Academy of Social Sciences Elects 74 New Fellows, Most from Universities

The Academy of Social Sciences has elected 74 new Fellows for 2026, with the cohort representing 38 UK organizations and a wide range of social science disciplines. The new Fellows include academics and practitioners working in universities, think tanks, research institutes and public research organizations in the UK and overseas.

Their areas of expertise include digital democracy, environmental sustainability, global justice, mental health and wellbeing, and social inequalities, with work spanning research as well as policy, public services, industry and civil society.

The 2026 cohort also reflects the international reach of the social sciences, with Fellows affiliated with organizations in Canada, China, Hong Kong, Macau and New Zealand, alongside institutions across the UK.

Will Hutton FAcSS, president of the Academy of Social Sciences, said the new Fellows included some of the most influential voices in contemporary social science.

“Their work is expanding knowledge, challenging assumptions and generating insights that are informing and even redefining decision making across government, business, education and civil society,” Hutton said.

He added that the Academy would work with the new Fellows to increase the visibility and impact of the social sciences in the UK and internationally.

Universities Dominate the 2026 Cohort

Universities account highlighting their central role in social science research and expertise.

University College London leads with five newly elected Fellows, followed by the University of Manchester with four. King’s College London, the London School of Economics and Political Science, Newcastle University, the University of Cambridge, the University of Glasgow and the University of Southampton each have three.

The cohort spans economics, sociology, political science, law, accounting, psychology, geography, education, public policy and sustainability, reflecting the breadth of contemporary social science research.

The Fellowship also extends beyond universities. Among the new Fellows are representatives of organizations including the Resolution Foundation, UK Research and Innovation and the European Trade Union Institute.

Internationally, the cohort includes scholars affiliated with Nanjing Normal University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Sun Yat Sen University and the University of Macau, as well as institutions in Canada and New Zealand.

Fellowship Recognizes Excellence and Public Impact

The Academy of Social Sciences has approximately 1,750 Fellows working across academia, the public sector, private organizations and the third sector.

Fellows are elected through an independent peer-review process in recognition of excellence in their fields and significant contributions to social science and its wider public benefit.

The 2026 cohort includes researchers whose work addresses major questions facing societies and economies, from the impact of digital technologies on democracy to environmental and economic pressures, health and wellbeing, and social inequality.

2026 New Fellows

The full list of the 74 newly elected Fellows is as follows: