Issue date: 14 June 2004

Wellcome Trust appoint new Head of Public Programmes

The Wellcome Trust has today announced the appointment of Dr Ken Arnold as Head of Public Programmes, to lead on the provision of exhibitions and events for the Wellcome Building on Euston Road, London.

Dr Arnold will be responsibile for encouraging public engagement with science through the collections and facilities within the Wellcome Building after it opens to the public in 2006. The building will house the famous Wellcome Library, two permanent galleries, a temporary exhibition space, as well as auditorium and 'forum' spaces, which will accommodate scientific debates, seminars and drama productions.

Ken Arnold said:
"I'm thrilled to be taking on this challenge in what will be a new era for the Trust, underlining our commitment to engaging the public with science. The diversity as well as historic and medical importance of the collections we hold, coupled with the social and cultural significance of the science we fund make it a demanding but also very exciting task - and one I'm thoroughly looking forward to.

"The mix of celebrated artefacts and our involvement in new scientific developments means we have an unique and vital role to play in developing the public understanding of science."

Ken Arnold has been at the Wellcome Trust for 12 years, most recently as Head of Exhibitions and has led on a series of programmes and exhibitions including those held at the Science Museum and the British Museum.

ENDS

Media contact
Mark Anderson
Wellcome Trust Media Office
Tel: 020 7611 8612
E-mail: m.anderson@wellcome.ac.uk

Note to editors

1. The Wellcome Trust is an independent research funding charity established in 1936 under the will of the tropical medicine pioneer Sir Henry Wellcome. The Trust's mission is to foster and promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health and it currently spends over £400 million per annum.

2. The development of the Wellcome Building at 183 Euston Road, London will follow the relocation of the Wellcome Trust offices to a new custom made building at 215 Euston Road, in July 2004.