THE Thick of It creator Armando Iannucci is among the latest intake of fellows by Scotland’s national academy for learning, it has been announced.
BBC journalist Sally Magnusson is also among the 57 fellows joining the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) this year.
The society counts 1800 fellows in its ranks, from fields including the sciences, literature, law and business.
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It hit the headlines last year when GB News presenter Neil Oliver resigned from the RSE after it was made clear he was “at odds with scientific and broader academic learning”.
On being included on the list of new fellows, Iannucci (below) said: “I am thrilled to be elected to the fellowship of the RSE; this is confirmation from the champions of the highest standards of academic and cultural excellence in Scotland that writing jokes is an honourable pursuit.
“This recognition will spur me on to make more people laugh louder, longer and harder than ever before, and will remind me at all times that it’s equally as important to make people think as well as laugh.
“I promise to do my best.”
Magnusson (below) meanwhile said it was a “tremendous honour” to be elected as a fellow and that she was “proud” to join the RSE.
“I look forward to playing my part in its longstanding mission to deploy knowledge for public good,” she said.
Other new fellows include Professor Jason Gill, professor of cardiometabolic health at the University of Glasgow, who was elected for his contribution to the prevention and management of vascular, metabolic and chronic diseases.
He said: “The broad and multi-disciplinary nature of the society has never been more important, given the complex nature of the challenges facing society which increasingly require solutions involving collaboration across disciplines and sectors.”
Professor Elham Kashefi, of the University of Edinburgh and chief scientist at the UK National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), has also been announced as a new fellow.
She said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to utilise the RSE’s platform to bring the quantum wave beyond our academic circles, influencing policymakers.”
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Professor David Croisdale-Appleby, health and social care expert, chair of both the Royal College of Physicians and Dementia UK, was elected as an honorary fellow.
President of the society, Professor Sir John Ball, said: “It is an immense honour to extend a warm welcome to each of our distinguished new fellows.
“Individually, they embody exceptional dedication and accomplishment spanning multiple sectors and disciplines.
“Collectively, they demonstrate a profound commitment and determination to make meaningful contributions through their endeavours.”
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