Two University of Stirling professors have been made Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences in recognition of their outstanding contributions to research.
Professor Iain Docherty, Dean of the Institute for Advanced Studies, and Professor Sheila Dow, Emeritus Professor of Economics, join 1,400 Fellows at the renowned Academy, which promotes social science across the UK. Fellows are distinguished scholars and practitioners from academia and the public and private sectors who are elected by their peers for their outstanding contributions to research and for their application of social science to policy, education, society and the economy.
Professor Roger Goodman, President of the Academy of Social Sciences, said: “We are extremely proud to welcome 73 new Fellows to the Academy who are so highly accomplished and driving social and economic transformation across societies. They have been selected following a robust review by their peers and have been recognised for the excellence of their work and its applications in academia, business and the public sector.
“The Academy is unique in the UK in conferring Fellowship to professional social scientists from a wide range of employment sectors and across all social science disciplines. This remarkable community of experts has used the social sciences to deliver public benefit in the realms of social, economic and environmental policy, and in higher education, regional development, government and law. I offer our new Fellows many congratulations and look forward to collaborating with them.”
Deputy Principal (Research)
It is deserved recognition from their peers of the importance and value of their ongoing contribution to social sciences across the UK.
Professor Judith Phillips, Deputy Principal (Research), said: “I am delighted that Professor Docherty and Professor Dow have been made Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences. It is deserved recognition from their peers of the importance and value of their ongoing contribution to social sciences across the UK.
“I congratulate both Professor Docherty and Professor Dow on behalf of everyone at the University.”
Professor Docherty said: “I am humbled and honoured to receive this conferment from the Academy of Social Sciences. It is a proud moment to be nominated by your peers to join such a prestigious institution and I look forward to continuing to work hard in this area for the public good.”
Dean of the Institute for Advanced Studies
It is a proud moment to be nominated by your peers to join such a prestigious institution and I look forward to continuing to work hard in this area for the public good.
Professor Dow said: “I greatly appreciate the honour that this Fellowship represents. I look forward to engaging with the Academy as I continue my work in economics, interacting with other social science disciplines in order to address society’s concerns.”
Professor Docherty
Professor Docherty joined the University of Stirling in April 2019, having previously held positions at the University of Glasgow. His research interests focus on the interconnecting issues of public policy, institutional change, and city and regional competitiveness, especially the role of transport in promoting economic development and environmental sustainability.
During his career, Professor Docherty has worked with and advised a range of private sector, governmental and other organisations, including governments and public agencies in the UK, United States, Australia, Canada, Netherlands, and Sweden. Professor Docherty is a co-investigator on the Economic and Social Research Council’s Productivity Insights Network and on the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council’s COVID-19 Transport, Travel and Social Adaptation project.
He holds a number of other high-profile appointments, including serving as international expert advisor to the Swedish National Transport Laboratory for its work on connected and autonomous vehicles; Commissioner on the National Infrastructure Commission for Scotland, and member of the Scottish Ministers’ Governance Board, overseeing the revised National Transport Strategy.
Professor Docherty also holds Fellowships of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Royal Society of Arts, the Royal Geographical Society, and the Institution of Civil Engineers, and is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.
Emeritus Professor of Economics
I look forward to engaging with the Academy as I continue my work in economics, interacting with other social science disciplines in order to address society’s concerns.
Professor Dow
Professor Dow joined the University of Stirling in 1979. Her research interests include the history of economic thought, economic philosophy and methodology, and money, banking and finance. Her current projects relate to pluralism in research and education, methodological analysis of the economics of gender and of climate change, and monetary reform.
While her career has primarily been in academia, Professor Dow has held positions with the Bank of England and the Government of Manitoba, and as a special advisor on monetary policy to the UK Treasury Select Committee. She is also Adjunct Professor of Economics at the University of Victoria, Canada, and a member both of the Academic Council of the Institute for New Economic Thinking and of the Academic Advisory Board of the Independent Social Research Foundation. She has previously served in a variety of other academic roles, including Chair of the International Network for Economic Method, Treasurer of the Scottish Economic Society, co-editor of 'Economic Thought' and associate editor of the 'Journal of Economic Methodology'.
Academy of Social Sciences
The Academy of Social Sciences promotes research, publishes learned material, distributes information, organises workshops and events, and contributes to public debates on issues affecting the social sciences. It also responses to Government and other consultations on behalf of the social sciences community.