Catz engineers elected Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering
Thursday 19 September 2024
Two members of the St Catharine's community are among the 71 leading figures in the field of engineering and technology who have just been elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering in recognition of their outstanding and continuing contributions:
Professor Colm Durkan (2022), Professor of Nanoengineering Science and Head of the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge; and
Professor Claire Davis (1987, Natural Sciences; Research Fellow 1993–96), Head of Advanced Steel Research Centre, WMG, University of Warwick.
Dr John Lazar CBE FREng, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, commented:
“Our new Fellows represent some of the most talented people in the world of engineering and are taken from the ranks of those who are aiming to address some of our most critical problems. We are proud to say that many of our newly elected Fellows have come from underrepresented groups in engineering and related sectors and we hope this helps to tackle some of the issues around a lack of diversity within the profession. There is ample evidence that a wider pool of ideas and experiences helps to improve decision-making and develop novel solutions to global challenges.”
Responding to news of his election, Professor Durkan said:
“I am delighted to have been honoured with this, and I very much look forward to working with the Royal Academy in continuing to bring Engineering to the forefront."
Professor Davis added, “I am very honoured to have been elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. It is an exciting and dynamic time for the global steel industry and I look forward to working with the Royal Academy in promoting clean technologies for the future.”
Prof. Colm Durkan FREng and Prof. Claire Davis FREng
At its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 17 September 2024, the Royal Academy of Engineering elected 60 Fellows, six International Fellows and five Honorary Fellows, each of whom has made exceptional contributions to their own sector, pioneering new innovations, leading progress in business or academia, providing high level advice to government, or promoting wider understanding of engineering and technology.
This year’s new Fellows continue to reflect the Academy’s ongoing Fellowship Fit for the Future initiative announced in July 2020, to drive more nominations of outstanding engineers from underrepresented groups ahead of its 50th anniversary in 2026. This commits the Academy to strive for increased representation from women, disabled and LGBTQ+ engineers, those from minority ethnic backgrounds, non-traditional education pathways and emerging industries, and those who have achieved excellence at an earlier career stage than normal.
The new Fellows will be formally admitted to the Academy at a special ceremony in London on 27 November, when each Fellow will sign the roll book. In joining the Fellowship, they will lend their unique capabilities to achieving the Academy’s overarching strategic goal to harness the power of engineering to create a sustainable society and an inclusive economy for all.
