Nine professors named Royal Society Fellows

Nine professors named Royal Society Fellows

By Anne Craig

September 9, 2014

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Nine Queen鈥檚 University faculty members have been elected to the Royal Society of Canada, the highest number of inductees the university has had in one year. Fellowship in the RSC is one of the highest recognitions for Canadian academics in the arts, humanities, and the social and natural sciences.

The nine new Royal Society members are (clockwise from top left): Erwin Buncel, Francois Rouget, W. George Lovell, Peter Milliken, Wendy Craig, Roger Deeley, John Burge, Ian McKay. In the centre is Myra Hird. 

The nine newest fellows from Queen鈥檚 have a wide range of research interests including health, environmental issues, history, bullying prevention and chemistry.

鈥淨ueen鈥檚 is renowned for its excellent research and teaching, in part thanks to the contributions of faculty members like these,鈥 says Principal Daniel Woolf. 鈥淚 am proud to see so many individuals recognized in a single year, especially given our institution鈥檚 modest size.鈥

The nine new RSC members include:

Roger Deeley (Cancer Research Institute), a pioneer who has developed approaches to cloning novel genes based solely on their level of activity. Application of these approaches led to the discovery of a multidrug resistance protein, a drug efflux pump associated with resistance to chemotherapy in cancer, and some forms of leukemia.

Myra J. Hird (Environmental Studies), a distinguished interdisciplinary scholar with an international reputation for her multifaceted, collaborative investigations into science studies and environmental issues. Dr. Hird explores how social sciences and humanities may engage with scientific knowledge to better respond to a wide range of global issues, including climate change, human-animal relations, and the nature and future of waste.

Ian McKay (History), a highly respected scholar, analyst and award-winning author. Dr. McKay is credited with changing not just conventional views of Canadian history, but the basic concepts of the field itself. His investigations into Canadian working-class culture, politics and Canadian historical theory have uncovered broader historical patterns and political frameworks that continue to inform the work of historians and social scientists

Peter Milliken (Policy Studies), Canada鈥檚 longest-serving Speaker of the House of Commons and internationally respected expert on the rules and procedures of Parliamentary democracy. Mr. Milliken is a devoted champion of Canada鈥檚 excellence in scientific research and science policy.

Fran莽ois Rouget (French), a specialist in Renaissance literature. A leading researcher in the field of poetry, Dr. Rouget is recognized nationally and internationally as one of the scholars who enriched the knowledge of the poets of the second half of the 16th century.                              

Wendy Craig (Psychology), a leading international expert on bullying prevention and the promotion of healthy relationships.  As founder and co-scientific director of Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network (PREVNet), Dr. Craig has transformed the understanding of bullying and has effectively translated the science into evidence-based practice and intervention.

W. George Lovell (Geography), an international scholar of historical geography, most notably in the regional context of Latin America, where his work on Central America has had impacts not only on his own discipline but also on several related fields. Considered a leading authority on indigenous Mayan survival, Dr. Lovell has demonstrated how their post-colonial experiences relate to much deeper rooted cultural, political and economic processes.

Erwin Buncel (Chemistry), a continuously productive chemist with over 350 journal publications and four books.  While at Queen鈥檚, he developed various avenues of investigation in physical organic, bioorganic and bioinorganic chemistry.  Dr. Buncel鈥檚 career is unique because of the extremely broad range of chemical problems on which he has had a major impact.

John Burge (Music), an award-winning composer and champion of the arts in Canada.  Exceptional in his ability to write successfully for the entire gamut of vocal and instrumental combinations, his outstanding musical output breaks new ground both technically and expressively.

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