Manchester expert becomes Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences

An academic from The University of Manchester has been recognised as a leading expert in her field by being named a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. 

New Fellows are named due to the excellence and impact of their work, which addresses matters of vital importance and contributes to the social sciences for the public good. Through leadership, scholarship, applied research, policymaking and practice, they have helped to deepen the understanding of some of the toughest challenges facing our society and the world. 

The Academy is made up of over 1400 Fellows, 46 societies and a number of affiliates - this extensive community of over 90,000 social scientists has helped establish the UK’s position as a global leader in the social sciences.

Joining them is Professor of Sociology and Social Gerontology Tine Buffel, one of the world’s leading experts on urban ageing whose research is driving cities to create supportive environments for people as they grow older. Through her leadership of the Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group, Tine has brought international recognition for the University's work in this field and has supported a new generation of researchers. 

With over 100 scholarly publications, including six books and two edited volumes, her standing in the field is widely acknowledged – her work is frequently cited by other academics and the policy community, and she has given keynote speeches at major conferences such as IAGG, the leading international conference for Geriatrics and Gerontology. 

Tine has led multiple research programmes on urban ageing, supported by an extensive record of grants from the European Research Council, ESRC, UKRI, and the Leverhulme Trust, while also receiving numerous awards for her collaborative work aimed at improving ageing experiences in low-income neighbourhoods. 

Tine's influence extends beyond academia, as she collaboratively engages with local and regional government, community organisations, and older people’s groups to collectively shape policies and practices to enhance people’s quality of life in later life. As an elected expert member of major international committees, she plays a key role working with leading organisations in the field of ageing, informing initiatives such as the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing, and working with the World Health Organization to develop new measures to monitor the health and wellbeing of older people.

“At a time when the importance of the social sciences to addressing many pressing issues cannot be overstated, it’s a pleasure to welcome some of the UK’s leading social scientists to the Academy’s Fellowship,” said Will Hutton, President of the Academy. “Their contributions have furthered our understanding in tackling a wide range of societal challenges including mitigating health and economic inequalities, understanding the causes and effects of hate crime, the development of inclusive practices in education, and the future of cities. 

"We look forward to working with them to further promote the vital role the social sciences play in all areas of our lives.”