Three University of Otago professors have received national recognition for their research.
Prof Alan Musgrave, philosophy, Prof Emeritus Lawrence Jones, English, and Prof Emeritus Erik Olssen, a former member of the history department, have all been made fellows of the New Zealand Academy of Humanities.
The fellowships were awarded by the New Zealand Council of the Humanities, an organisation established last year to acknowledge people who have made a significant contribution to New Zealand's cultural, social and economic development.
Fourteen people received fellowships this year.
University of Otago law professor John Smillie, an expert in civil law, was one of 16 inaugural fellows last year.
Otago representative on the council Prof John Drummond said yesterday the 2008 trio were all worthy recipients.
Prof Jones was an expert on New Zealand literature, Prof Musgrave had gained an international reputation for his research into the philosophy of sciences, while Prof Olssen - who was still actively involved in research despite being retired - was considered this country's pre-eminent social historian, he said.
The men were congratulated at a function for humanities staff yesterday which also celebrated book publications and research grants recently awarded.
