Swansea University Academics Honoured by Learned Society of Wales

They join 35 other new Fellows, all of whom share a link with Wales, its universities or intellectual life and are drawn from all specialisms.

The new Fellows from Swansea University are:

· Professor David Benton FLSW, Professor of Psychology

· Professor Alan Dix FLSW, Director of the Computational Foundry, Swansea University

· Professor Tess Fitzpatrick FAcSS FLSW, Professor of Applied Linguistics

· Professor Helen Griffiths FRSB FLSW, Pro-Vice Chancellor Research and Innovation, Swansea University

· Professor William Griffiths FRSC FLSW, Professor of Mass Spectrometry

· Professor Harshinie Karunarathna FHEA FLSW, Professor in Coastal Engineering

· Professor David Lamb FRSB FRSC FLS FLSW, Professor of Biomedical Sciences

· Professor Serena Margadonna FLSW, Head of the Future Manufacturing Research Institute & Chair in Materials Engineering, Swansea University

· Professor Gareth Stratton FBASES FECSS FRSA FLSW, Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor Physical Activity, Sport, Health and Well-Being; Deputy Head of College of Engineering, Swansea University

· Professor Huw Summers FLSW, Professor of Nanotechnology for Health

A full list of the new Fellows can be downloaded here. They demonstrate the ongoing excellence of Welsh research, universities and intellectual life, all of which have shone during the extraordinary events of this pandemic-marked year.

The new Fellows include academics from Welsh, UK and overseas higher education institutions as well as individuals who a play a significant role in Welsh public life. Specialisms range from nanotechnology to jazz, parliamentary history to tumour biology and much in between.

The Society’s President, Professor Hywel Thomas, said of the new intake:

"I am delighted to welcome our new Fellows to the Learned Society of Wales. This past, extraordinary, year has shown the value of world-class research. There is a thirst for knowledge and expertise, in all fields, as we try to recover from the challenges of the pandemic. Our Fellows are at the forefront of that knowledge and expertise.

“We have also elected a higher percentage of women Fellows than ever before, with 38%. There is more we need to do but I am also pleased we are making progress on our efforts to make the Society better reflect the diversity of Welsh life.”

Professor Simon Hands FLSW of the Department of Physics, who is one of Swansea University’s representatives for the Learned Society of Wales, said:

“I’m delighted to welcome the new fellows to the FLSW community affiliated to Swansea, which by now numbers over 90. The LSW recognises and fosters the very best research and scholarship, and it is very pleasing to see these values so strongly represented at Swansea University.”

Election to the Fellowship is public recognition of excellence and takes place following a rigorous examination of each nominee’s achievements in their relevant field.

The Society’s Fellowship now numbers 595. Their combined expertise allows the Society to strengthen its contribution to Welsh public life, through its contributions to government policy development, public lectures and seminars and its expanding Wales Studies programme.

The new Fellows will be formally admitted at the Society’s AGM which will be held on 19th May.