Professors elected fellows of the Learned Society of Wales

Three Professors from Cardiff School of Biosciences have recently been appointed fellows of the Learned Society of Wales.  Professors Paola Borri, Steve Ormerod and Andrew Weightman were among the sixty nine fellows elected to the Society in April.

The Learned Society of Wales recognises the academic achievements of Wales's best talent. Fellows are elected in any academic discipline following nomination by existing fellows and demonstrable excellence in their discipline. The society is a source of authoritative, scholarly and critical comment and advice on policy issues affecting Wales. It aims to foster and develop partnerships between academia and other sectors of society for the good of our country.

The prestigious nature of these fellowships was noted by Prof Borri, who said "I am honoured of having been elected Fellow of this prestigious Society. I believe that the Learned Society of Wales will have a great impact in supporting research and innovation and promoting Wales to the highest level in the international world. I am very proud of being part of this exciting development."

Prof Weightman comments "I feel personally honoured to have been elected FLSW, but consider it more a reflection of the excellence of the many people, postgraduate students, postdocs and other collaborators, with whom I have worked over 30 years in microbiological research.  I look forward to contributing wherever I can to the activities of the LSW in its engagement activities, particularly in discourse with the Welsh Government, industry, organisations and wider public, with regard to science and related issues affecting Wales."

Prof Ormerod was awarded his Fellowship for his internationally recognised research into streams and rivers and his extensive record of public service, for example as the current Council chairman of the Royal Society f or the Protection of Birds. He explains "I'm hugely proud to stand alongside the leading academics who make up the Fellowship of the Learned Society of Wales and I'm particularly delighted that an ecological contribution should merit this honour: the environment, and in particular water, is inordinately important to Wales, and this is recognition of the quality of science needed for its understanding and management."