Professor Seán Hand, of the Department of French Studies, has been elected to membership of the Academia Europaea - an international, non-governmental association of individual scientists and scholars who are recognised by their peers as experts and leaders in their own subject areas.

Members are drawn from across the continent of Europe, and represent the full range of academic disciplines, making the Academia unique among European Academies. The Academia also advises European institutions, governments and international agencies concerning matters affecting science, scholarship and academic life in Europe.

Commenting on his election, Professor Hand said: "I am delighted to be asked to join this important body, which promotes the enormous value of European scholarship and research, and encourages interdisciplinary and international scholarship in every area of trans-European learning".