Fellow of the Royal Society

The Fellowship of the Royal Society was founded in 1660. It is composed of the most distinguished scientists from the United Kingdom, other Commonwealth countries and the Republic of Ireland. Scientists from elsewhere are eligible to be elected as Foreign member of the Royal Society. The election process for Fellows and Foreign Members is extremely rigorous and is based upon the established practice of peer review. A qualification for membership consists of having made "a substantial contribution to the improvement of natural knowledge, including mathematics, engineering science and medical science". Once elected, Fellows of the Royal Society serve for life. Fellows designate themselves through the use of the letters FRS after their names.

Famous Fellows

Many fellows are famous, and some have won a Nobel Prize (see Famous members of the Royal Society and Presidents of the Royal Society). Presidents are also fellows.

Some well-known living fellows include:
*Michael Ashburner
*David Attenborough
*Tim Berners-Lee
*Stephen Byram Furber
*Richard Dawkins
*Martin Fleischmann
*Stephen Hawking
*David King
*Robert May
*Roger Penrose
*Martin Rees
*Frederick Sanger
*Ian Stewart
*John E. Sulston
*Margaret Thatcher
*Calestous Juma

See the category for a more extensive list of Fellows of the Royal Society.

External links

*Directory of Fellows of the Royal Society and Foreign Members
*List of Royal Society Fellows 1660–2004
*Criteria for Membership of the Royal Society FRS
*Royal Society: Fellow of the Month