Four Manchester academics elected to Academy of Europe

25 Oct 2011

Four University of Manchester academics have become members of one of the world’s most prestigious academic bodies.

Professors John Harris, Luke Georghiou from the Faculty of Humanities and Richard Grencis and Andrew Loudon from the Faculty of Life Sciences were elected members of the Academia Europaea  - also known as the Academy of Europe.

The Board of Trustees at the Council of the Academia Europaea confirmed their election at a meeting this week.

The Academia Europaea is a European, non-governmental association , whose members are scientists and scholars who aim to promote learning, education and research.

Founded in 1988, with over 2000 members which includes leading experts from the physical sciences, technology, biological sciences, medicine, mathematics, humanities, social and cognitive sciences, economics and the law.

Invitations are made after peer group nomination, scrutiny and confirmation as to the scholarship and eminence of the individual in their chosen field. Election is confirmed by the Council of the Academia.

Amongst the members are thirty-eight Nobel Laureates, several of whom were elected to the Academia before they received the prize.

The Academia Europaea organises workshops, conferences, study groups; publishes the European Review and other academic materials and provides expert advice on European Science policy.

University of Manchester Professor Emeritus Nigel Vincent, currently Vice-President for Research at the British Academy, said: “All these individuals are to be warmly congratulated.

“Four elections in one institution in a single year is rare and a clear testament to the continuing international excellence of The University of Manchester across the natural sciences, the social sciences and humanities.”