Dr. Robert (Bob) Ross (School of Kinesiology and Health Studies) who holds a cross-appointment with the School of Medicine, has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) in recognition for his work in exercise science. In addition to Dr. Ross, two other Queen's faculty members, Vedat Verter (Smith School of Business) and Christopher DeLuca (Faculty of Education), were also recognized by the Society.
Membership in the RSC is one of Canada's highest honours. The RSC recognizes leading researchers, artists, and thinkers across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences. This year, 105 individuals were elected Fellows and 54 were elected to the RSC College. Fellows are elected for their career achievements and hold membership for life, while the College recognizes mid-career leaders, who serve seven-year terms.
“Recognition like this is a moment to celebrate the people behind the research and the curiosity, commitment, and collaboration that have shaped their work throughout their careers,” says Nancy Ross, Vice-Principal (Research). “Their achievements also reflect the breadth of research at Queen’s and the many ways our researchers advance their fields and contribute to society.”
Dr. Ross has built his career around understanding how physical activity and nutrition can prevent and manage chronic disease. He has led large, randomized trials showing that exercise can reduce abdominal obesity and insulin resistance with or without weight loss, helping change how researchers and health professionals understand the benefits of physical activity. He has also brought that evidence into clinical and public-health guidance. He led an American Heart Association scientific statement on assessing cardiorespiratory fitness in clinical practice and chaired the development of Canada’s 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for adults, which combine recommendations for physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep.
The RSC will induct its 2026 Fellows and College members on Nov. 13 at its annual Celebration of Excellence and Engagement in Ottawa.
Learn more about the Royal Society of Canada’s 2026 Fellows and College members.
A version of this story originally appeared in the Queen's Gazette.