New Honorary Fellows offer powerful messages

The risks we face from environmental changes in the Arctic and Antarctica, and the need to listen to marginalised communities were the messages delivered by two of our new Honorary Fellows last month

Professor Jane Francis, who is Director of the British Antarctic Survey, and Dr Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, author, lecturer and classical music advocate, both spoke at the LSW’s annual general meeting in May.

At the moment, the polar regions are changing so rapidly, more rapidly than we ever thought. And the impact is going to felt across the whole planet.

Professor Dame Jane Francis HonFLSW

They were there to be admitted as Honorary Fellows to the Learned Society of Wales, joining mathematician Professor Edward Witten and Dr Julia Gillard, former Prime Minister of Australia.

Dr Francis warned that the changes at the polar regions will not be felt there alone but will ripple out to affect us all. She also talked about Wales’ rich tradition of polar scientists and the importance of Cardiff as the site from where Captain Scott set off on his exhibition to the South Pole.

Communities, like the ones my children are from, black communities, are silenced and they’re not part of national debate.

Dr Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason HonFLSW

Meanwhile, Dr Kanneh-Mason, whose seven children are all classical musicians, spoke about the challenges faced by people from ethnic minority communities in having their voices heard. She stressed the importance, in turbulent times, of listening to often silenced voices. You can watch their videos here: