59 new Fellows welcomed by the British Academy

At its Annual General Meeting today, the British Academy elected 42 highly distinguished UK academics from 19 universities as Fellows, in recognition of their outstanding research. The new Fellows span the full range of the Academy's subject areas across the humanities and social sciences, from history to psychology, economics to law, literature to philosophy and languages to archaeology.

Lord Stern, President of the British Academy, said: “I am delighted to welcome these fine researchers and scholars into our Fellowship. Our Fellows are elected from across the UK for their distinction in the humanities and social sciences. Together they represent an unrivalled reserve of expertise and knowledge. They play a vital role in the work of the Academy, encouraging younger researchers, engaging in public discussion of the great issues and ideas of our and other times, contributing to policy reports and publications, and helping to select researchers and research projects for funding support.” 

He also welcomed the election of 15 new Corresponding Fellows from overseas universities together with two new Honorary Fellows, Dame Liz Forgan DBE and Lord O’Donnell. Liz Forgan is a journalist, and radio and television executive, and the former head of Arts Council England. Gus O'Donnell is a former British senior civil servant and economist, who between 2005 and 2011 (under three Prime Ministers) served as the Cabinet Secretary.

A full list of the new British Academy Fellows and their institutions can be found online. 

The Academy's Review of the Year and further information on the Academy and its activities are available online.