Contents

Latest News
Policy and Research
Campaign for Social Science
Fellows' News
Member Societies' News
Events

The Academy of Social Sciences welcomes 64 leading social scientists to its Fellowship

Fellowship nominations for autumn 2025

The second and final round of Fellowship nominations for 2025 is now open, and we encourage nominations from the academic, public, private and third sectors. Nominees must be people of established status and reputation, shown through evidence of eminence in their field and the impact made to wider social science. We are committed to increasing diversity in our Fellowship and welcome nominations from all backgrounds.   

Visit the Nominate a Fellow section on our website for the guidance and nominations forms. The deadline for nominations is 1 June 2025. 

Congratulations to our newly accredited learned societies

The Academy congratulates the British Accounting and Finance Association (BAFA), the British International Studies Association (BISA) and the Socio-Legal Studies Association (SLSA) who have all been awarded accredited status. Accreditation recognises an approved process by which member learned societies nominate from within their own membership for Fellowship of the Academy, for consideration by the Academy's Nominations Committee. We look forward to continuing to work with our member social science societies to recognise excellence in social science research and practice across all relevant disciplines. For further information about accreditation, please contact administrator@acss.org.uk.

Reminder: REF 2029 Panel recruitment

As a reminder, open recruitment for the REF 2029 sub-panels remains open, with the closing date for REF 2029 sub-panel member roles and other panel expert roles being midday 28 April 2025. 

As an Academy, we encourage Fellows with suitable expertise to apply for positions on relevant sub-panels in Panel C and other main panels as appropriate. 

More information about the roles, including criteria and how to apply is available on the REF 2029 website. 

Statistics Assembly 2025 

The UK’s first ever Statistics Assembly, delivered by the UK Statistics Authority in partnership with the Royal Statistical Society, was held earlier this year and attracted over 550 attendees. This Assembly was held in response to a recommendation by Professor Denise Lievesley CBE FAcSS, a founding Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.  Denise was appointed in 2023 by the Cabinet Office to conduct an independent review of the UK Statistical System. Her report is available to read here.   

The purpose of the Assembly was to consult widely with statistics users and producers to understand the range of views regarding the priorities and data needs for the UK.  The intention is that holding a high profile Assembly every three years will lead to a more transparent and robust setting of the statistical agenda with a greater emphasis on user engagement. 

Chaired by Professor Cathie Sudlow OBE, the Assembly used a series of workshops to discuss the availability and need for data across 15 important topic areas including equalities, the economy, net zero, AI and technology, and the labour market.    

Dr Rita Gardner CBE, representing the Academy of Social Sciences, was delighted to be part of the Assembly Delivery Group to provide guidance in planning the event and to chair the session on the future of the census.  A summary of the Assembly is available to view on the UK Statistics Authority website. 

Policy update

In a big month for appointments, UKRI appointed a new Chief Executive, whilst a new preferred candidate was announced for the role of Chair at the Office for Students in England. Elsewhere, this month’s policy update also casts an eye over what the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review might herald for the UK’s university and research sectors, and what can be divined from the strategic plan for Wales’ new HE and research regulator.

Read the latest additions to the Campaign’s new Good Growth hub

We’ve recently published the following new pieces on the Good Growth hub, as part of the Campaign’s new project showcasing social science research and insights which offer informed perspectives on how the UK might best address its challenges around economic growth and productivity whilst balancing this against other competing policy priorities.  

• Enabling Good Growth: Place-based Solutions and Quality of Life Considerations - Professor John Bryson, of the University of Birmingham, argues that one size really does not fit all when it comes to economic growth and that growth-related policy must be tailored to individual regions and localities. He also emphasises the link between quality of life and good economic growth and suggests that policy must reflect this connection.  
• Rethinking Economic Growth: The impact of media narratives on inequality, wealth and growth - Dr Philippa Carr, Dr Simon Goodman, Dr Adam Jowett and Dr Jackie Abell explore how the media portrays inequality and wealth and the impact this has on economic growth and how we set about achieving it.  
• Targeting growth policy and investment where it matters most - Paul Ormerod suggests increasing productivity and growth by targeting economic growth in second-tier cities, facilitating increased productivity within the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) sector, and more effectively spreading innovation within industries. 

Watch this space for forthcoming events

Make sure you keep checking the Campaign’s website and this bulletin for details on forthcoming events in our series on Good Growth as well as the next events in our series on AI in collaboration with UKES and SRA. Details of the next events will be confirmed shortly. 

Topics we’ll be covering across the two series include: 

• The impact of AI on the financial sector 
• How democratic institutions can manage and use AI technologies 
• The relationship between wealth inequality and economic growth 
• How the UK can increase productivity to support good growth 
• How a new UK-EU trading relationship might support the UK's good growth objectives 
• Whether increasing happiness and improving wellbeing can help create economic growth 

And don’t forget that most of our events are recorded and you can watch them back whenever you like. 

