Our latest Public Voice Scholars ready to make an impact

The University of Essex has revealed its second cohort of Public Voice Scholars, who will be championing research that improves people’s lives.

The 16 Public Voice Scholars will provide thought and practice leadership on public and policy engagement and research that makes a positive difference.

The programme, which started in 2022, aims to elevate the value of public engagement within the University and the wider community, with the Public Voice Scholars looking to become national and international leaders in public and policy engagement.

Essex’s Public Voice Scholars have expertise in a whole range of subjects from developmental psychology and wild writing, through to multi-media cultural memory and advancements in bioengineering inspired by marine life.

Led by the Centre for Public and Policy Engagement, the scheme continues to bring the public into the centre of the work of the University. The Public Voice Scholars cover a huge range of subjects and disciplines and will be a route for communities to shape the University’s research agenda.

Director of the Centre, Professor Jules Pretty, has led on many high-profile public and policy engagement projects including chairing the Essex Climate Action Committee and the Independent Commission supporting the Essex Renewal Project after COVID-19.

Professor Pretty says: “We are delighted to be announcing the appointment of 16 new Public Voice Scholars at the University of Essex. This brings the total to 30 academics from across all disciplines and interests. Each of our Public Voice Scholars is committed to creating ideas that improve lives and change policy.”

“Our Public Voice Scholars are already inspirational leaders, writers and speakers. All are engaged in the teaching of students, and creating innovative research ideas. They will be engaging with local, national and international communities to co-produce solutions to long-term challenges. They will also be working with policy makers if different ways to use evidence and insights to create wider benefits.”

The new University of Essex Public Voice Scholars

• Dr Nick Aldred, School of Life Sciences
• Dr James Canton, Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies
• Dr Nicholas Cooper, Department of Psychology
• Dr Matthew Gillett, Essex Law School
• Dr Paola Di Giuseppantonio Di Franco, School of Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies
• Dr Delaram Jarchi, School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering
• Dr Christina Kapadocha, East 15 Acting School
• Dr Phoebe Kisubi Mbasalaki, Department of Sociology
• Professor Tracey Loughran, School of Philosophical, Historical and Interdisciplinary Studies
• Dr Mary Mazzilli, Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies
• Dr Victor Pouliquen, Department of Economics
• Dr Miranda Simon, Department of Government
• Professor Raluca Soreanu, Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies
• Dr Danny Taggart, School of Health and Social Care
• Dr Rebecca Warren, EBS - Accounting
• Dr Carly Wood, School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences

The Public Voice Scholars will be supporting the Centre for Public and Policy Engagement’s ambitious agenda to engage with new audiences, improve policy making and develop research which responds to and listens to the interests of communities.

The Centre for Public and Policy Engagement was established to ensure that research and education at the University of Essex focuses on improving people’s lives. The Centre brings together and promotes diverse public and policy engagement activities across the University of Essex to raise its local, national and global reputation for using research and scholarship to create public and societal benefit.

Find out more on the Public Voice Scholars web page