Pasteur Foundation -UK Board member Sir Paul Nurse to return as Royal Society President
In October 2024, current Chief Executive and Director of the Francis Crick Institute and Trustee of Pasteur Foundation - UK, Sir Paul Nurse was confirmed as President Elect of the Royal Society. He will take over from Adrian Smith, the current President, on 1 December 2025.
A historic second
This will be the second time Paul has held the position of President of the Royal Society, having first taken on the role 15 years ago between 2010-2015. Paul is the first person to serve as President of the Royal Society twice since the nineteenth century.
The result of a ballot of the Fellowship was confirmed at a meeting of the Society’s Council on 8 October. The ballot saw the highest turnout in the Society’s recent history with 90% voting in favour, 6% voting against and 4% abstaining.
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Speaking following news of his election, Paul Nurse said: “I am honoured that the Fellows of the Royal Society have chosen to elect me to be their President. As a nation and as a species we are facing unprecedented challenges, from ageing populations to climate change. Science can help us understand and do something about these threats. Science can also help drive our economy and create well-paid jobs. Research must be at the heart of our society and as President of the Royal Society, I am looking forward to doing all I can to ensure that is the case.”
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Alison Noble, Vice-President of the Society and a member of the search committee for the President, said: “In Paul Nurse, the Fellowship have elected an exceptional leader. He is a world-renowned scientist, a high-profile public figure and has shown outstanding leadership at a range of organisations.”
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We at Pasteur Foundation- UK are delighted to congratulate our Board member on this prestigious appointment and look forward to following Paul's leadership of the Royal Society in the coming years.