Three Distinguished Scholars Join HKIAS, Elevating Research Excellence

We are delighted to announce that three distinguished scholars have been appointed as Senior Fellows of the Hong Kong Institute for Advanced Study (HKIAS). They are:

Professor Dame Madeleine Atkins – President of Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge. With a distinguished career in advancing higher education in the United Kingdom, Dame Madeleine has been honored with multiple accolades, including the Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (2018).

Professor Françoise Combes – Professor at Collège de France, Astronomer at Paris Observatory and President of the French Academy of Sciences. A leading expert in galaxy formation and evolution, galactic dynamics, and the interstellar medium of galaxies, Professor Combes has been recognized with numerous prestigious honors, including the Gold Medal of CNRS (2020) and the L'Oréal-UNESCO International Award (2021).

Professor Étienne Ghys – Mathematician, Emeritus Research Director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), and Permanent Secretary of the French Academy of Sciences. His research interests span geometry, topology, and dynamical systems. Professor Ghys has received several distinguished awards, including the Clay Award for Dissemination of Mathematical Knowledge (2015) and the Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2024).

(Visit the HKIAS website for detailed biographies of the new Senior Fellows and a full list of our existing Senior Fellows.)

Advancing Knowledge Through Excellence

At HKIAS, we are committed to pushing the frontiers of knowledge. The impact of our institute is reflected in the caliber of our Senior Fellows and the pioneering research they contribute to global scientific and academic communities.

The addition of these three outstanding scholars further elevates the Institute’s excellence. Their expertise—spanning galaxy formation, mathematics, and higher education—complements and strengthens our existing faculty. They will join a distinguished group of Senior Fellows from around the world, working together to pursue fundamental research in the areas HKIAS has identified as its key academic priorities.

Students, postdoctoral researchers, and scholars from CityUHK will greatly benefit from their mentorship in the coming months and years.