Science - May 9, 2012

Marten Scheffer elected to Royal Academy

Marten Scheffer has been appointed member of the Dutch Royal Academy of Sciences (KNAW). He is the only Wageningen scientist among the 14 admitted to the academy this year. Scheffer will be officially installed on 10 September.

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The professor of Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management made his name with his research on tipping points in complex systems. His work is published regularly in top journals such as Nature and Science. Wageningen professors who have preceded Scheffer in being appointed to the Royal Academy include Martien Cohen Stuart, Ton Bisseling, Marcel Dicke and Willem de Vos.
 The KNAW defends the interests of science. Membership is an honour reserved for 500 professors, and every year the academy elects a maximum of 16 new members. Potential members are first proposed, and then screened by internal and external assessor who decide whether they qualify as 'excellent scientists'. The existing members make the final decision as to who joins their ranks.
 An extensive interview with Marten Scheffer in Resource last March can be read here.