Katharine Ellen Sykes OBE FInstP CPhys (born 20 December 1966)[1] is a British physicist, broadcaster[2] and Professor of Sciences and Society at the University of Bristol.

[3] She has presented various BBC2 and Open University TV series, including Rough Science, Ever Wondered about Food, Alternative Therapies.

Alternative Medicine and presented for the documentary television miniseries Brave New World with Stephen Hawking in 2011.

[10] She went on to study at the University of Bristol where she was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics in 1989[1] and a PhD in 1996 for work on the crystallization and degradation of polyhydroxybutyrate, a biodegradable plastic.

Sykes was appointed Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2009 Birthday Honours.