Academia comes in many shapes and sizes, and being an academic is usually an honor that more than a few people struggle to achieve. In the case of a national academy membership, the endeavor may even be successful, but to become a member of the Academia Europaea, which brings together European nations, it is not enough to get recommendations at home, the decision is made differently, and the elected member not only receives a salary but also has to pay a membership fee!
The money raised from membership fees is of course used for noble causes. What are they? The London-based Academy, founded in 1988, says on its website:
“The object of Academia Europaea is the advancement and propagation of excellence in scholarship in the humanities, law, the economic, social, and political sciences, mathematics, medicine, and all branches of natural and technological sciences anywhere in the world for the public benefit and for the advancement of the education of the public of all ages. The aim of the Academy is to promote European research, advise governments and international organizations in scientific matters, and further interdisciplinary and international research.”
Our colleague Zoltán Kónya, a former member of the HSM Board, Vice-Rector for Science and Innovation at the University of Szeged, and Head of the Department of Applied and Environmental Chemistry, has been elected as a member of this organization, which now has over 5000 members and enormous scientific potential.
Congratulations and we wish you efficient work!