51cg

Prizes and Awards

Philip Abrams Memorial Prize 2007 Joint Winner (Best First Book in Sociology)

Research Overview

My research interests are in political economy, social and biosocial theory, well-being and energy (just) transition research. In terms of theoretical work, I have a specific interest in the way in which human biological capacities and propensities shape and delimit the dialectical relationship between individual and society, with implications for understanding social organisation, social change, interaction and well-being. From a more empirical perspective, I am interested in the way in which the contemporary trajectory of global developments and economic policy is affecting organisations, individuals and communities in terms of identities, working lives, health and well-being, social polarisation and social cohesion

Current Research

Aberdeen Just Transitions Lab - Energy Transition in Aberdeen

Social Determinants of Health

Understanding Contemporary Geopolitical Crises

Knowledge Exchange

'Aberdeen: Economy, People and Community in Transition'. Invited presentation at Understanding Population and Population Health Event, Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeen Town House August 2024

Stigma; Its Impact & Your Role (Invited) Lecture and Q&A - Community Planning Aberdeen February 2022

UK Political Economy and the SNP – SNP Inverurie Constituency Association (Invited) August 2016

           ‘’                     SNP Ellon Constituency Association (Invited) September 2016

           ‘’                     SNP Aberdeenshire Regional Constituency Association (Invited) September 2016

Panel Session, ‘Health or Wealth’, May Festival 2014,  James Mackay Hall, Aberdeen University with Dr Sandra Carlisle (Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, 51cg),Ewan Gurr (Trussell Trust) and Sir Malcolm Bruce MP. Chair: Eleanor Bradford, BBC Health Correspondent Scotland.

Regional Engagement with Aberdeen City Council, NHS Grampian, CFINE, Grampian Regional Equalities Council and other regional NGOs

MEDIA ENGAGEMENT

Interviews, comment and appearances: BBC Radio 4; BBC Television Scotland; Grampian Television; Scottish Television; Channel 4 'Dispatches'; The Sunday Times; The Scotsman; The Herald; The Daily Mail; The Daily Express; The Big Issue; The Sun; The Mirror; Aberdeen Press & Journal and Evening Express.

Collaborations

Aberdeen Just Transitions Lab (Current)

Aberdeen Health Determinants Research Centre (Current)

Political Activism and Social Media (Past) 

Funding and Grants

Just-Systems - Systems Approaches for Accelerating a Just Transition, UKRI (Feb 2025- Jan 2030) £5,705,834 Co-applicant 

Aberdeen Health Determinants Research Collaborative: NIHR (Oct 22 - Sept 27) £1,297,340 Co-applicant

Scottish Government Just Transition Commission - Aberdeen and Regional Planning (2024) £4,989 Co-applicant

Nuclear Decommissioning and Just Transition in Dounreay (2024) Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and National Decommissioning Centre, £44, 448 Co-applicant

Advancing Community Climate: deliberative participatory democracy within North East Scotland: Scottish Government (Nov 2022 - May 2023) £92, 396 Co-applicant

A Just Transition for workers in North East Scotland: Uplift (July 22 - Oct 23) £126,803 Co-applicant

Pilot Study (Pump Prime Funding) Transitions in an Energy City: The role of civil society in securing a Just Transition in Aberdeen, £11,407 Co-applicant 

ESRC Social Media - Developing Understanding, Infrastructure & Engagement, £541,922 (2014-2016) Co-applicant

Pilot Study: 'On the Treadmill': scoping study on labour and housing market effects on young people's lives and well being. College Small Grant  £1620

Teaching Responsibilities

My teaching across the Sociology programme reflects my broad expertise as a sociological generalist as well as my specialisms in social/biosocial theory and political economy. With respect to the latter, my interdisciplinary expertise has also led to me teaching on IR5007 International Political Economy, a course and programme devised and introduced jointly with PIR colleagues. I coordinated this course in 2018/19. As above, I also currently coordinate Thinking Sociologically and previously coordinated and reshaped Sociology’s honours dissertation programme, introducing taught elements to enhance student employability.