Stefan Bernhardt-Radu Wins Prestigious Freer Prize Fellowship for Research in Developmental Genetics
School of PRHS PGR, Stefan Bernhardt-Radu, is one of only two recipients of new Freer Prize Fellowship for his research on 20th-century history about developmental genetics.
Following a highly competitive application round, Stefan Bernhardt-Radu’s work on 20th-century history about developmental genetics stands out and has been recognised by the Royal Institution (Ri).
Stefan, as he pursues the completion of his PhD, will now have access to several resources and archives of the Royal Institution. As a Ri Freer Prize Fellow, Stefan will benefit from training in science communication, mentorship opportunities, guidance for publication plans and further research grant applications, among others.
The Ri Freer Prize Fellowships provide writing-up awards for doctoral candidates researching the history of science, the Royal Institution, or heritage conservation science. These fellowships are awarded to candidates who can identify and compellingly communicate the significance and potential of their research to a general audience.
Speaking about the excellent scholarship of the two awardees, the Director of the Royal Institution, Katherine Mathieson, said: “We are delighted to be announcing Sheryl Wombell and Stefan Bernhardt-Radu as our 2024 Freer Fellows. Their excellent scholarship and their commitment to communicating their research means they are perfectly placed to contribute to the Royal Institution’s heritage of scientific discovery and pioneering public engagement”.
Dr Sophie Forgan, a Trustee of the Philip Freer Studentship Trust, added: “The Freer Trust was established to support postgraduate students whose work in the history of science could make a difference and engage the public with compelling research. We are delighted that applications from a wide variety of institutions have continued to grow. The judges were impressed by the range, quality and ambition of the research being undertaken.
Stefan’s research is a 20th-century history about developmental genetics through a historical analysis of Julian Huxley’s biological views. It shows the ways in which philosophical debates on the nature of life and knowledge shaped intellectual and public debates about how biological inheritance worked. At a time when new biological approaches and the manipulation of life are under intense scrutiny, Stefan’s project aims to inform our current academic and public debates about the nature of inheritance, wider philosophical debates, and its public representation.
