Francesca Ferlaino, experimental physicist and Austrian Scientist of the Year, was elected a full member at this year’s general assembly of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
In this year’s elections, the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) elected 29 female and 17 male researchers in March. For the Academy, this year’s elections mark a turning point: for the first time in its history, women make up the majority of members under the age of 60. Francesca Ferlaino was elected a full member of the Academy’s Mathematical and Natural Sciences Class. She has been a corresponding member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences since 2021.
ÖAW President Heinz Faßmann said: “The Academy is becoming younger, more diverse, and more female. Over 60 percent of the newly elected members are women. The range of research fields is impressive and encompasses subjects of high social relevance, from democracy studies and Iranian studies to computer science, tumor biology, and quantum physics. I look forward to the fresh, unconventional, and inspiring ideas and perspectives of the new members, especially the Rising Stars of the Young Academy.”
The Academy is divided into a philosophical-historical class and a mathematical-scientific class, as well as a Young Academy, whose members are no older than 40 at the time of their election. In addition, the Academy admits honorary members. Elections for members take place every two years, while those for the Young Academy are held annually.