UCSB Chancellor Henry and Mrs. Dilling Yang recently held a reception to celebrate the election of Professors Michael Goodchild and Craig Hawker to Britain’s Royal Society (see the May 24 article). The June 5 reception was hosted by the Yangs at University House, the chancellor’s residence on campus. Chancellor Yang, Executive Vice Chancellor Gene Lucas, and Vice Chancellor for Research Michael Witherell joined with other proud colleagues and friends in celebrating the election to the Royal Society of Craig Hawker, as a Fellow, and Michael Goodchild, as a Foreign Member.
In his remarks, Chancellor Yang noted that their achievements are particularly remarkable, in that only seven scholars from U.S. universities were elected to the Royal Society this year. To have two members from the same U.S. university elected to the Royal Society in the same year is very rare. He also noted that the Royal Society is the world’s oldest scientific academy, with 350 years of prestige and reputation, and that Professors Hawker and Goodchild will be signing their names alongside those of Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Francis Crick, James Watson, Stephen Hawking, and more than 60 Nobel Laureates in the Royal Society’s Charter Book. The Chancellor read their official election citations, and emphasized that this special honor for Professors Hawker and Goodchild was eminently well deserved and a source of great pride for our entire campus community.
According to the online edition of the UCSB Daily Nexus, Hawker, who also teaches biochemistry and materials courses at UCSB, said he was thrilled to be elected to the prestigious association: “To be honored by a fellowship in the world’s oldest scientific society which is celebrating its 350th anniversary and includes greats such as Newton and Darwin is a humbling experience.” Professor Goodchild said he is especially appreciative of the honor due to his British roots: “I am originally from Britain and I know what this means, and it’s huge,” Goodchild said. “I have difficulty explaining it to people without a British background. This is a great thing for me and a great thing for Geography.” Furthermore, Goodchild said he hopes his students recognize the importance of the Royal Society and use the knowledge as motivation to excel academically: “I think it is tremendously important for my students to know that receiving these awards is possible and exists,” he said. “I hope that they look forward to having a similar role themselves.”
Editor’s note: Many thanks to Professor Keith Clarke for providing the accompanying photographs and to Kimberly Howarth, University House Manager, Office of Public Events, for providing background information about the reception.
Yang_Mike.jpg<|>1200<|>Chancellor Henry Yang with Mike Goodchild who was elected as a Foreign Member of the Royal Society{|}Hawker.jpg<|>1200<|>Craig Hawker, Fellow of the Royal Society{|}Tobler_Mike.jpg<|>1200<|>Waldo Tobler was among the guests at the reception in honor of Goodchild and Hawker{|}Mike_YangAccolade.jpg<|>1200<|>Mike bows his head as Yang reads the official election citation
