Thursday September 24th 2026
Two Heriot-Watt University academics based in Edinburgh, Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer OBE FRSE and Professor Peter Cummings, have been elected Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering, one of the highest professional honours in engineering
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Two Heriot-Watt University professors have been elected Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering – one of the highest professional honours in the engineering sector.
Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer OBE FRSE and Professor Peter Cummings were among 75 new Fellows elected at the Academy’s Annual General Meeting on September 23.
The honour recognises individuals who have made exceptional contributions to engineering and technology.
Professor Maroto-Valer is Heriot-Watt’s Deputy Principal for Global Sustainability and the university’s inaugural Robert Buchan Chair in Sustainable Energy Engineering.
She is an internationally recognised expert in industrial decarbonisation and sustainable energy systems and leads the university’s Research Centre for Carbon Solutions, the UK Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre and the Centre for Doctoral Training in Green Industrial Futures.
Professor Maroto-Valer said she was “honoured” to have been elected and described the recognition as a “significant milestone” in her career.
She added: “As we face the urgent challenge of achieving a sustainable energy transition, engineering has a critical role to play in delivering solutions at scale.
“I am delighted to join the Academy and look forward to contributing to its work to co-create a more sustainable future.”
Professor Cummings is a globally recognised expert in molecular simulation and computational science, with research spanning chemical engineering, energy and materials science.
He is also John R. Hall Professor of Chemical Engineering Emeritus at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Since joining Heriot-Watt in 2022, he has co-founded and co-led the university’s Computational Molecular Science and Engineering group and co-led its global research institute for achieving net zero and beyond between 2023 and 2025.
Professor Cummings said his election was a “wonderful recognition” of his work and the efforts of colleagues, students and collaborators throughout his career.
He said: “It is recognition of our collective effort to promote the discipline of molecular-based engineering and science.
“I am delighted to receive this honour and look forward to continuing research that advances knowledge and supports future innovation.”
The Royal Academy of Engineering Fellowship brings together more than 1,700 leading engineers, entrepreneurs, innovators and researchers from the UK and around the world.
The new Fellows will be formally admitted during a special ceremony in London on October 19.
The announcement comes during the Academy’s 50th anniversary year and highlights the contribution of Heriot-Watt University researchers to engineering and innovation.
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