Two academics named in Young Academy inaugural cohort

Two academics from the University of St Andrews are among the first members of the new UK Young Academy, a network of early career researchers and professionals established to help tackle local and global issues and promote meaningful change.

As part of the first cohort of 67 members announced by the UK and Ireland national academies, Dr Rosa Filgueira, Lecturer in the School of Computer Science, and Dr Victoria Miyandazi, Research Fellow in the Institute of Legal and Constitutional Research, will have the opportunity to help shape the strategy and focus of this new organisation, based on areas that matter to them.

Along with their fellow members from across academia, charity organisations and the private sector, they will have the chance to inform local and global policy discussions, galvanising their skills, knowledge, and experience to find innovative solutions to the challenges facing societies now and in the future.

Dr Filgueira said: “I feel very honoured to be part of the first cohort of the UK Young Academy. Congratulations also to Victoria Miyandazi.”

Dr Miyandazi said: “I am honoured to be appointed as part of the inaugural UK Young Academy members. I am eager to actively participate in discussions, learn and make valuable contributions within the community as we work towards bringing about meaningful change in society.”

The UK Young Academy has been established as an interdisciplinary collaboration with prestigious national academies: the Academy of Medical Sciences, British Academy, Learned Society of Wales, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Irish Academy, Royal Society of Edinburgh, and the Royal Society. It joins the global initiative of Young Academies, with the UK Young Academy becoming the 50th to join the Young Academy movement.

The successful applicants officially took up their posts on Sunday 1 January and membership runs for five years. It is expected that the next call for applications will open later this year (2023).