Fellows from SES partner universities named in inaugural cohort

17 February 2026

Jessica Livermore

Academics from Science and Engineering South (SES) partner universities have been named among the inaugural Fellows of the UK’s new Academy for the Mathematical Sciences.

The Academy brings together leaders from academia, education, industry and government in a historic first cohort. It aims to provide an authoritative voice for the mathematical sciences and to support national priorities across areas such as AI, climate modelling, health, security and quantum technologies.

The group includes Fields Medal winners, pioneers of computing and artificial intelligence, leading educators and science communicators, and senior figures from across the UK’s innovation landscape.

Fellows are recognised for fundamental discoveries, outstanding contributions to education, and for driving the application of mathematics across society, from national security and finance to health, energy and climate science.

Regional strength with national reach

32 academics from SES partner universities have been selected for the inaugural cohort, underscoring our collective expertise. They collectively span the full spectrum of the mathematical sciences, from pure mathematics and statistics to applied modelling, data science and artificial intelligence.

Their work underpins major national priorities, including:

Tackling climate change and supporting the UK’s transition to clean, resilient energy

Preparing for future diseases and pandemics through advanced modelling

Developing the mathematics needed for safe AI, quantum technologies and national security

Shaping maths education and strengthening the UK’s talent pipeline

Helping businesses, infrastructure and public services use mathematics to drive innovation and resilience

“I’m delighted to welcome our inaugural Fellows — individuals of exceptional distinction who collectively advance the mathematical sciences through discovery, leadership, education and real-world application.

As Fellows of the Academy, they will come together in service of the wider public good: bringing independent expertise to bear on national priorities, championing excellence in mathematics education, strengthening the UK’s research and innovation base, and helping to ensure that mathematics continues to deliver opportunity, resilience and prosperity across our four nations.”

– Professor Dame Alison Etheridge DBE FRS, the President of the Academy for Mathematical Sciences

Driving the future of the mathematical sciences

Lord Vallance, Minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) described the inaugural Fellows as representing “the very best of this national capability”, noting that their expertise strengthens security, boosts productivity and supports high-quality jobs across the country.
Dame Alison Etheridge, Professor of Probability at the University of Oxford, was appointed President of the Academy for the Mathematical Sciences in June 2024. At the time, the Academy’s Trustees noted that Professor Etheridge was the ideal person to lead on its vision to focus on “mathematical sciences wherever they happen.”

As part of the Academy, Fellows will work together to strengthen mathematics education and the national skills pipeline, support safe and effective AI and emerging technologies, advise on climate, energy and infrastructure challenges and foster innovation across business and industry.

A powerful collective voice

The strong representation from SES universities demonstrates our central role in shaping the UK’s scientific and technological future. Our presence across the Academy’s founding Fellowship reflects both the depth of expertise within SES institutions and the partnership’s wider contribution to the UK’s research, innovation and economic growth.

University Spotlight

Seven Cambridge researchers have been appointed Fellows of the Academy for the Mathematical Sciences. The new Cambridge Fellows are:

Professor Sir John Aston FRS
Professor Anne-Christine Davis OBE
Professor Richard Samworth FRS
Professor Carola-Bibiane Schönlieb
Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter FRS OBE
Professor Jack Thorne FRS
Professor Wendelin Werner

Seven academics from Imperial College London have been appointed Fellows by the National Academy for Mathematical Sciences. The academics, six from the Department of Mathematics and one from the Department of Physics at Imperial, were announced today at an event held at the Royal Society.

The seven Fellows from Imperial are:

Professor Kevin Buzzard
Professor Ana Caraiani
Professor Dan Crisan
Professor Claudia de Rham
Sir Simon Donaldson
Professor Darryl Holm
Professor Guy Nason

Three King’s College London mathematicians have been appointed fellows of the new Academy for the Mathematical Sciences, joining leading UK mathematicians from academia, industry, education and government. The new King’s fellows are:

Professor Margaret Brown
Professor Dan Abramson
Professor Owen Patashnick

Twelve Oxford academics have been appointed to the Academy for the Mathematical Sciences’ inaugural cohort of Fellows.

The twelve Fellows from Oxford are:

Professor José Antonio Carrillo de la Plata
Professor Gui-Qiang George Chen
Professor Rama Cont
Professor Christl Donnelly
Professor Leslie Ann Goldberg
Professor Deirdre Hollingsworth
Professor Jason Lotay
Dr Robert Leese
Professor James Maynard
Professor Christoph Reisinger
Professor Sarah Waters
Professor Zubin Siganporia

Three UCL mathematicians have been elected as inaugural Fellows of the Academy for the Mathematical Sciences

The three Fellows from UCL are:

Professor Dame Celia Hoyles
Professor Elinor Jones
Professor Helen Wilson

Explore the Academy for the Mathematical Sciences

To see the full list of Fellows and read their bios, please follow this link