Individual social scientists are conferred the title by virtue of their eminence. Members are elected for life and designate themselves through the use of the letters AcSS after their names.

This latest award brings to 11 the number of current Bristol academics whose work in the field of social science has been honoured in this way. Others who have previously been awarded the title AcSS include Professor Terrell Carver (Politics), Professor Guy Claxton (Graduate School of Education), Professor Michael Crossley (Graduate School of Education), Professor Kelvyn Jones (Geographical Sciences), Professor Gregor McLennan (Sociology), Professor Roger Middleton (Historical Studies) and Professor Tariq Modood (Sociology).

Speaking about the conferment, Professor Miriam David, Chair of Council of the Academy of Social Sciences, said: ‘The social sciences have an increasingly vital role to play in society today, contributing evidence drawn from in-depth research and, through new forms of knowledge exchange and public engagement, are having a positive impact on public policy-making and practice. Conferment of the award of Academician will give confidence that the contributions made by Academicians are well-founded, based as they are on rigorous peer group review.’