3 named to Massachusetts Academy of Sciences

Three faculty members are among the first 23 fellows named to the newly established Massachusetts Academy of Sciences (MAS).

Lila Gierasch, Distinguished Professor in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Chemistry; Lynn Margulis, Distinguished University Professor in Geosciences, and Barbara Partee, Distinguished University Professor Emerita in Linguistics and Philosophy, are among the inaugural class.

According to the MAS, a candidate for fellowship must have attained recognition for significant professional achievement in scientific research or science education.

Awardees are recognized for extraordinary scientific accomplishments and service to the science community and the public. Academy peers initiate the nomination process. The board of governors reviews all nominees and makes its selection on the basis of the quality and extent of accomplishment and service.

Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology each had six faculty members selected as fellows. The other honorees come from Boston, Brandeis, Clark and Tufts universities as well as the Broad Institute and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.

The academy was created last year to promote public understanding and appreciation of the sciences, to support scientific research in areas relevant to the needs of the state and to provide consultative or advisory services on matters of science to the governor and to local, state and federal agencies.

Biology professor Peg Riley is president of MAS and its acting director of research. Betsy Dumont, associate professor of Biology and director of the Massachusetts Natural History Collections, Vice Provost for Research Paul Kostecki and Sandra Petersen, associate dean of the Graduate School and director of the Northeast Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate, all serve on the MAS president’s council.

More Information

MAS Fellows

May 13, 2008.

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