Eight Oxford scientists have been elected as Fellows of the Royal Society, joining over 90 scientists from UK and international institutions recognized for their contributions to various fields such as artificial intelligence, electron microbiology, global health, and neuroscience.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Irene Tracey expressed her congratulations: "I am delighted to congratulate our exceptional scientists on their election to the Royal Society. This prestigious recognition is a testament to their remarkable contributions to science and a reflection of the research excellence at Oxford."
The newly elected Fellows from Oxford include:
- Professor Kevin Foster, Chair of Microbiology at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology. He acknowledged his team by stating, "This was only possible because of the talent and achievements of past and present group members and I am very grateful to them."
- Professor Mike Giles, Professor of Numerical Analysis at the Mathematical Institute. He expressed gratitude for his colleagues: "I really appreciate this honour, and I am very grateful to have worked over the years with so many wonderful students, postdocs, and colleagues."
- Professor Jim Hall, Professor of Climate and Environmental Risks at the School of Geography and the Environment. He noted the collaborative nature of his work: "Science is a team endeavour... We have many great challenges that we are working on now and aim to solve in the future."
- Professor Philipp Kukura from the Department of Chemistry. He highlighted collaboration in his field: "It is an acknowledgment of the effort, curiosity and creativity of the students and postdocs that did and continue to do the work in the laboratory."
- Professor Philip Poole from Molecular Plant Sciences Section in Biology. He commented on his team's role: "Ultimately, it is their work that is being recognised."
- Professor David Pyle from Earth Sciences. He shared his appreciation for support received throughout his career.
Additionally honored were:
- Professor Stuart Russell OBE FRS from Computer Science at University of California, Berkeley.
- Professor Shivaji Sondhi from Theoretical Physics at Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics. He remarked on joining a historic lineage: "The 365-year history of the Royal Society is also the history of modern science... I look forward to contributing to its efforts."
Election as a Fellow is among science's highest honors. The new members join esteemed figures like Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking.
Royal Society President Sir Adrian Smith commended this year's cohort for their innovative research: "Their achievements represent the very best of scientific endeavour... From tackling global health challenges to reimagining what AI can do for humanity."
For further details on all new Fellows, visit the Royal Society news website.