Stefanie and Tucker

Tucker Carrington and Stefanie von Hlatky.

National recognition for Queen鈥檚 research

By Evangelyn 鈥淓J鈥 Kelvin, Communications and Strategic Initiatives Intern

Each year, the (RSC), one of the country鈥檚 most prestigious academic institutions, recognizes Canadian researchers for their contributions across the arts and humanities, social sciences, and sciences. This year, three Queen鈥檚 researchers have earned this honour for their outstanding work in civil engineering, international security, and molecular dynamics. Amir Fam (Civil Engineering) has been elected as a Fellow of the RSC and St茅fanie von Hlatky (Political Studies) will join the College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists. While Tucker Carrington (Chemistry) has been awarded the Henry Marshall Tory Medal. These recognitions highlight their research impact and national leadership in their fields.

Established in 1882, the RSC is Canada鈥檚 national academy, dedicated to promoting research and learning, recognizing academic and artistic excellence, and advising governments, non-governmental organizations, and Canadians on important matters. Its mission is to serve Canada by recognizing Canada鈥檚 leading scholars, researchers, and artists, empowering them to address issues that are critical to Canadians.

The RSC comprises three academies鈥攖he , , and 鈥攁s well as the , which was established in 2014. Fellows of the RSC are elected by their peers for outstanding career-long contributions, while College Members are early to mid-career scholars who have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments within 15 years of completing their doctorate. Since 1964, Queen鈥檚 has had 123 faculty members elected as Fellows and 22 inducted into the College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists.

鈥淓lection to the Royal Society of Canada is among our country鈥檚 highest research honours," says Dr. Nancy Ross, Vice-Principal (Research). "Congratulations to Drs. Fam and von Hlatky on recognition of their national leadership. Queen鈥檚 is proud to provide the conditions that enable transformational research with meaningful impact for Canadians and the world.鈥

Learn more about Queen鈥檚 2025 inductees:
Member of the College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists
Dr. St茅fanie von Hlatky is a Professor in the department of Political Studies and holds the Canada Research Chair in Gender, Security, and the Armed Forces. As a leading scholar in international security and feminist defense study, her research explores how diversity and inclusion can strengthen conflict prevention and resolution efforts. Alongside her team, she is investigating how military institutions are integrating gender-responsive frameworks with the goal of contributing to lasting policy change.

Dr. von Hlatky鈥檚 research has directly contributed to public discourse and policy making, most notably through expert testimony to the Arbour Review on sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces. She has also developed gender integration training materials for NATO personnel and regularly provides strategic advice to Canadian and international defence organizations.

Dr. von Hlatky is the founder of Women in International Security鈥揅anada as well as a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Fellow. She currently serves as Honorary Colonel of the Princess of Wales鈥 Own Regiment and is the co-director of the (CDSN). Her research has shaped national defence policies and institutional practices in Canada and across NATO, advancing equity and accountability in military institutions.

Henry Marshall Tory Medal
In acknowledgement of his outstanding career achievements, (Chemistry) has been awarded the from the RSC. Previously made a Fellow of the RSC in 2023, the gold medal recognizes Dr. Carrington鈥檚 leading research in the field of chemical physics. The gold medal is awarded every two years for outstanding research in any branch of astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, physics, or an allied science and is named after Henry Marshall, founder of the Universities of British Columbia and Alberta and former President of the RSC.

Dr. Carrington is the former Canada Research Chair in Quantum Molecular Dynamics. He develops and applies new methods for computing vibrational and ro-vibrational spectra, scattering cross sections and rate constants. The common theme of his research is understanding the motion of atoms. Many of the computational methods he has developed use iterative linear algebra techniques and exploit the structure of basis sets to make it possible to do calculations without storing or computing a Hamiltonian matrix.

Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
is a Professor in the department of Civil Engineering, Vice-Dean (Research) at Smith Engineering and the Canada Research Chair in Climate Change Resilient Infrastructure. A leading expert in structural engineering, Dr. Fam鈥檚 research focuses on sustainable construction methods using fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) and bio-based composite and ultra-high performance concrete materials to strengthen and retrofit aging infrastructure as well as developing energy-efficient buildings.

His research innovations, such as the use of stay-in-place FRP tubes, bars, or carbon-FRP prestressing cables, to eliminate steel corrosion in concrete, have revolutionized bridge construction across North America. His work has been applied in first-of-their-kind structures such as the Taylor Bridge in Manitoba, the Bombardier Transportation monorail test track in Ontario, and the Route 40 Bridge in Virginia.

The 2025 cohort of Royal Society of Canada Fellows and College members will be officially recognized at the RSC鈥檚 this November.

To learn more about this year鈥檚 inductees, visit the website.

This story originally appeared in The Queen's Gazette.