A Lancaster University Professor has been elected to the Learned Society of Wales in recognition of his academic excellence.

Idris Eckley, Professor of Statistics and Co-Director of Lancaster’s Data Science Institute, is one of 42 new fellows elected to Wales’ national academy.

The Society contributes to advancing and promoting excellence in all scholarly disciplines including providing independent and expert advice to Government.

Sir Emyr Jones Parry, the Society’s President, said: “I am delighted to welcome such a wide range of outstanding individuals to the Fellowship this year. Their election is recognition of excellence and achievement. They and their work are an inspiration to the nation.”

Dr Alexander Belton, Head of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Lancaster University, said: “Professor Eckley’s election to the Fellowship of the Learned Society of Wales highlights his outstanding contributions to the discipline of Statistics. His work, on the development and application of changepoints methods, lies at the interface of academia and industry, and is having very significant impact in both domains.”

Established in 2010, the Society draws upon the considerable strengths of nearly 500 distinguished Fellows based in Wales, the UK and beyond.