sir John Holman is Emeritus Professor in the Chemistry Department, University of York, UK, and senior adviser in Education at the Gatsby Foundation and the Wellcome Trust. @holman_john

2016-2018

"CAN we make teachers more valued in their profession? IF we could train every parent and teacher in the powers of science and engineering, THEN would our problems be solved?" - Professor Danielle George is Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, and a Professor in the Microwave and Communications Systems research group at the University of Manchester. @EngineerDG

2015

"Let's end short-termism in education policy and trust the frontline" - Sir David Bell KCB, Vice Chancellor of the University of Reading and President of the Association for Science Education for 2015.  

2014

Professor Alice Roberts was the President of the Association for Science Education in 2014. Alice is a clinical anatomist, author, broadcaster and Professor of Public Engagement in Science at the University of Birmingham. www.alice-roberts.co.uk