Professor Martin Laffin from Queen Mary’s School of Business and Management has been conferred the award of Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.
Professor Laffin was elected, alongside 72 other UK social scientists, for his outstanding contributions to research, and for the application of social science to policy, education, society and the economy.
The Academy’s Fellowship is made up of distinguished individuals from academic, public and private sectors, across the full breadth of the social sciences. Through leadership, applied research, policymaking and practice, they have helped to address and deepen understanding of some of the toughest challenges facing our society and the world. Their work has contributed to the UK’s position as a global leader in the social sciences.
Professor Martin Laffin, Professor of Public Management at Queen Mary said: “I am delighted to be recognised by the Academy of Social Sciences in this way. Academy fellowship is a particular honour as it recognises not only the quality of fellow’s research but also our wider contribution to the professional development and standing of the social sciences.
“I look forward to working with the Academy and my own professional associations to advance our disciplines and to pursue greater social science engagement in public policy.”
Professor Laffin’s research and teaching includes the fields of central-local relations, devolved public services, politician-bureaucrat relationships, professionalism in the public sector, intergovernmental relations and regional government. He has authored or co-authored five books and numerous articles and book chapters on public policy in Britain, Australia and the USA.
Professor Laffin has also recently finished a study of the reorganisation of social housing delivery during the last Labour government and is presently working on comparative studies of social housing and land-use planning.
Professor Mike Noon, Dean of the School of Business & Management at Queen Mary said: “I am delighted to see Martin recognised for his longstanding contribution to social science through his research on public policy and public management. His work shows how research can address key contemporary issues to influence policy makers and thereby achieve positive impact on people’s lives.
“Martin’s work makes a substantial contribution to the School of Business and Management’s research mission to promote good governance in the management of private, public and voluntary organisations.”
There are now some 1400 recognised Fellows working around the world, around three quarters of whom are doing so in UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) or have retired from UK HEIs since receiving Fellowship.
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