New books by FAcSS

• Controlling Contagion: Epidemics and Institutions from the Black Death to Covid, Ogilvie, S. (2025) Princeton University Press
• Our Subversive Voice: The history and politics of English protest songs, 1600-2020, Street, J., Cox Jensen, O., Finlayson, A., McShane, A., and Worley, M. (2025) McGill-Queen's University Press
• The Experience of ‘Defending’ the Doctoral Dissertation. International comparative studies of the final oral examination, Byram, M. and Stoicheva, M. (2025) Routledge
• Linking Theory with Practice in the ClassroomA Hybrid Model of Lesson Study Research in Action, Elliott, J. and Christoforatou, V. (eds) (2024) Routledge
• Changemakers. Radical Strategies for Social Movement Organising, Holggate, J. and Page, J. (2025) Bristol University Press 
• The Balancing Act: An Evidence-Based Approach to Teaching Phones, Reading and Writing, Wyse, D. and Hacking, C. (2024) Routledge 
• Integrity: The Rise of a Distinctive Western Idea and Its Destiny, Albrow, M. (2024) Polity
• International Cooperation When Mistrust Deepens, Perri 6, and Heims, E. (2024) Oxford University Press. We have been advised that the following promotion code will provide a 30% discount when ordering through OUP: ASFLYQ6
• Thinking Through Family. Narratives of Care Experienced Lives, Boddy, J. with Hanrahan, F. and Wheeler, B. (2023) Bristol University Press
• Social Science: A Very Short Introduction, Betts, A. (2024) Oxford University Press
• Rethinking rural studies, Brown, D. and Shucksmith, M. (2024) Elgar
• New Perspectives on Intergovernmental Relations: Crisis and Reform, Kuhlmann, S., Laffin, M., Wayenberg, E. and Bergstrom, T. (eds) (2024) Palgrave Macmillan Cham
• The Sociology of Emotions. Feminist, Cultural and Sociological Perspectives, Brooks, A. (2024) Bristol University Press
• Creating Empowering Environments for People with Dementia, Charras, K., Hogervorst, E., Wallcook, S., Kuliga, S. and Woods, B. (eds) (2024) Routledge
• Volunteering in the UK: the spirit of service, Mohan, J. (2024) Manchester University Press
• Criminal Psychology in Action: A Project Based Approach, Canter. D (2004) Routledge
• Pandemic Societies: A Critical Public Health Perspective, Petersen, A. (2024) Bristol University Press
• The New Governance of Religious Diversity, Modood, T. and Sealy, T. (2024) Polity Books
• The Resilience of Multiculturalism: Ideas, Politics, Practice, Sealy, T., Uberoi, V. and Meer, N. (2024) Edinburgh University Press
• The Handbook of Creative Data Analysis, edited by Kara, H., Mannay, D. and Roy, A. (2024) Bristol University Press
  

If you are an Academy Fellow and have a new book you would like included in these listings, please email us with a link to your publication at media@acss.org.uk

BAAL news 

The 58th Annual Conference of the British Association for Applied Linguistics (BAAL 2025) will be hosted by the University of Glasgow between 4-6 September 2025 on the theme Applied linguistics in the face of global challenges and local needs. The theme is an opportunity for attendees to reflect on the role of applied linguistics in the changing world, with fast technological advances and more interconnected societies on the one hand and challenges, such as the climate crisis or the rise of isolationistic politics worldwide, on the other. Find out more, including the list of confirmed plenary speakers.  
  
The call for proposals for the BAAL Testing, Evaluation and Assessment Special Interest Group (TEASIG)’s 2025 conference is now open. With the language assessment landscape rapidly changing in the age of AI, new technologies and shifts in social and educational policies, are language assessment constructs keeping up or do we need a revolution? 
The theme for the 2025 conference is "Language assessment constructs: evolution or revolution?", emphasising the dynamic and evolving nature of language assessment constructs. BAAL TEASIG invites researchers, academics, practitioners and students to join them in exploring whether our current constructs still hold relevance or need rethinking. The conference will take place on 4 July 2025 at the University of Reading and the deadline for submissions is 14 April 2025. Submit your proposals here or contact the organising committee at BAALTEASIG@gmail.com for further information.

BAICE Presidential Workshop Series 

This year, ahead of the UKFIET 2025 conference, BAICE President Professor Arathi Sriprakash will be hosting a workshop series, Anti-Racism and Reparations: perspectives from Comparative and International Education. All are warmly welcome to attend and contribute! Registration details for each workshop in the series are on the BAICE website.

BERA news

BERA’s 2024 annual report, BERA 2024 Annual Report: Celebrating 50 Years of Educational Research, provided an opportunity for BERA to reflect on their rich history while looking ahead to the future of educational research. 

The British Educational Research Association (BERA) is seeking enthusiastic and knowledgeable individuals to join the British Curriculum Forum (BCF) Steering Group, which plays a vital role in linking schools, colleges, universities, and practitioners, ensuring that curriculum research remains at the forefront of educational development. The deadline for applications is 28 April 2025. Find out more. 

