Former CASBS fellow and current CASBS director Margaret Levi was inducted into the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) during its annual meeting in Washington, D.C. on April 30, 2016.
As previously reported, Levi was elected to NAS last year.
Levi's election and induction is no small achievement. She is only the fourth female political scientist ever inducted into NAS. The others are legendary figures -- Theda Skocpol, Beth Simmons, and Nobel Prize winner Elinor Ostrom.
NAS is one part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Current CASBS research affiliate Arnold Milstein and 2015-16 fellow Robert Kaplan are both members of the National Academy of Medicine.
In total, five former CASBS fellows were inducted into NAS in 2016. Notably, three were members of the CASBS class of 1993-94: Levi, Robert Bates (also a fellow in 1985-86), and James Poterba. The other two inductees are Dorothy Cheney (1983-84) and Matthew Jackson (2005-06).
Currently, Robert Bates is the Eaton Professor of the Science of Government in the Departments of Government and African and African American Studies at Harvard University. James Poterba is the Mitsui Professor of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dorothy Cheney is Professor of Biology at the University of Pennsylvania. Matthew Jackson is the William D. Eberle Professor of Economics at Stanford University."This is one of greatest honors I have ever received," remarked Levi. "I am beyond thrilled to be recognized as a leading scientist by this select body and in the company of two other members of my CASBS class of 1993-94."
The NAS was established in 1863 and is charged with providing with providing independent, objective advice to the nation on matters related to science and technology. Members, according to NAS, are elected “in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. Membership is a widely accepted mark of excellence in science and is considered one of the highest honors that a scientist can receive.”
Back on the CASBS hilltop, on May 4, the CASBS community gathered to celebrate Levi’s induction. Organizer and fellow Rose McDermott led the assembled fellows and staff in a rousing toast (middle photo below).
"We all rightly and joyfully honor Margaret as she takes her place among a select group of women in political science to be inducted into the National Academy of Sciences," said McDermott. " Election to the Academy represents the highest interdisciplinary honor any scholar can achieve and symbolizes the wider professions's highest esteem for the influence and accomplishments of its members. This induction recognizes the depth and breadth of Margaret's remarkable contributions to political science."
