Leeds researchers elected Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences
Four Professors across the University of Leeds have been awarded Fellowships with the prestigious Academy of Social Sciences for their outstanding research.
The newly elected Fellows are:
- Professor James Ford, Priestley Chair in Climate Adaptation, School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability
- Professor Lucie Middlemiss, Professor of Environment and Society, School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability
- Professor Cristina Stefan, Professor of International Relations and Global Governance, School of Politics and International Studies
- Professor Kevin Keasey, Professor of Accounting and Finance, Leeds University Business School.
They have been elected as Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences for their contribution to the field, through research with communities, on climate change adaptation, sustainability, global peace and security, and economic policy.
President of the Academy, Will Hutton FAcSS, said: “I’m delighted to welcome these leading social scientists to the Academy’s Fellowship this spring.
“Their substantial contributions have furthered knowledge and our understanding in tackling a wide range of societal challenges including working with Indigenous communities in the Arctic to better understand climate risk, memory retrieval processes in legal contexts, social inequalities, economic policy and tackling hate crime.
“We look forward to working with them to further promote the important role the social sciences play in our daily lives.”
The four Leeds researchers will join the Academy of Social Sciences’ community of leading professionals in the social sciences. This includes 1,700 leading social scientists from academia, the public, private and third sectors.
Professor Lucie Middlemiss said: “I am delighted to be joining the Academy of Social Sciences as a Fellow, and to find myself among such illustrious company. This is particularly important to me because I joined as a member of an interdisciplinary field – the environmental social sciences – which is not yet well represented in the Academy.
“I am passionate about the social sciences and their importance in addressing all aspects of environmental issues, and it is brilliant to be recognised as someone having an impact in this field.”
Professor James Ford said: “I am deeply honoured to be elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. For me, this recognition highlights the importance of the social sciences in understanding and responding to climate change, and the value of working closely with communities, policymakers, and diverse sources of knowledge.
“It will support my work by connecting me with a network of scholars and practitioners committed to translating research into meaningful societal impact that strengthens resilience, equity, and sustainability.”
Professor Cristina Stefan said: “I'm humbled and deeply honoured to be elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. The Academy provides a powerful platform to further champion the social sciences and work collaboratively to find solutions to the global challenges of today's world. Addressing power imbalances, institutional paralysis in global governance, and the erosion of international norms and legal frameworks represent one of the most important issues for social science right now.
“I look forward to working with peers, through bridging International Relations theory and practice, to advance the role of social sciences in tackling these global societal challenges.”
