The 2015 Election of new Fellows span the arts, science and public service sectors.  Forty new Fellows have been added to its ranks representing a broad range of academic disciplines.  The 2015 Election is the fifth in a rolling process towards the building of a strong, representative Fellowship.  The Society’s continuing focus on excellence and achievement will ensure that the Fellowship represents the very best in the major academic disciplines.

Professor Siwan Davies  is one of several new Fellows who have been noted not only for their individual successes, but also as inspirational figures for women who want to excel in their chosen profession.

This list includes leading academics:

Professor Helen Fulton, Professor of Medieval Literature, University of Bristol

Professor Laura McAllister,Professor of Governance, University of Liverpool

Professor Terry Threadgold,Professor Emerita of Communication and Cultural Studies, and formerly Pro Vice-Chancellor, Cardiff University

Professor Helen Wilcox FEA FRSA FRSL,Professor of English Literature, Bangor University 

The Rt Hon Sir Roderick Evans is one of several new Fellows who have beenrecognised for their contribution to public life in Wales, and the UK.

This list includes:

 Mr Gerald Holtham,Managing Partner Cadwyn Capital and Honorary Professor, Cardiff University

Ms Jan Morris,Writer

The Rt Hon the Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd John Thomas, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, Royal Courts of Justice

Professor Rory Wilsonis one of several new Fellows whorepresent the highest calibre of scientific enquiry taking place across the UK-level.

This list includes:

Professor Nicholas Coleman FRCPath FMedSci,Professor of Histopathology, University of Cambridge

Professor John Collier,Director, the STFC Central Laser Facility, the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

Professor Henry Peredur Evans DSc FIMechE,Deputy Director and Leader of Tribology Research Group, Cardiff School of Engineering, Cardiff University

Professor Richard Kenway FRSE FinstP,Tait Professor of Mathematical Physics, University of Edinburgh

Professor Paul O'Brien DSc FRS FEAS FRSC,Professor of Inorganic Materials and Head of School of Materials, University of Manchester

Professor Valerie O'Donnell FSB,Professor of Biochemistry, Dean of Research Cardiff School of Medicine, and Co-director of Systems Immunity University Research Institute, Cardiff University

Election to Fellowship is a public recognition of academic excellence, and LSW Fellowship is keenly competed. The Society harnesses the expertise of the Fellowship to help promote awareness of how the sciences and the arts, humanities and social sciences can benefit society.Fellows assist the Society in its work by serving on its various committees and working groups and by representing us nationally and internationally.

Sir Emyr Jones Parry, the Society’s President, said:                                          

“I am delighted to welcome such a wide range of outstanding individuals to the Fellowship this year. Each new Fellow is elected on the distinguished merit of their work. These new Fellows will help strengthen our capacity to support excellence across all areas of academic and public life, both in Wales and abroad.

"It is also encouraging that the proportion of female Fellows elected (35%) is the highest in the history of the Society. More women are reaching the highest levels of their discipline, and this is rightly being reflected in their election to the Fellowship of the Society.”

Election to Fellowship of the Learned Society of Wales is through a rigorous five-stage election process. Fellowship is open to men and women of all ages and from all ethnic groups:

• who have a demonstrable record of excellence and achievement in any of the academic disciplines or who, being members of the professions, the arts, industry, commerce or public service, have made a distinguished contribution to the world of learning; and
• who are resident in Wales, or who are persons of Welsh birth but are resident elsewhere, or who otherwise demonstrate a particular connection with Wales.
  
  
• The Learned Society of Wales (LSW) was set up in 2010 as an independent, all-Wales, bilingual, self-governing, pan-discipline educational charity, to provide public benefit including the recognition of scholarly excellence, promotion of research and provision of expert, independent, scholarly advice on a variety of public policy issues. Unlike similar learned societies in the rest of the UK, our Fellowship includes people from a wide range of disciplines - science & technology, arts, humanities, social science, business and public service. More information about the Learned Society of Wales (including a complete list of Fellows) can be found at: http://learnedsocietywales.ac.uk/