Twenty-nine faculty of the University of California are among the 175 new U.S. members just elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, which honors the country's leaders in scholarship, business, the arts and public affairs.

The new fellows are university researchers, scientists, artists, and civic, corporate and philanthropic leaders, and include former presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, director Martin Scorsese and former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove.

Represented among the new members are more than 60 universities, a dozen corporations, as well as research institutes, museums, foundations and media outlets.

"I am heartened that so many University of California faculty been honored by this distinguished academy, underscoring their outstanding scholarship, and far-reaching influence on the lives of people here and abroad," said UC President Robert C. Dynes.

"These UC researchers are engaged in the creation of new knowledge in fields with real-world applications that improve productivity and the quality of life. They also inspire and motivate their students whose insight, expertise and creativity will help our nation tackle the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead."

Nominated by current academy members, the new fellows were selected through a highly competitive process that recognizes individuals who have made pre-eminent contributions to their disciplines and to society at large, said academy President Patricia Meyer Spacks.

The academy's membership comprises 4,000 fellows and 600 foreign members including more than 170 Nobel laureates and 50 Pulitzer Prize winners.

Eleven of the new American Academy of Arts and Sciences members are affiliated with UC Berkeley, six with UC San Diego, three with UC Santa Cruz, and two each with UC Irvine, UCLA, UC San Francisco and UC Santa Barbara and one with UC Davis.

The newly elected University of California members are:

UC BERKELEY
 
- Michael R. Botchan, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology
 
- David Eisenbud, director of Mathematical Sciences Research Institute
 
- Stuart Jay Freedman, Luis W. Alvarez Memorial Chair in Experimental Physics
 
- Tulio Halperin-Donghi, Muriel McKevitt Sonne Professor of Latin American History, emeritus
 
- Robert Peichung Lin, professor of physics
 
- A. Richard Newton, dean of the College of Engineering and Roy W. Carlson Professor of Engineering
 
- George F. Oster, professor of cell and developmental biology and professor of environmental science, policy and management
 
- David Andrew Patterson, E.H. and M.E. Pardee Professor of Computer Science
 
- David Romer, Herman Royer Professor in Political Economy
 
- Richard Taruskin, Class of 1955 Professor of Music
 
- Pravin P. Varaiya, Nortel Networks Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
 
UC DAVIS
 
- Craig A. Tracy, distinguished professor of mathematics
 
UC IRVINE
 
- Barbara J. Finlayson-Pitts, professor of chemistry
 
- Kenneth L. Pomeranz, chancellors professor of history
 

UCLA
 
- Peter Sellars, professor, theater and opera director
 
- Charles Stanish, director, Cotsen Institute of Archaeology and professor of anthropology
 
UC SAN DIEGO
 
- Shu Chien, professor of bioengineering and medicine
 
- Don W. Cleveland, professor of medicine, neuroscience, cellular and molecular medicine
 
- Kenneth Kaushansky, Helen M. Ranney Professor and chair, department of medicine

- David A. Lake, professor of political science
 
- J. Andrew McCammon, professor of pharmacology and chemistry and investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute   
 
- Keith T. Poole, distinguished professor of political science
 
UC SAN FRANCISCO
 
- Jeffrey Allen Bluestone, A.W. and Mary Margaret Clausen Distinguished Professor of Metabolism and Endocrinology, and director, Diabetes Center
 
- Robert W. Mahley, president, J. David Gladstone Institutes
 
UC SANTA BARBARA
 
- David D. Awschalom, professor of physics
 
- Michael F. Goodchild, professor of geography and faculty lecturer
 
UC SANTA CRUZ
 
- Harry Berger, professor emeritus of literature and art history
 
- David Haussler, professor of biomedical engineering and investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
 
- Harold Widom, professor of mathematics, emeritus
 
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences, founded over 225 years ago during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock and other leaders who contributed prominently to the establishment of the new nation, honors excellence and providing service to the country and the world. Through independent, nonpartisan study, its distinguished scholar-patriots have brought the arts and sciences into constructive interplay with the leaders of the public and private sectors.

For more information about the American Academy of Arts and Sciences:
www.amacad.org

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