Pope Francis has appointed as ordinary member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences the distinguished Professor Ewine Fleur van Dishoeck, lecturer in molecular astrophysics at the Leiden Observatory, Netherlands.

Curriculum vitae

Professor Ewine Fleur van Dishoeck was born on June 13, 1955 in Leiden, the Netherlands. She graduated in chemistry from the Universiteit Leiden and obtained her PhD at the same university. She is currently professor of molecular astrophysics at the Leiden Observatory. Leiden Observatory is the astronomical institute of the Faculty of Science of Leiden University. Established in 1633, it is the oldest university observatory in operation today. Since 2018 she has been an honorary member of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Chemische Vereniging. Her research concerns the radiative transfer of linear and continuous radiation; interstellar molecules; physical and chemical evolution during star formation and planet formation; submillimetre and mid-infrared astronomy; and basic molecular processes.

Appointment of ordinary member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences

The Holy Father has appointed the distinguished Professor Mpilenhe Pearl Sithole, lecturer at the University of the Free State Qwaqwa Campus in Phuthaditjhaba, South Africa, as ordinary member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

Curriculum vitae

Professor Mpilenhe Pearl Sithole was born on December 6, 1972 in South Africa. She graduated from the University of Durban-Westville, and was awarded a master’s degree and a doctorate, specialising in social anthropology, from the University of Cambridge, Great Britain. Returning to South Africa, she worked on rural development and policy management at the Human Sciences Research Council, and taught anthropology at the University of Durban-Westville and the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Since 2019, she has been a lecturer at the University of the Free State Qwaqwa Campus.

In 2011, she was awarded the Women in Science Award by the South African Department of Science and Technology, for her work as a social scientist.