Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada (RSC), established in 1882, is the country’s most prestigious assembly of scholars, researchers and artists, dedicated to promoting excellence across various disciplines. RSC Fellows and Scholars are recognized as leaders in their fields, helping to build a better future for Canadians and citizens worldwide. By recognizing excellence, the RSC mobilizes its members to make substantial contributions of knowledge, understanding and insight through engagement with society.
About the Royal Society of Canada
The RSC is organized into three academies:
- Academy of Arts and Humanities
- Academy of Social Sciences
- Academy of Science
Together, these academies include over 3,700 distinguished members, including Fellows and members of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists, all of whom have made significant contributions to their respective fields.
2025 Royal Society Fellows
Dr. Evan Fraser
Department of Geography, Environment & Geomatics
College of Social and Applied Human Sciences (CSAHS)
Dr. Evan Fraser is a globally recognized expert on food security and sustainability, focused on feeding the growing global population while protecting the environment. His work examines political, environmental and technological drivers of food systems including AI and robotics. He advises national and international bodies and is a former Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Global Human Security.
Dr. Jacqueline Murray
Department of History
College of Arts (COA)
Dr. Jacqueline Murray is a world-renowned medievalist whose work has made influential contributions to social history. Her research on pre-modern marriage, family, gender and sexuality has helped advance scholarship on topics such as premodern masculinities and highlighted the contemporary relevance of medieval studies. She is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a leading editor and scholarly leader in her field.
Dr. Beth Parker
Department of Civil, Environmental and Water Resources Engineering
College of Engineering (COE)
Dr. Beth Parker is an international leader in hydrogeology, advancing understanding of groundwater science and contaminant transport. Her research informs water management, monitoring and remediation practices worldwide, shaping policies and advisory panels across Canada, U.S. and Europe. She is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the American Geophysical Union and a U.S. National Academy of Engineering member.
Dr. John Russon
Department of Philosophy
College of Arts (COA)
Dr. John Russon is a global leader in the philosophical study of human nature, exploring lived experience, wellbeing and human development. His writings, including a prize-winning four-book series, influence contemporary philosophy and teaching worldwide. He has delivered hundreds of talks internationally, hosts the Toronto Summer Seminar in Philosophy and shares lectures freely online.
College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists
Dr. Jennifer Geddes-McAlister
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology
College of Biological Science (CBS)
Dr. Jennifer Geddes-McAlister is a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in the Proteomics of Fungal Disease in One Health. Her interdisciplinary research tackles antifungal resistance and advances human health and food security. She founded Moms in Proteomics, an international initiative supporting mothers in STEM and leads the Canadian National Proteomics Network, advancing global research and mentorship.
Dr. Diana Lewis
Department of Geography, Environment & Geomatics
College of Social and Applied Human Sciences
Dr. Diana Lewis is a globally recognized Mi’kmaq scholar and Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Environmental Health Governance. She leads the IndigenERA Lab, advancing Indigenous-led, community-based research on environmental risks. Her work informs policy and decision-making, emphasizes Indigenous worldviews and supports data sovereignty. She is a co-author of Canada’s first Indigenous-led climate change report.
Dr. Heather Murphy
Department of Pathobiology
Ontario Veterinary College (OVC)
Dr. Heather Murphy is a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in One Health and a leading expert on waterborne diseases. Her interdisciplinary research improves access to clean water globally, focusing on vulnerable populations. She has led major programs with UNICEF, studies private wells in North America to assess risks and advances interventions to reduce waterborne illness worldwide.
