Philosopher, thrombosis researcher named Royal Society Fellows

Two McMaster faculty are among the newest Fellows of The Royal Society of Canada.

Barry Allen, professor of philosophy, has been elected to the Academy of Arts & Humanities, and Jeffrey Weitz, professor of medicine and biochemistry, have been elected to the Academy of Science.

The Society, which promotes learning and research in the arts, humanities and the natural and social sciences, announced its 2016 Fellows today.

President Patrick Deane saluted McMaster’s newest Fellows on their success, noting that the distinction is reserved only for those who have achieved excellence in their respective disciplines.

“Fellowship in the RSC is among the highest achievements for Canadian academics. Professors Allen and Weitz are to be commended for this honour – an honour that speaks directly to their expertise, and their commitment to sharing their knowledge with those who can use it best, be that colleagues, students or the public at large.”

Professor Barry Allen is a leading philosopher of culture. His work concentrates on the concept of knowledge, which he studies from interdisciplinary and multi-cultural perspectives. He is recognized as a pioneer in comparative and interdisciplinary philosophy, communicating effectively with scholars from East and West. His work is notable for bridging gaps between analytic and continental philosophy and Asian and Western thought, to address a wide audience in contemporary and comparative philosophy and the human sciences.

Dr. Jeffrey Weitz is an internationally renowned clinician-scientist and pioneer in thrombosis research and care. His trailblazing studies provided the fundamental basis for new anticoagulants that have revolutionized stroke prevention and improved treatments for thrombosis, a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. A pillar in his field, he has achieved extraordinary success as a highly cited researcher, exemplary scholar and leader in medical research

The pair will bring the total number of McMaster-affiliated Fellows of the Royal Society to 72.

This year’s Fellows will be inducted in to the Royal Society on November 18 in Kingston.