Sir Paul Nurse has begun his five-year term
as President of the Royal Society, taking over from
astrophysicist Lord Rees of Ludlow. Paul will follow in
the footsteps of famous scientists such as Sir Isaac Newton and Sir
Christoper Wren, who previously held this position at the world's
oldest scientific academy, which has just finished
celebrating its 350th anniversary. The backbone of the Society
is its Fellowship, which is made up of the most eminent scientists,
engineers and technologists from the UK and the Commonwealth.
Paul is a geneticist who works on what controls the division and
shape of cells. He was Professor of Microbiology at the University
of Oxford, CEO of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and Cancer
Research UK, and is currently President of Rockefeller
University, New York. In January 2011, Paul will become UKCMRI's
first Director and Chief Executive and will return to the UK
permanently to take up this role as well as his position
at The Royal Society.
Speaking on the BBC One Show, Paul said "The Royal Society is
one of the great institutions of the United Kingdom. Its role is to
promote high quality science and research throughout the
country."
As president of the Royal Society, Paul will preside at meetings
of the Council and will also be Chairman of the Trustees.
Furthermore he will attend meetings of the Society including the
Annual Meeting for the election of Fellows and Foreign Members and
the Meeting on Annual Admission Day.