Three Warwick academics are among 42 distinguished scholars from 19 universities elected as Fellows of the British Academy (FBA) at its Annual General Meeting held on 17 July 2014. The Fellowships recognise outstanding research from scholars of distinction in the humanities and social sciences.

The British Academy aims to inspire, recognise and support excellence and high achievement across the UK and internationally. Established by Royal Charter in 1902, it is an independent, self-governing body of more than 900 Fellows.

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.”

Two new Honorary Fellows were also announced, Dame Liz Forgan DBE, journalist and former head of Arts Council England, and Warwick alumnus, Lord O’Donnell, a former British senior civil servant and economist, who served as the Cabinet Secretary under three Prime Ministers.

Fellows of the British Academy

Warwick’s newly elected Fellows of The British Academy are:

Professor Ingrid de Smet, Department of French Studies

Ingrid is Professor of French and Neo-Latin Studies, specialising in the intellectual culture of sixteenth-century and early seventeenth-century France and the Low Countries. She said:

"It is an honour and a very humbling experience to be elected. I look forward to working with an institution that promotes world-class research, and especially to be of service, nationally and internationally, to the study of Early Modern languages and literatures."

Professor Anne Fuchs, German Studies

Anne is Professor of German Studies at Warwick. In 2010 she received a UCD Senior Fellowship, enabling her to complete her research on After the Dresden Bombing: Pathways of Memory, 1945 to the Present.In 2011 she accepted the Chair of German at the University of St Andrews before moving to Warwick in January 2012. Anne said:

"I am delighted by my election to the British Academy and look forward to making a contribution to the life of the Academy, boosting the interests of Modern Languages."

Professor Neil Lazarus, English and Comparative Literary Studies

Neil is Professor of English and Comparative Literary Studies at Warwick. His research interests include 'postcolonial' literatures and cultures, world and modern literature. Neil said:

“These are very testing times for literary studies and for academic freedom more generally. I'm very happy to have been elected to the British Academy, and hope that, as a fellow, I'll be able to contribute to defending the autonomy of the humanities.”

 

Further Information

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