Economist, physiology researcher named to world’s largest scientific society

Deirdre McCloskey and Mrinalini Rao were named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Photos: UIC Photo Services

An economist and a physiology researcher are the latest UIC faculty members named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world’s largest scientific society.

The honor is bestowed by AAAS members for socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications.

Deirdre McCloskey, distinguished professor of economics and liberal arts and sciences, was cited for her “outstanding contributions to world economic history and for provocative scholarship on the practice of economics, extending the field in humanistic and scientific ways.”

Mrinalini (“Meena”) Rao, professor of physiology and biophysics at UIC and former university vice president for academic affairs, was honored for “distinguished contributions to the gastroenterological field, particularly to intestinal epithelial transport, and for leadership in academic affairs and diversity.”

This year AAAS elected 702 fellows, who will be recognized at the AAAS annual meeting in February.

Founded in 1848, AAAS includes 261 affiliated societies and academies of science and serves 10 million individuals. The organization publishes the journal Science, which has the largest paid circulation of any peer-reviewed general science journal in the world and an estimated total readership of 1 million.