Essex Professor of Economics awarded prestigious Fellowship

Friederike Mengel, Professor of Economics at the University of Essex is one of 56 leading social scientists to be conferred Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences this spring.

Professor Mengel joins over 1600 Fellows across the world, and her appointment brings the number of Essex academicians to 24. The Academy’s Fellowship is made up of distinguished individuals from academic, public, private and third sectors, across the full spectrum of the social sciences. Through leadership, scholarship, applied research, policymaking, and practice, they have helped to deepen the understanding of, and address, some of the toughest challenges facing our society and the world.

Professor Mengel is Professor of Economics at the University of Essex and a Visiting Guest Professor at the University of Heidelberg. Much of her research is on (Evolutionary) Game Theory and Learning. Another focus of her research is the study of behaviour in social networks and the emergence of social norms. She also works on social identity, the formation of preferences and discrimination. In 2018, Professor Mengel received a European Research Council Starting grant for her work on Opinion Dynamics.

She said: "It is exciting to become a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. I feel very honoured and look forward to the opportunities and challenges that come with this role".

Professor Carlos Carillo-Tudela, Head of Department of Economics, said: “Professor Mengel’s Fellowship of the Academy of Social Science reflects the ground-breaking work she is doing in the field of Behavioural and Experimental Economics. Her contributions and projects have not only captured a European Research Council grant but also impact in the non-academic community. We warmly congratulate her on the fellowship.”

Professor Nancy Kula, Faculty Dean of Social Sciences, added: "It is wonderful to hear that Professor Friederike Mengel from our high-ranking Department of Economics has been awarded this prestigious Fellowship. It’s great to see her contribution to social sciences rewarded in this way. My congratulations to you, Friederike!”

Will Hutton FAcSS, President, Academy of Social Sciences said: "The Academy of Social Sciences is delighted to welcome an excellent range of highly distinguished social scientists from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, England, and beyond. As the work of social science becomes ever more important, we look forward to engaging with them in 2023."