The BERA Undergraduate Award 2025 is for recent graduates who have completed their undergraduate degree in a field related to educational research. The deadline for applications is 23 May 2025. Find out more. 

BISA news

The British International Studies Association (BISA) are pleased to announce they have six trustee positions up for election to the BISA Executive Committee. As the UK’s foremost professional association promoting International Studies, BISA represents the interests of those who research, teach and study the discipline. They strongly encourage applications from women, candidates from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds, and those with senior leadership experience in academic departments or faculties. All nominees must be BISA members and must be based at a UK higher education institution. Deadline: Thursday 17 April. Find out more. 
  
BISA is also delighted to announce the shortlist for the 2025 L.H.M. Ling Outstanding First Book Prize, celebrating innovative and boundary-pushing scholarship in International Studies. The shortlisted books are: Heiskanen, Jaako (2024) Ethnos of the Earth: International Order and the Emergence of Ethnicity. Cambridge University Press; Hobbs, Jenn (2024) Bodily Fluids, Fluid Bodies, and International Politics: Feminist Technoscience, Biopolitics, and Security. Bristol University Press; Krystalli, Roxani (2024) Good Victims: The Political as a Feminist Question. Oxford University Press; Rahman, Farhana Afrin (2024) After the Exodus: Gender and Belonging in Bangladesh’s Rohingya Refugee Camps. Cambridge University Press. Find out more. 

DSA news

Following cuts to aid budgets in OECD countries, including the rapid termination of US AID and a significant drop in investment in UK aid, the Development Studies Association are hosting a series of activities: 

• DSA are interested in hearing from researcher and practitioners who would like to share thought leadership and insights on the impact across social science work streams, for short pieces on LinkedIn, or who may wish to write blogs or be interviewed. Get in touch with Rowena, communications lead.  
• The Development Studies Association is hosting a panel discussion on the re-imagining a better aid system on 8 April at 1pm UK, online. The panel will feature Peter Sutoris (Leeds); Nicola Banks (Manchester), Divine Fuh (Cape Town), Nick Jepson (Manchester), Sue Roberts (Kentucky) Bright Simons (ODI). All are welcome. Find out more.   
• Save the date: the DSA are running a panel discussion on UK aid under Labour in partnership with the International Development Department, at the University of Birmingham to take place online on 29 April. Find out more.  
• Nicola Banks from the University of Manchester has written responses for the DSA on localisation of aid, Paul Gilbert from University of Sussex on aid contracting. The University of Cambridge submitted evidence on the FCDO’s use of aid contractors.  
  

The Development Studies Association’s annual conference will take place at the Centre for Development Studies, at the University of Bath in the year of the Centre’s 50th anniversary. The conference is open to practitioners, researchers and students across all fields relevant to development studies. Read this article on five reasons to attend DSA’s 2025 conference.  

PSA news

Voting is now open for the 2025 Political Studies Association (PSA) Trustee elections. PSA members should check their emails for ballots. Voting closes on 25 April 2025. Find out more about candidates.  
 
The shortlist for the PSA’s Mackenzie Book Prize 2024/25 has been announced. The winning entry will be announced, alongside the PSA’s other 2024/25 Academic Prizes, during their Annual International Conference at the PSA’s Annual Assembly on Monday 14 April 2025. See the shortlisted books.  
 
This new blog from the PSA uses the British Academy’s new dashboard tool to give an insight into who’s taking A Level Politics and Government. Read now.  
  
This new blog from the PSA written by Dr Begum Zorlu, Research Fellow at City, University of London, asks whether Turkey is starting a new peace process with the PKK. Read now.  
 
A call for abstracts is open for the PSA’s Race, Migration, and Intersectionality Specialist Group’s event, Political Studies Review Symposium: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Blackness and Black Politics. The deadline for submissions is 25 April 2025. Find out more.   

RTPI Awards for Research Excellence 2025

The Royal Town Planning Institute has renamed a category of the Awards for Research Excellence in memory of Professor Tony Crook CBE FAcSS FRTPI. The Tony Crook Award for Early Career Research will sit alongside the newly renamed Patsy Healey Award for Academic Excellence. The other award categories are the Sir Peter Hall Award for Wider Engagement, the Student Dissertation Award and the Practitioner Research Award. Entries for all categories are welcome before 19 May. Awards will be given by RTPI President Helen Fadipe at a reception hosted by Ulster University as part of the UK-Ireland Planning Research Conference on Wednesday 10 September.

Apply for a Journal of Management Studies publishing workshop

The Journal of Management Studies (JMS) and FGV EAESP are holding a Publishing Workshop in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on 8-9 September. The workshop will feature JMS editors and active scholars based in Brazil, with the first day open to all and the second day invitation-only based on the submission of a paper proposal. Spaces are limited and sign up is open until 31 May 2025. Find out more and register your interest.

Call for papers: SRHE International Research Conference 2025

The call for papers for the 2025 International Research Conference is now open. The conference will take place on 28 November online and between 2-4 December 2025 in-person at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham. The deadline for submissions is 15 May 2025. Visit the SRHE website to find out more.