Four Queen’s University researchers with expertise ranging from arts education to software analytics have been elected to the Royal Society of Canada (RSC), the most senior and prestigious academic society in Canada.

Stephen Archer, Heather Stuart and Rena Upitis were elected to the Fellowship, while Ahmed Hassan was named a member of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.

RSC Fellows are internationally recognized leaders in their respective research fields, including the arts, social and natural sciences, health sciences and humanities. Candidates can be nominated by existing Fellows or by one of the RSC's member institutions. Competitive candidates are elected by their peers.

The College is a separate program that recognizes the emerging generation of Canadian intellectual leadership and seeks to gather scholars, artists and scientists at a highly productive stage of their careers into a single collegium where new advances in understanding will emerge from the interaction of diverse intellectual, cultural and social perspectives.

“The four newly-elected RSC members have made significant research contributions nationally and internationally, demonstrative of the range of research expertise and excellence found across campus,” says Daniel Woolf, Principal and Vice-Chancellor. “My sincere congratulations to these scholars who are being recognized alongside the best and most impactful researchers in Canada.”

The following four scholars have been elected:

Dr. Stephen Archer (Medicine) is Head of Medicine at Queen’s University and a world-renowned cardiologist and leader in several research fields, including oxygen sensing, vascular biology, and the experimental therapeutics of pulmonary hypertension and, more recently, cancer. He has made numerous discoveries that can undisputedly be considered firsts, particularly in regards to defining the roles of mitochondrial fission/fusion and metabolism in oxygen-sensing and cell proliferation.

Dr. Heather Stuart (Public Health Sciences), the Bell Mental Health and Anti-Stigma Research Chair, is a social-epidemiologist and award-winning researcher who has developed world-recognized translational research to reduce mental illness-related stigma. Coupled with novel partnerships with professional, governmental, and private enterprises, her research has allowed for the development, implementation, and evaluation of best practices designed to reduce stigma, promote recovery, social equity, and to influence mental health policy.

Dr. Rena Upitis (Faculty of Education) is a dynamic arts education scholar of international stature. Driven by a desire to build deep connections with the natural world, her work involves experiential learning, research, and social activism. Taking a holistic approach to human development, she has cultivated many spheres of expertise: arts education, digital literacy, mathematics education, curriculum development, sustainability studies, and architectural design. Her contributions have influenced educational practices in North America and globally.

Dr. Ahmed Hassan (School of Computing) is the Canada Research Chair in Software Analytics and the NSERC/Blackberry Industrial Research Chair in Software Engineering at the School of Computing at Queen’s University. He is a Canadian pioneer and recognized world leader in the engineering of ultra-large-scale systems. His track record of industrial collaboration has yielded numerous patents and innovations that are integrated into products and services used daily by millions of people worldwide.

The scholars will be formally inducted as Fellows and Members of the College at the RSC’s Celebration of Excellent and Engagement, Nov. 15-18, in Halifax. For more information, visit the RSC website.