About
My teaching and research is situated at intersection points between Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology. Over the last three decades I have been studying the impacts of risk on everyday life across a range of domains, including international security, crime, politics, welfare, work and the lived environment.
During the course of my career, I have been motivated to explore the ways in which threats and harms are socially produced. I am interested in how risks are represented, and communicated as well as how societal risks and perceived by individuals and communities. My research also uses a critical lens to focus on the processes and practices through which government and macro institutions manage, mediate and regulate risk.
My work is underpinned by developing fresh and innovative methods and approaches to understand the many ways in which risk and vulnerability are discursively constructed, embedded in policy and deployed in practice across a variety of contexts, including social work, safeguarding of young people, environmental regulation, anti-terrorism legislation and counter radicalisation strategies. Adopting a grounded and hands on approach to the dilemmas, problems and issues arising in these vital areas of practice has involved working closely with agencies and professional practitioners involved in risk management and risk prevention.
In seeking to create and develop impactful research with ‘real-world’ relevance, I have utilised a variety of methodological modes to sustain a multi-dimensional approach. I have made significant contributions and interventions in the fields of social and security policy, criminological studies and sociological theory.
I have an established international profile, delivering lectures, invited talks and papers in Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Oceania. I have authored several books focussed on the societal impacts and effects of risk and my research is published in a range of high impact social science journals, including the British Journal of Sociology, Sociological Review, Sociology, the British Journal of Criminology, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Critical Social Policy and Security Dialogue.
I sit as an elected member on Steering Committees for a variety of public bodies and am appointed on Advisory Boards advising NGOs, social enterprises and civil society organisations. My expertise is reflected in appointment to international funding and assessment panels, including the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (Canada), Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portugal), the Economic and Social Research Council (UK) and the Council for Science and Technology (Malta).
In my leadership role within the Department of Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology I am Director of People, Culture and the Environment. This position enables me to design and embed policies and strategies that foster and nurture a vibrant, diverse and inclusive research environment. Contributing towards this goal includes leading on and contributing towards a variety of strategic priorities including public engagement, impact enhancement, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives and Research Exercise Framework (REF) preparation.