Bermuda resident James Martin has been offered honorary fellowship of The Royal Institution of Great Britain.

Dr. Martin, one of the leading lights in the development of computer technology was given the honour in recognition of his "outstanding contribution to the education of future scientists".

The prolific author and futurologist, who has a home on Agar's Island, in June 2005 founded the James Martin 21st Century School, made up of 15 different institutes researching the major challenges facing humanity this century. The School is based at Oxford University.

Dr. Martin was a Pulitzer nominee for his 1977 book "The Wired Society: A Challenge for Tomorrow", which predicted the highly connected world we live in today.

He was ranked fourth in ComputerWorld's 25th Anniversary Edition's most influential people in computer technology.

The Institution's director, Baroness Susan Greenfield told The Royal Gazette that Dr. Martin hoped to be able to accept the honour some time in the New Year. In doing so, Dr. Martin will join an elite club of only 36 exceptional and passionate promoters of science.

"I've known James for about five years and I've always been impressed with his vision and his energy," Baroness Greenfield said. "So many people tell you why things won't work or why they're not possible — but James is one of those few people who will look to the far horizons to find a solution.

"He's one of those rare people who has vision and makes things happen and that's why I believe he's such a fine role model."

Dr. Martin's latest book is entitled "The Meaning of the 21st Century", in which he looks in detail at the challenges facing mankind this century — such as population growth, climate change, the threat of nuclear terrorism, water shortages, poverty and the growing impact on our lives of surging technology — and ideas on how we can manage these challenges to a successful outcome.

For more than 200 years the Institution has been a centre for groundbreaking research. Breakthroughs achieved there included the electricity generator, devised by Michael Farraday, and Sir Humphry Davy's miner's lamp.