We are delighted to update this story with the news that Professor Melissa Terras was named in the New Year's Honours List. She has become a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), for services to Digital Humanities.
Huge congratulations to Prof Terras for this recognition, which comes on the heels of her election as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, as reported below.
You can read more about the honour on The University of Edinburgh website.
Updated: 10 January 2025
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Professor of Digital Cultural Heritage, Professor Melissa Terras, has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Prof Terras is one of 71 figures elected at the organisation’s 2024 AGM, to support its mission: Leveraging the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy for everyone.
She said: “I’m delighted to be made a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, for services to digital innovation in the cultural and creative industries. Over the past two decades I’ve worked on a variety of projects developing digital tools and platforms in the arts and humanities.
“Since joining Edinburgh College of Art I’ve been supporting others in the creative community across Edinburgh to do the same, via Creative Informatics, our creative industries cluster.
“The creative economy is a major driver for the UK economy, and being honoured in this way shows both how important digital innovation is for the creative sector, but also how creative the field of engineering can be. I look forward to working with the Royal Academy in supporting further digital and data-led initiatives across the arts and culture.”
This year’s new Fellows reflect the Academy’s Fellowship Fit for the Future initiative announced in July 2020, to drive more nominations of outstanding engineers from underrepresented groups ahead of its 50th anniversary in 2026. This commits the Academy to strive for increased representation from women, disabled and LGBTQ+ engineers, those from minority ethnic backgrounds, non-traditional education pathways and emerging industries, and those who have achieved excellence at an earlier career stage than normal.
The new Fellows were formally admitted to the Academy at a special ceremony in London in November, when each Fellow met with Patron, Princess Anne, and signed the roll book.
