The American Academy of Arts & Sciences announced the election of 203 new fellows and 24 new foreign honorary members. Among the class of 2007 is Boalt Dean Christopher Edley.
Other dignitaries elected to the Academy include former Vice President Al Gore, former Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court Sandra Day O’Connor, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and a number of Nobel, Academy Award and Pulitzer Prize winners.
Founded in 1780 by President John Adams, the Academy conducts a wide range of interdisciplinary studies and public policy research with a focus on emerging international issues. Its broad-based membership is well represented by the 227 new fellows elected this year – including scholars, scientists, artists, civic, corporate and philanthropic leaders. New fellows and Foreign Members are nominated and elected by the Academy’s approximately 4,000 current members.
Academy President Emilio Bizzi says: “Fellows are selected through a highly competitive process that recognizes individuals who have made preeminent contributions to their disciplines and to society at large.”
Others elected from the Bay Area include Google CEO Eric Schmidt, John Lasseter of Pixar, Robert J. Spinrad of Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, and Chez Panisse owner Alice Waters.
Newly elected fellows will be inducted at a formal ceremony in Cambridge in October.