Paul Nurse elected as next President of the Royal Society

Paul Nurse has been confirmed as President Elect of the Royal Society. He will take over from Adrian Smith, the current President, on 1 December 2025.

The result of a ballot of the Fellowship was confirmed at a meeting of the Society’s Council on 8 October. The ballot saw the highest turnout in the Society’s recent history with 90% voting in favour, 6% voting against and 4% abstaining. 

Alison Noble, Vice-President of the Society and a member of the search committee for the President, said: “In Paul Nurse, the Fellowship have elected an exceptional leader. He is a world-renowned scientist, a high-profile public figure and has shown outstanding leadership at a range of organisations.” 

Speaking following news of his election, Paul Nurse said: “I am honoured that the Fellows of the Royal Society have chosen to elect me to be their President. As a nation and as a species we are facing unprecedented challenges, from ageing populations to climate change. Science can help us understand and do something about these threats. Science can also help drive our economy and create well-paid jobs. Research must be at the heart of our society and as President of the Royal Society, I am looking forward to doing all I can to ensure that is the case.” 

Paul Nurse is a geneticist and cell biologist whose discoveries have helped to explain how the cell controls its cycle of growth and division. He was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2001. He has been President of Rockefeller University in New York, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK and will step down as Chief Executive of the Francis Crick Institute in July 2025.