Elected for their substantial contributions to social science, this spring’s cohort of Fellows includes Sarah Ayres, Profess of Public Policy and Governance at the School for Policy Studies (SPS), University of Bristol, and Treasurer on the Regional Studies Association Board. Sarah joined the University of Bristol in 2005. Her work has focussed on understanding how diverse actors solve complex social problems through collaboration and local leadership. As a renowned expert on English devolution, Sarah has been academic advisor to three UK Governments and is regularly invited to provide written and oral evidence to government inquiries. Her research is characterised by ‘engaged scholarship’ and centres on critical engagement with non-academic partners.
Sarah is currently working on a large transdisciplinary research grant called ‘Tackling the root causes upstream of unhealthy urban development’. The project aims to improve urban development decision making so that health outcomes feature before it’s too late. Sarah is currently working with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to co-design an evidence-based intervention to ensure that health outcomes form part of government appraisals for urban development schemes.
The Academy’s Fellowship comprises over 1,500 leading social scientists from academia, the public, private and third sectors. 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.
Sarah Ayres said,
“I’m delighted to be joining such an esteemed group of Fellows, each of whom has made an important contribution to social science in the UK. I will use my position as Fellow to continue to engage critically with policy makers in pursuit of solutions to complex social problems. There is a vital role for social science in promoting scientific excellence, good governance and social justice in contemporary policy making. I look forward to playing my part.”