Forty-four new Fellows

Forty-four scientists have been recognised for their exceptional contributions to science, engineering and medicine with their election to the Fellowship of the Royal Society the UK national academy of science.

Following in the footsteps of Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Stephen Hawking, David Attenborough and Tim Berners-Lee (inventor of the world wide web), the new Fellows have been elected from the UK and Commonwealth countries for their scientific excellence. They come from a wide range of fields including neuroscience, tropical medicine, astrophysics and quantum optics.

Lord Rees, President of the Royal Society, said: "These scientists join an outstanding group of over 1400 Fellows and Foreign Members of the Royal Society, including more than 60 Nobel Laureates. Their election to the Fellowship, by their own peers, is recognition of their impressive achievements in, and contributions to, science."

Four women have been elected this year bringing the number of women in the Fellowship to 61. Of the 216 Fellows elected in the past five years, 10.6% (23) are women. This compares with UK universities where 8.5% of professors in science, engineering and technology subjects are women.

Six Foreign Members have been elected this year, including two Nobel Laureates.

For the full list of new Fellows and Foreign members visit The Royal Society website