Prof. Steven Barnett conferred as Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences

Steven Barnett, Professor of Communications in the Westminster School of Media Art and Design is the first academic from the University of Westminster to be made a fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.

On 19 October 2016 The Academy of Social Sciences announced that it has conferred the award of Fellow on 84 leading social scientists. The new Fellows have been selected from across the spectrum of academia, practitioners and policymakers.

After an extensive process of peer review, the 84 new fellows have been recognised for the excellence and impact of their work through the use of social science for public benefit including leadership in higher education. Professor Barnett, one of the 84 new Fellows, is one of the country’s leading experts on media and communications policy and regulation, and regularly advises parliamentary committees, ministers and shadow ministers on relevant policy issues.

Speaking about the conferment, Professor Barnett said: “I am delighted and flattered by this award, particularly given the many distinguished scholars and practitioners who have been made Academy Fellows. Having spent a career applying social science theory and practice to an increasingly vital policy area, I am very grateful to the Academy for this recognition.”

Announcing the conferment, Professor Roger Goodman FAcSS, Chair of the Academy, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to confer a Fellowship on all these eminent social scientists.

“It is particularly gratifying to include a larger number of economists, policy makers and practitioners on this occasion. This is a result of our work to see representation from these areas increased to maintain balances between the individual disciplines and between academics and those working in the policy and practice communities. This gives the Academy legitimacy to speak on behalf of the social science community as a whole.”

The Academy of Social Sciences is the national academy of academics, learned societies and practitioners in the social sciences. Its mission is to promote social science in the United Kingdom for the public benefit.

Photo: University of Westminster