A physicist at Bristol University has achieved the rare distinction of being elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, the UK national academy of science, joining the likes of Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Stephen Hawking. 

Professor Bob Evans has been honoured for his unique contributions to physics, particularly the statistical mechanics of liquids and surfaces.  His career spans 38 years at Bristol University where he has earned an international reputation as a theoretical physicist. 

His current research focuses on developing and understanding theories, structures and the behaviour of multi-component liquids.

The Royal Society is the world’s oldest scientific academy and has been at the forefront of enquiry and discovery since its foundation in 1660.  The election process is extremely rigorous and is based on the scientific system of peer review.

Professor Evans’s election brings to 30 the number of living Bristol University academics whose work has been recognised in this way.  Very few universities have a comparable number.

Professor John Steeds, Head of Physics at the University, commented: “This recognition of Professor Evans’s outstanding research achievements is well deserved and is particularly pleasing as Bob has belonged to the Bristol Physics Department for his entire academic career.”