Five UBC Science researchers join Royal Society of Canada

Five new elections to the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) are highlighting UBC Science’s strength in the computation sciences, conservation, particle physics and planetary geophysics.

Joining more than 60 UBC Science researchers recognized by the RSC since 2000 are Drs. Kevin Leyton-Brown (Computer Science), Leah Edelstein-Keshet (Mathematics), Catherine Johnson (Earth Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences), Diane Srivastava (Zoology) and Mark Van Raamsdonk (Physics and Astronomy).

“The Royal Society of Canada is very proud to welcome today an imposing group of inspiring scholars, artists and creators whose peers have recognized their exceptional contributions to the world of science and culture and to the well-being of our society,” said Alain-G. Gagnon, president of the RSC. “The impact of their work will continue to be felt in the development of public policies for years to come, while adding greatly to the enrichment of public life.”

Fellows of the RSC are distinguished Canadians from all branches of learning who have made remarkable contributions in the arts, the humanities and the sciences, as well as in Canadian public life.

2023 UBC Science RSC Fellows

Kevin Leyton-Brown, Computer Science

A Distinguished University Scholar at the University of British Columbia, Dr. Leyton-Brown’s research focuses on artificial intelligence, mostly at the intersection of machine learning and game theory and electronic markets and the design of heuristic algorithms. He has co-written two books, Multiagent Systems and Essentials of Game Theory, and over 100 peer-refereed technical articles. Dr. Leyton-Brown is a fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery and the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence.

Leah Edelstein-Keshet, Mathematics

Dr. Edelstein-Keshet's research interests include mathematical cell biology, modelling cell motility and polarization, intracellular signaling, pattern formation, and models for swarming and social aggregation. She has been awarded the Krieger-Nelson prize of the Canadian Mathematical Society, the research prize of the Canadian Applied and Industrial Mathematics Society, and the Arthur Winfree Research Prize of the Society for Mathematical Biology. In 2022, Dr. Edelstein-Keshet was awarded the John von Neumann Prize, the highest honour and flagship lecture of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics.

Catherine Johnson, Earth Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences

Dr. Johnson’s research focuses on geophysical investigations of terrestrial planets, moons and small bodies in our solar system. That has included the magnetic fields of Mercury, Mars, Earth and the Moon, the lithospheric structure and the tectonic, magmatic and thermal evolution of Venus, and the seismicity and the interior structure of Mars and the Moon. Her lab uses sample, observatory and satellite data to probe the interior structure and history of these bodies, and to understand how internal and external processes interact to shape a planet or moon’s evolution.

Diane Srivastava, Zoology

Research in the Srivastava lab focuses on fundamental questions in community ecology, including those that help develop the theoretical basis of conservation. The research centres around the ecology of species diversity, in particular, how ecosystem function relates to trophic and species diversity, maintenance of local species richness, the impact of habitat on local species diversity, and how human activities affect species diversity. Dr. Srivastava is a University of British Columbia Distinguished University Scholar.

Mark Van Raamsdonk, Physics and Astronomy

Dr. Van Raamsdonk’s research is designed to build a better theoretical understanding of elementary particle physics, classical and quantum gravity, and cosmology. He is currently working to understand the implications for gravitational physics of fundamental results in quantum information theory, and also to understand better which properties of quantum states are required to describe gravitational space-times. Dr. Van Raamsdonk is a Simons investigator and a member of the Simons Foundation It from Qubit collaboration.