Seven UCL academics elected as Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences

The Academy of Social Sciences Fellowship is made up of 1,600 leading social scientists from academia, the public, private and third sectors. Fellows are elected through an independent peer review that recognises excellence in their fields and impactful contributions to social science that benefit the public.

The academics elected to the Fellowship are: 

• Professor Lisa Calderwood, Professor of Survey Research and Managing Director of the Centre for Longitudinal Studies at the UCL Social Research Institute, whose research focuses on longitudinal survey design and data collection.
• Professor Tao Cheng, Professor of Geoinformation in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering whose research focuses on spatiotemporal data analytics, network complexity, big data, and applied AI for evidence-based policies and improving lives.
• Professor Ayona Datta, Professor in Human Geography in the Department of Geography, whose work focuses on urban, feminist and digital geographies and the dynamics of digitalisation and urbanisation in the metropolitan peripheries of the Global South.
• Professor John Jerrim, Professor in Education and Social Statistics at the UCL Social Research Institute whose work has focused on international comparisons of educational achievement, educational inequalities and the teaching labour force.
• Professor Zhifu Mi, Professor of Climate Change Economics in the UCL Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction who works on the economics of climate change.
• Professor Mike Raco, Professor of Urban Governance and Development at the UCL Bartlett School of Planning research focuses on the themes of the governance and planning of cities, the politics of urban diversity, and the changing nature of welfare states.
• Professor Dick Wiggins, Emeritus Professor of Quantitative Social Science at the UCL Social Research Institute, who uses statistical methodologies for social research questions including around trust in government during lockdown and the expression of political cynicism.

Through leadership, scholarship, applied research, policymaking and practice, the new Fellows have helped to deepen the understanding of, and address, some of the toughest challenges facing society and the world.

Professor Geraint Rees, UCL Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation & Global Engagement) said: “Huge congratulations to my colleagues honoured today, whose work has helped transform the lives of people and societies around the world. Their experience and expertise demonstrates the relevance, importance and contribution of social science research at UCL and around the world.”

The UCL academics join 57 other newly elected social scientists from across the UK and around the world who have made significant contributions to industry, policy and higher education. This year’s cohort come from a wide range of backgrounds, disciplines and professions, including from higher education, think tanks, not-for-profit organisations and businesses, and overseas institutions.  

Will Hutton, President of the Academy of Social Sciences, said: “I’m delighted to welcome these 64 outstanding social scientists to the Academy’s Fellowship, whose research and practice are helping to develop solutions to pressing societal issues. From informing decision-making around environmental challenges and encouraging entrepreneurial growth to improving planning systems and tackling educational inequalities, their insights, skills and understanding are delivering positive impact to improve our daily lives.”

Links

• Professor Lisa Calderwood’s academic profile
• Professor Tao Cheng’s academic profile
• Professor Ayona Datta’s academic profile
• Professor John Jerrim’s academic profile
• Professor Zhifu Mi’s academic profile
• Professor Mike Raco’s academic profile
• Professor Dick Wiggins’s academic profile
• UCL Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction
• UCL Bartlett School of Planning
• UCL Social Research Institute
• UCL Department of Economics
• UCL Department of Geography
• UCL Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geomatic Engineering
• Faculty of Social & Historical Sciences
• UCL The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment
• IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society
• Academy of Social Sciences
• Official announcement from ACSS 

Image

• Top row: Professor Lisa Calderwood, Professor Tao Cheng, Professor Ayona Datta, Professor John Jerrim
• Bottom row: Professor Zhifu Mi, Professor Mike Raco, Professor Dick Wiggins

Media Contact

Mike Lucibella

• E: m.lucibella [at] ucl.ac.uk