Four Queen’s researchers have been elected to the Royal Society of Canada (RSC), one of the highest academic honours for Canadian scholars in arts, humanities, and sciences. Professor emeritus John Berry has received the honour of Fellowship, while professors Heather Castleden, Karen Lawford, and Sari van Anders have been elected to the College of New Scholars, Scientists and Artists. This diverse group has research specialties ranging from Indigenous health policy, cross-cultural psychology, and gender/sex research to community and participatory-based research with Indigenous communities.

The RSC has two distinctions that recognize research excellence and impact. The first is the Fellowship, consisting of more than 2,400 peer-elected scientists, scholars, and artists, which recognizes well established and field-leading researchers. Fellows are selected for their significant contributions to research in the arts and humanities, social sciences, or natural and health sciences, as well as their impact on Canadian public life.

The second distinction is membership to the College of New Scholars, Scientists, and Artists. Those elected must have a minimum of 15 years of experience, post-doctoral or equivalent, in their field. Chosen members have displayed leading artistic, scholarly, or research excellence. The College, currently at over 300 members, aims to foster the emerging generation of intellectual leadership in Canada.

“Congratulations to our newly elected researchers on this considerable career achievement,” says Nancy Ross, Vice-Principal (Research). “A testament to their leadership across a range of fields, this honour recognizes the impact of the interdisciplinary and collaborative research being advanced at Queen’s.”

Learn more about the Queen’s researchers who have been elected to the Royal Society of Canada below.

Heather Castleden’s (Geography and Planning) community-engaged and participatory research in relational accountability and settler colonialism has fostered authentic partnerships with Indigenous communities across the country and beyond. As the Canada Research Chair in Reconciling Relations for Health, Environments and Communities (2016-2021), Dr. Castleden focused her work on decolonizing Indigenous environment, health and social justice research. She has recently been appointed the position of Impact Chair in Transformative Governance for Planetary Health at the University of Victoria.

Karen Lawford (Gender Studies) is an Anishinaabe registered Indigenous midwife who has made outstanding contributions to the field, ranging from maternal and child health to policy work for Indigenous Peoples. Dr. Lawford's research aims to centre the leadership of Indigenous women and Two-Spirit health care providers by engaging Indigenous communities as research partners, with a goal to ensure that they will benefit directly from her work. She is the first midwife to be elected to the RSC.

Sari van Anders (Psychology) is acclaimed for her multidisciplinary research in gender/sex, sexual diversity, and social neuroendocrinology. Combining the fields of psychology, gender studies and neuroscience, she has provided new understandings of gender/sex and sexual phenomena, as well as innovative approaches to feminist and queer neuroscience. As the Canada 150 Research Chair in Social Neuroendocrinology, Sexuality and Gender/Sex, Dr. van Anders' research often explores the meeting points of social constructions and norms and biological bodies. She is involved in change efforts and social justice within academia.

John Berry (Psychology) is recognized as one of the founders of cross-cultural and intercultural psychology and has made substantial contributions in these fields. Through his development of an ecocultural framework that conceptualizes the links among habitat, culture, and individual behaviour, Dr. Berry has been able to further investigate cognitive style and multiculturalism, with field studies spanning many regions across the world.

Queen’s is home to over 90 Fellows and 20 College Members. For more information, visit the Royal Society of Canada website.