An HIV/AIDS researcher who has influenced treatment world-wide and a leader in the field of artificial intelligence are among the five University of British Columbia faculty recently elected to the Royal Society of Canada.
“This honour recognizes the significance of the contribution that these researchers are making – to the university, to the country, and to the world,” says John Hepburn, Vice-President Research and International.
The newly elected UBC members of the Royal Society of Canada are: (in alphabetical order)
Adele Diamond, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and a member of the UBC and VCHRI Brain Research Centre, is a pioneer in the creation of the field developmental cognitive neuroscience. Her work has led to new medical treatments for phenylketoneuria (PKU), autism, and ADHD.
David Kirkpatrick, a professor of Computer Science, is internationally recognized for his contributions to the design and mathematical analysis of algorithms and data structures. His research has broad application, from acoustic simulation of concert halls and video-on-demand broadcasting to computer graphics, robot motion planning and geographic information systems.
Alan Mackworth, a professor of Computer Science, is Canada’s leading figure in the field of artificial intelligence. His work has widespread applications for computer system design and has introduced a new discipline known as constraint programming. Mackworth is globally recognized as the founding father of the robot soccer challenge RoboCup.
Dr. Julio Montaner, is director of the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS and a professor of Medicine. His pioneering work on the use of combinations of anti-retrovirals to treat HIV/AIDS led to a new standard of care for AIDS and the World Health Organization recommendation that the drugs be used as first-line therapy for treatment of AIDS in resource-limited settings.
John O’Brian, a professor of Art History, Visual Art and Theory, is an internationally respected historian of art, visual culture and art criticism, particularly in 20th century North America. By analyzing the relationship between artistic practice, theory and public culture, O’Brian has shown the intrinsic importance of Canadian art. He has also curated exhibitions on the institutionalization of modern art, politics of landscape painting and uses of photography in the Cold War.
Established in 1882, the Royal Society of Canada is regarded as the country’s most prominent academy of scholars and scientists. More than 180 UBC faculty are members.
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