York Chemistry Emeritus Professor elected to Royal Society Council

Professor Robin Perutz, an inorganic chemist and former Head of the Department of Chemistry (2000-2004) will begin his term of office as Royal Society Council Member on 30 November 2021. As a member of the Council, he will join with the other 20-24 fellows responsible for directing the Royal Society’s overall policy, managing its business and acting as trustee for the Society’s possessions and estates.

Professor Perutz was elected as fellow of the Royal Society in 2010 and has served in a variety of roles: the selection committee for new fellows in chemistry, the Diversity Committee, the selection committee for the Rosalind Franklin Award and the Industry Fellowships Panel. He is currently the Royal Society’s representative on the International Human Rights Network of Academies and Scholarly Societies.

On receiving the news of his election to the Royal Society Council, Professor Perutz said:

"First of all, I hope I can live up to the expectations of all those who have voted for me in the Council elections. The Royal Society has an independent voice on science policy and I look forward to contributing at a time when the key issues of climate change and biodiversity, as well as science funding, are centre stage."

"The Royal Society is already active in encouraging diversity in science including people with disabilities and the women in science agenda - I see it as my job to build on my experience in York to ensure that we can achieve real progress. There are more displaced people on the planet than ever, so I will continue to encourage leadership on human rights and academic freedom."

The last member of Royal Society Council from the University of York was Professor Alastair Fitter.