The move follows a whispering campaign against Lady Greenfield, the author of several popular science books, after several unnamed Royal Society fellows threatened to resign if she was given a fellowship. Some scientists believe her work is too insubstantial and that she is too interested in self-promotion.
In February the Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) reported that she was one of the candidates being considered for the 44 new fellowships awarded to scientists by the Royal Society every year for outstanding work.
A spokesman for the Royal Society refused to comment in detail on a story in today's THES which says Lady Greenfield has been rejected, but told the Independent: "The candidate in question was considered by the relevant sectional committees at the meetings in January and the decision was taken then that she, along with the majority of other candidates, would not be placed on the long-list for election this year."
A fellowship to the Royal Society is the equivalent of a lifetime achievement Oscar. Past fellows include Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin.
