Shamit Saggar to lead the Campaign for Social Science

Leading Essex academic Professor Shamit Saggar is to play a key national role in championing how research in the social sciences can improve people’s lives and help us understand our changing world.

Professor Saggar, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at the University of Essex, has been appointed Chair of the Campaign for Social Science.

Professor Saggar, who was awarded a CBE for services to social science and public policy in the Queen’s Birthday Honours earlier this year, said: “Modern social science is central to achieving a prosperous and cohesive society and during the past six years the Campaign for Social Science has had great success in making this case to influential audiences.

“I am alive to the fact that there are important allies for the Campaign in the research user and practitioner communities, particularly in government, regulation, commerce and non-profits. Social science research and evidence makes a real difference to how well each of these sectors performs and in turn the public standing of social science.”

The Campaign for Social Science is sponsored by the Academy of Social Sciences, which exists to be the voice of social science in the UK, 

Professor Roger Goodman, Chair of the Academy, said: “Professor Saggar brings with him a wealth of experience across the whole spectrum of social science activity and in particular in creating bridges between the academic and practitioner communities.”

Professor Saggar takes over from Professor James Wilsdon on 1 October 2017.