Eminent professors conferred as Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences
Three prominent academics from the University of Southampton have been conferred as Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences.
Professor Derek McGhee is Head of Social Sciences at the University and joint coordinator of the migration strand of research for the Southampton-based Centre for Population Change (CPC). He has been recognised by the Academy for his eminent contribution to scholarship in the fields of identity, difference and citizenship, with particular interests on legislative discrimination and sexual minority groups, asylum seekers and migration policy, community cohesion, and counter-terrorism and security policies. Some of Professor McGhee’s recent CPC research includes investigating the role of non-government organisations in the return of asylum seekers and irregular migrants to their country of origin, improving our understanding of patterns of household formation, intimacy and social networking amongst East and Central European migrant workers in the UK, and Investigating migrants' attitudes to a changing EU.
“'I am delighted to have been awarded a Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences,” said Professor McGhee who was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts (RSA) last November in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Sociology. “Academic work in this area is highly relevant to public policy debate and change, particularly during the current political climate and it is fantastic that these scientific contributions are being recognised and promoted by the Academy at this time.”
Professor Catherine Pope is a leading interdisciplinary champion of social science across the full range of health care and she also has a particular interest “putting the social sciences” into Web science. Professor Pope, who was elected as a member of the Academy’s Council in 2015, leads Emergency and Urgent Care research within Health Sciences at the University. Her research examines health care work and the organisation and delivery of health services and she has contributed to major national evaluations of NHS Treatment Centres, and Walk-in Centres and Safe Nurse Staffing. She also played a key role in the Chantler independent review of plain paper packaging of tobacco which underpinned a major change in public health legislation. She said “As a member of AcSS Council I have seen first-hand the importance of the Academy, which brings together eminent academics and practitioners who use social science for public benefit. It is such an honour to be awarded this Fellowship.”
Professor Patrick Sturgis is Director of the Southampton-based ESRC National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) and past President of the European Survey Research Association. He is a significant leader in the development and promotion of high quality social science research methods who has lead research in the areas of public opinion and political behavior particularly with regard to social and political trust and social capital. He has acted in an advisory capacity on the design and analysis of surveys for government departments and third sector organisations. He chaired the British Polling Council and Market Research Society’s independent enquiry into the problems surrounding the 2015 general election polls. Professor Sturgis said, “The Academy of Social Sciences has been instrumental in highlighting the key contribution that the social sciences make to society and the economy, I am honoured to be conferred as a Fellow and look forward to contributing to its activities and initiatives in the future”.