Researchers elected to Academy of Social Sciences Fellowship

Three experts in public policy, accounting and international relations from Northumbria University are among 64 outstanding social scientists recognised by the Academy of Social Sciences today.

Dr Howard Reed, Professor Kathryn Haynes and Professor Helena Farrand Carrapico have all been elected to the Academy’s prestigious Fellowship, which is awarded for excellence in research and applied professional use of social science in their work.  

After decades of pioneering work on the microsimulation of tax-benefit systems, Dr Howard Reed, a Senior Research Fellow in Public Policy from the Department of Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing, is one of the three Northumbria Fellows to be recognised.

Having previously held the positions of Chief Economist at the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) and Programme Director, Work and Incomes Research, at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, he has made a significant contribution to the understanding of fiscal modelling and macroeconomics within research since joining the University in 2022.

His work as Economics Lead for the group of researchers known as the Common Sense Policy Group at Northumbria has underpinned the Beveridge-style vision of Act Now, which sets out 10 key policies to achieve national renewal, its follow up, Basic Income: The Policy That Changes Everything and numerous related reports and publications, including the group’s biannual response to the UK Government Budget and Spring Statement. 

Dr Reed has secured around £4 million in research funding from organisations including Wellcome Trust, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), as well as public and third sector bodies, such as the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, Greater London Authority, and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. This has all contributed to his work on informing public policy and presenting clear, alternative approaches to politicians and policymakers in Britain. 

Speaking of becoming a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, Dr Reed said: “I am grateful for this honour and extremely proud to be part of an excellent multidisciplinary team in the Department of Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing at Northumbria. I’m now one of five Fellows in the department, reflecting a rapid growth in research intensivity and, critically, world-leading expertise.

“This is timely recognition of my work in exploring the economic and health impacts of public policy, as we begin a groundbreaking new study funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, which will examine the impact of welfare reform on tackling health inequalities.”

Professor of Accounting at the University’s Newcastle Business School, Professor Kathryn Haynes, works to demonstrate the powerful role of accounting within society, particularly in relation to the interaction of equality and sustainability. Her research, published in leading accounting journals, addresses feminism, gender and diversity, the circular economy, and accountability. She is also an expert in qualitative research methodologies, particularly autoethnography, which involves a researcher connecting their personal experiences to wider cultural, political, and social understandings.

Professor Haynes has recently completed a Major Research Fellowship awarded by the Leverhulme Trust. This two-year programme of work explored contemporary global feminisms and their relationship with gender, race and class within accounting, as a profession and as a practice. Her book outlining the research outcomes, Accounting for Feminism - Exploring Emancipation for Profession and Practice, is being published by Routledge later this month.

As a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and an active member of the ICAEW’s Sustainability Committee for eight years, Professor Haynes’ expertise straddles academia and practice. She has conducted several research projects funded by the ESRC on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as well as aspects of gender inequality in professions. She was also a founding co-facilitator of the Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) Gender Equality Working Group. Professor Haynes joined Northumbria in 2020.

Speaking of today’s recognition from the Academy, Professor Haynes said: “I am delighted to be conferred with the award of Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. This honour is a career highlight, which recognises my sustained contribution and commitment to researching the role of accounting in wider society, particularly in relation to inequalities.

“Although I am preparing to retire from full-time academic work, this award, together with the position of Professor Emerita awarded by Northumbria University, enables me to continue to engage with the powerful impact of social science in understanding equality and diversity in professions and organisations.”

Professor of International Relations and European Politics, Professor Helena Farrand Carrapico joined the Department of Social Sciences at Northumbria in 2019 and is renowned for her work on European internal security governance. Her research addresses how internal security concerns, such as cybercrime, organised crime, or migration, are constructed, represented, and responded to by different actors within the EU and the UK, as well as how policy responses impact society at large.

She has led research projects supported by funders including the ESRC, the British Academy, the Royal Society, the Scottish Parliament, and the European Commission which have led to the publication of a large number of articles in high-ranking international relations journals. As a result, Professor Carrapico is regarded as one of the leading academics working on European Union internal security in the UK and has been elected to the steering committees of two key academic associations in her field – the British International Studies Association and the University Association for Contemporary European Studies.

Professor Carrapico co-authored a book on the impact of Brexit on the UK’s internal security, Brexit and Internal Security: Political and Legal Concerns on the Future UK-EU Relationship, and was selected to serve as a Commissioner with the Independent Commission on UK-EU Relations in 2022. She is regularly invited to provide high-level training to practitioners, including in the House of Commons, the House of Lords and UK Government departments.

On today’s announcement, Professor Carrapico said: “Being conferred as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences is both an honour and an important recognition of the excellent and impactful work that social scientists do at Northumbria University in addressing today’s complex and troubling societal challenges. Rigorous and critical social science research is key to creating more informed and robust societal structures and policies, fostering public understanding, and producing meaningful change towards a kinder and more peaceful world.

“As an international relations scholar who is deeply connected to other social science disciplines, I am committed to advancing this critical mission through interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration, championing the indispensable value of social science in our rapidly evolving academic, political and security landscape.”

All Academy Fellows are elected for their excellence in their fields and their substantial contributions to social science for public benefit and selection takes place by independent peer review. All three new Fellows from Northumbria join 1,600 leading social scientists from academia, the public, private and third sectors, with expertise which covers the breadth of the social sciences. Their practice and research addresses some of the major challenges facing communities, society, places and economies.

Will Hutton FAcSS, President of the Academy of Social Sciences, said, “I’m delighted to welcome these 64 outstanding social scientists to the Academy’s Fellowship, whose research and practice are helping to develop solutions to pressing societal issues. From informing decision-making around environmental challenges and encouraging entrepreneurial growth to improving planning systems and tackling educational inequalities, their insights, skills and understanding are delivering positive impact to improve our daily lives.” 

Northumbria University is dedicated to reducing health and social inequalities and improving social, economic and health outcomes for the most marginalised in society. Through its new Centre for Health and Social Equity (CHASE), researchers will be delivering world-leading health and social equity research and creating innovative, evidence-based policies and data-driven solutions to bring impactful change across the region, the UK and globally.