Three UofG social scientists have been elected as Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences.

Kezia Dugdale, Professor of Practice and Director of the John Smith Centre; Ruth Dukes, Professor of Labour Law; and Rosalind Searle, Professor of Human Resource Management and Organisational Psychology, have all received the prestigious Fellowships for their substantial contributions to social science.

They join a nationwide cohort of Fellows whose work highlights the importance, breadth and relevance of the social sciences to tackling the varied challenges facing society today.

Professor Sara Carter, Head of the College of Social Sciences, said: “We are delighted that three of our academics have been elected as Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences this year. Their work demonstrates how social science research improves public policy, society and all our lives. They join an illustrious community of over 35 Fellows at the University of Glasgow, all of whom are making world changing contributions to society, with a wide breadth of research spanning health and economic inequalities, the role of technology in society, sustainability, economic policy, innovation in education and much more.”

President of the Academy, Will Hutton, said: “At a time when the importance of the social sciences to addressing many pressing issues cannot be overstated, it’s a pleasure to welcome these 41 leading social scientists to the Academy’s Fellowship. Their contributions have furthered our understanding in tackling a wide range of societal challenges including mitigating health and economic inequalities, understanding the causes and effects of hate crime, the development of inclusive practices in education, and the future of cities. We look forward to working with them to further promote the vital role the social sciences play in all areas of our lives.” 

The Academy’s Fellowship comprises over 1,500 leading social scientists from academia, the public, private and third sectors. Fellows’ expertise covers the breadth of the social sciences, and their practice and research addresses some of the major challenges facing communities, society, places and economies. All Academy Fellows are selected through an independent peer review which recognises their excellence and impact, including their wider contributions to social sciences for public benefit. 

The new Fellows have been elected from 30 UK organisations, comprising 25 Higher Education Institutions, as well as think tanks, research institutes and nonprofits, and from countries beyond the UK including Australia and South Korea. 


First published: 4 March 2024