Academia Europaea is an Academy of Science, Humanities, and Letters for the whole European continent and includes European scholars who are resident in other regions of the world. Current membership stands at around 2300, amongst them are thirty-eight Nobel Laureates. Currently, there are 7 Members of Academia Europaea working in Wales.

Membership requires academic achievement and eminence, which is determined by the nomination, scrutiny and confirmation of the subject’s peer group and Council of the Academia. Professor Tucker will join a small and distinguished group of 113 European computer scientists who are fellows, only 11 of whom work in the UK.

Professor Tucker’s research over 30 years has probed the question: What can and cannot be computed by technologies now and in the future. His long-standing research with Professors Jan Bergstra (Amsterdam), Viggo Stoltenberg-Hansen (Uppsala) and Jeff Zucker (McMaster) – all familiar faces at Swansea – have mapped the limits of algorithmic computation and reasoning over all possible forms of data. His current research with Edwin Beggs (Mathematics, Swansea) and Felix Costa (Lisbon) has shown how to unify the theory of algorithms with theories of certain physical phenomena.They have uncovered fundamental limitations to what may be measured for a physical system using by computers for observation and data collection.

Other Information:

Academia Europaea

1. The concept of a 'European Academy of Sciences' was raised at a meeting in Paris of the European Ministers of Science in 1985. The new body was named the Academia Europaea and its Foundation Meeting was held in Cambridge in September 1988 under the first President, Sir Arnold Burgen. Its fifth and current President is Professor Lars Walløe (Oslo).

2. There are 19 sections covering all academic disciplines.

Professor Tucker

3. Professor Tucker returned to Wales in 1989 after posts in Oslo, Amsterdam, Bristol and Leeds. He has held many leadership roles at Swansea: Head of Computer Science at Swansea (1994-2008) and Head of Physical Sciences (2008-2011). Currently, he is Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor, supporting Professor Cluckie and he is Director of Knowledge and Engagement for the College of Science.

4. Professor Tucker is a Founding Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales and was elected General Secretary of its Council: http://learnedsocietywales.ac.uk/

5. He is also a Trustee of the Institute of Welsh Affairs and of the South Wales Institute of Engineers Educational Trust.

This news item has been posted by Janis Pickwick, Swansea University Public Relations Office, Tel: 01792 513245 or email: j.m.pickwick@swansea.ac.uk