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Outstanding scientists join Royal Society

Three Edinburgh researchers have been elected to a prestigious fellowship in recognition of their exceptional contributions to science.

They are among 51 distinguished scientists announced as Fellows of the Royal Society.

The Fellowship is made up of the most eminent scientists, engineers and technologists from the UK and the Commonwealth.

Fellows are elected for life through a peer review process and on the basis of excellence in science.

Edinburgh Fellows

The new Fellows, all from the College of Science and Engineering, are:

  • Professor Jane Hillston, Personal Chair in Quantitative Modelling and Head of School of Informatics.
  • Professor Andrew Rambaut, Personal Chair in Molecular Evolution, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences.
  • Professor Rachel Wood, Personal Chair in Carbonate GeoSciences, School of GeoSciences.

Remarkable contributions

Professor Jane Hillston’s pioneering research combines elements of formal languages from computer science with mathematical modelling. Her work has had widespread applications across biological, ecological and social networks.                                                                                                                                                                        

Professor Andrew Rambaut’s ground-breaking research tracks, understands and responds to viral epidemics and pandemics. He has led the use of real-time genomic sequencing to track viruses and inform epidemiological responses as an outbreak unfolds. This has proven transformative during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Professor Rachel Wood is a leading palaeobiologist and sedimentologist who integrates field-based observations and geochemical data with computer modelling, to analyse and interpret pivotal transitions in the earth’s systems. Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society said:

It is an honour to welcome so many outstanding researchers from around the world into the Fellowship of the Royal Society. Through their careers so far, these researchers have helped further our understanding of human disease, biodiversity loss and the origins of the universe. I am also pleased to see so many new Fellows working in areas likely to have a transformative impact on our society over this century, from new materials and energy technologies to synthetic biology and artificial intelligence. I look forward to seeing what great things they will achieve in the years ahead.

Sir Adrian SmithPresident of the Royal Society 

Related links

The Royal Society 

College of Science and Engineering   

School of Informatics  

School of Biological Sciences 

School of GeoSciences