Another six distinguished academics from the University of Aberdeen have joined Scotland’s prestigious learned organisation, The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE).
One of the University's former Deans, the Very Rev Professor Iain R Torrance, who is now President of Princeton Theological Seminary, has also joined the ranks of Scotland's elite by becoming a Fellow.
Fellows are nominated in recognition of outstanding contributions to their field and achievement in public service. The sciences, arts, humanities, the professions, industry and commerce are all represented.
Four of the academics are from the University's College of Life Sciences and Medicine (CLSM); one is from the institution's College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS), while the sixth is a member of the University's College of Physical Sciences (CoPS).
Professor C Duncan Rice, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University, said of the appointments: "This is one of Scotland's most distinguished awards. Our new Fellows will be extremely proud of this recognition, and I am proud of them. These Fellowships highlight the fact that Aberdeen is home to some of the world's leading scholars."
The Aberdeen Fellows are:
- Professor Ian McAllister, Professor of Political Science and Honorary Professor of the University of Aberdeen, CASS, and Australian National University.
- He said: "I am delighted to have been elected an Honorary RSE Fellow. The award reflects the strong research links that I have built up with colleagues in Sociology and Politics and International Relations at the University of Aberdeen over many years, and the international standing of their work."
- Professor Michael Weiss, Chair in Mathematical Sciences, CoPS, said: "It is a great honour for me. It reflects on the very supportive research environment we have here at Aberdeen. I also owe much of that recognition to a group of tenacious and inspired collaborators outside Aberdeen."
- Professor Chris Secombes, Professor of Zoology and Head of the School of Biological Sciences, CLSM, said: "I am delighted and honoured to become a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. I would like to acknowledge the support and dedication of the many researchers that have worked in the Scottish Fish Immunology Research Centre over the years, and who have in large part led to its international standing".
- Professor Colin McCaig, Regius Professor of Physiology and Head of the School of Medical Sciences, said: "This is a great honour and naturally I am delighted. However this is not the achievement of a single person but a recognition of the excellence of the scientific colleagues that I have enjoyed the privilege of working with throughout my career."
- Professor Nuala Booth, Personal Chair in Molecular Haemostasis and Thrombosis, said: "I am honoured and delighted to become a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. My research area is one in which Aberdeen has a proud tradition and I am grateful for the support, throughout my career, of mentors including Bruce Bennett, Derek Ogston, Elspeth Smith and the late Stuart Douglas. I am lucky to work in the supportive ethos of the Institute of Medical Sciences. I see this honour as recognition for all my research staff and PhD students."
- Professor Emad El-Omar, Professor of Gastroenterology and Honorary Consultant Physician, said: "I am absolutely delighted and honoured to be elected to the Royal Society of Edinburgh. I feel that this recognition is to a great extent down to the dedication of the excellent scientists and clinicians who run our research programme. I am also very grateful to my colleagues in the Institute of Medical Sciences who proposed and handled our election. Gastrointestinal diseases, including GI cancers, impact significantly on our population in Scotland and it is our academic duty to initiate and lead research programmes designed to lessen this burden. Aberdeen University and NHS Grampian have recognised this and it is thanks to them that we were able to succeed. The recognition of our work by the Royal Society of Edinburgh is justification for the long sighted policy adopted by the University of Aberdeen."
President of The Royal Society of Edinburgh, Sir Michael Atiyah, added: "I am delighted to be able to welcome such an outstanding array of new Fellows to the Society.
"Conferring the accolade of Fellowship on individuals recognised as amongst the best minds in Scotland and around the world, is the beginning, not the end, of the Society's purpose.
"The collective expertise and experience of the Fellowship enables the RSE to uphold its Royal Charter of 1783 for the "advancement of learning and useful knowledge" and deliver meaningful, public-benefit activities today."