Camilla Pang

Dr Camilla Pang is a biochemist and award-winning author who translates complex scientific principles into accessible insights that help audiences understand human behaviour, neurodiversity, and personal growth. She holds a PhD in biochemistry from UCL and works as a postdoctoral scientist specialising in translational bioinformatics, whilst her memoir *Explaining Humans* won the prestigious Royal Society Prize for Science Books in 2020. Through her writing, research, and advocacy work as a trustee for the Lightyear Foundation, Camilla empowers organisations to embrace neurodiversity as a strength, equipping teams with practical frameworks to foster inclusion, challenge assumptions, and unlock the hidden potential within diverse perspectives.

When Camilla Pang won the Royal Society Prize for Science Books in 2020 for her debut memoir *Explaining Humans*, she achieved something remarkable: translating the complexity of human behaviour into scientific principles that resonate with readers across neurotypes. Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at eight and ADHD at 26, Camilla transformed her experience of navigating a neurotypical world into a groundbreaking exploration of how frameworks from biochemistry, game theory, and machine learning can decode social interaction. Her work challenges long-held myths about neurodivergence, particularly the misconception that autism involves a lack of empathy, and instead reveals empathy as a multifaceted endeavour that takes many forms beyond conventional expression.

Camilla holds a PhD in biochemistry from University College London and works as a postdoctoral scientist specialising in translational bioinformatics at a pharmaceutical company developing treatments for immunological and neurological diseases. Her scientific expertise extends beyond her primary role: she volunteers with structural biology laboratories at the Francis Crick Institute, contributing to research on diseases including SARS-CoV-2 and cancer evolution. This dual commitment to advancing medical science and making it accessible defines her professional contribution. As a trustee for the Lightyear Foundation, which advocates for special educational needs in STEM, and through her work with charities including STEM Ambassadors and In2Science, she actively addresses systemic barriers faced by marginalised demographics in scientific fields. Her platform appearances on BBC Woman's Hour, BBC Radio 4, and live interviews alongside Brian Cox, Bill Bryson, and Jim Al-Khalili have amplified her voice as an advocate for neurodiversity and the female experience of autism. She has also authored *Perfectly Weird, Perfectly You: A Scientific Guide to Growing Up*, a children's book that extends her mission to younger audiences.

Camilla empowers organisations and individuals to reframe difference as a strategic advantage rather than a deficit. Her presentations equip audiences with practical tools to foster inclusion, challenge assumptions about capability, and recognise neurodiversity as what she calls "the hidden treasures of society that naturally challenge social norms and thereby form the basis of human evolution." By demonstrating how scientific thinking can illuminate everyday challenges, from workplace communication to personal growth, she helps teams develop frameworks that accommodate diverse cognitive styles whilst driving innovation. Audiences leave her sessions with actionable strategies for creating environments where different minds thrive, and a renewed understanding that the endeavour to connect across neurological differences strengthens collective problem-solving and organisational resilience.