Humanities, Research

American Academy elects seven from UC Berkeley

By Public Affairs

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Inez Fung

Inez Fung

Seven of UC Berkeley’s finest — including Chancellor Nicholas Dirks — have been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, it was announced today. The new members for 2014, the academy said in a release, are 204 of “the world’s most accomplished scholars, scientists, writers, artists and civic, corporate and philanthropic leaders,” and include winners of the Nobel and Pulitzer prizes; the National Medal of the Arts; MacArthur, Guggenheim and Fulbright fellowships; and Grammy, Emmy, Oscar and Tony awards.

Those elected from Berkeley, in alphabetical order:

  • George Breslauer, recently retired executive vice chancellor and provost and professor of political science;
  • Nicholas Dirks, chancellor;
  • Edward Frenkel, professor of mathematics;
  • Inez Fung, professor of atmospheric science;
  • Robert Reich, Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy;
  • Daniel Tătaru, professor of mathematics; and
  • Alex Zettl, professor of physics.
Robert Reich

Robert Reich (Photo by Perian Flaherty)

“It is a privilege to honor these men and women for their extraordinary individual accomplishments,” said Don Randel, chair of the academy’s board of directors. “The knowledge and expertise of our members give the academy a unique capacity — and responsibility — to provide practical policy solutions to the pressing challenges of the day. We look forward to engaging our new members in this work.”

Founded in 1780, the American Academy is one of the nation’s oldest learned societies and independent policy research centers. Its new class will be inducted at a ceremony on Oct. 11 in Cambridge, Mass. A complete list of new members is available on the academy’s website.