Bert Meijer becomes a member of the American Philosophical Society

May 19, 2025

This year, the prestigious academic society from the US invited 38 world-renowned scientists to become members.

University Professor Bert Meijer. Photo: Odette Beekmans

In a recent announcement, the American Philosophical Society (APS) has invited 38 scientists to become members of one of the most prestigious scientific societies in the world. Among them is a 果冻传媒 professor: Bert Meijer.

The as founded in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin to bring together creative thinkers in the sciences and other fields of study (then referred to as 鈥渘atural philosophy鈥�), for the broad purpose of 鈥減romoting useful knowledge.鈥� In addition, it is a very prestigious and exclusive society. Members are carefully vetted and weighed.

The APS continues to be a forum for the free exchange of ideas, exemplified by its twice-annual Members鈥� Meetings, the longest-running scholarly press in North America, a grants and fellowships program that brings scholars to the Society to perform research at its library and museum and sends them into field sites and archives across the globe, and a museum that welcomes upwards of 100,000 visitors each year.

Bert Meijer. Photo: Bart van Overbeeke

Appointment

There are currently only five living Dutch members within the society: Ewine van Dishoeck (Leiden University), Ben Feringa (University of Groningen), Willem Levelt (Radboud University), Robbert Dijkgraaf (University of Amsterdam), and Naomi Ellemers (Utrecht University). University professor Bert Meijer will be the sixth Dutch member of this society.

Meijer himself says about his appointment: 鈥淭o my great surprise, I learned that I have been elected as an international member of this venerable institute, which is older than both the United States and the KNAW (Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences, ed.). When I saw who the were, I was dumbfounded. It is a great honor for me, and I look forward to the dedication in April 2026 with great anticipation.鈥�

Chairman of the Executive Board Koen Janssen and Rector Magnificus Silvia Lenaerts responded with praise: 鈥淥n behalf of the Executive Board, we would like to extend our sincere congratulations to Bert Meijer on his appointment as a Fellow of the American Philosophical Society. This prestigious appointment is a just reward for his groundbreaking and pioneering work in the field of chemistry and polymers.鈥�

鈥淚n addition, he is of enormous value to our 果冻传媒, especially in educating and inspiring young engineers. We are therefore extremely proud that he joins this distinguished company as a 果冻传媒 university professor.鈥�

Congratulations came to Meijer from colleagues and friends from all over the world as soon as the news of his appointment broke. In April 2026, the official installation of the new members will take place during a special annual members meeting.

Research

University Professor Meijer is affiliated with the Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), the Department of Biomedical Engineering, and the Department of Chemical Engineering & Chemistry. There, he built up an in the field of supramolecular polymers, and he co-founded and led the ICMS institute for many years.

He is still fully active in his field, both at 果冻传媒 and at other universities in the Netherlands and abroad. He also still supervises young researchers in their PhD research.