Royal Society announces new Fellows

On 21 May 2010 the Royal Society elected 44 new Fellows and eight new Foreign Members. Experts in artificial intelligence, DNA repair, asthma and superstring theory were among the scientists newly elected.  The new Fellows join the ranks of the UK and Commonwealth’s leading scientists as the Society celebrates its 350th Anniversary.

Broadcaster and author Melvyn Bragg has been elected as an honorary Fellow in recognition of his role in championing science in the media.  Among the eight newly elected Foreign Members is Professor Carl Djerassi, who among other achievements, created a progesterone analogue approved in 1960 as the contraceptive pill.

Martin Rees, President of the Royal Society said: “I am delighted to welcome these new Fellows to the Royal Society in what is a hugely important year for us.  These scientists follow in the footsteps of early Fellows such as Isaac Newton, Robert Boyle and Robert Hooke.  The new Fellows announced today embody the spirit of enquiry, dedicated to ‘the relief of man’s estate’ on which the Royal Society was founded.  That spirit is as alive today as it was 350 years ago.”

The new Fellows come from universities and institutions across the UK including the Universities of Bristol, Cambridge, Dundee, Durham, Edinburgh, Imperial College London, Kings College London, Sheffield, Oxford, University College London, York and the British Antarctic Survey.  This year sees five women elected to the Fellowship.