IRIS director elected Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences

The Academy of Social Sciences is delighted to welcome 45 leading social scientists to our Fellowship this autumn.

Spanning a range of research and practice areas including urban governance and public policy, health technology assessment, hunger and food insecurity, migration and forced displacement, and international law, our newly elected Fellows highlight the importance, breadth and relevance of the social sciences to understanding and tackling the varied challenges facing society today. As well as excellence in research and applied professional use of social science, AcSS Fellows, who are drawn from a variety of backgrounds, disciplines and professions, have also made significant contributions beyond the academy, including to industry, policy and higher education.

Professor Nando Sigona is Professor of International Migration and Forced Displacement at the University of Birmingham, and Director of the Institute for Research into International Migration and Superdiversity (IRIS). His research interests include irregular migration, statelessness, youth and family migration, Romani politics and anti-Gypsyism, asylum in Europe and the Mediterranean region, intra-EU mobility and the making of EU citizenship.

Professor Sigona said: “I am deeply honoured to be elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. This recognition highlights the importance of migration and refugee studies in addressing key social issues, such as the rise of far-right populism and anti-migration sentiments, which threaten social cohesion and human rights, particularly for migrants and refugees. I look forward to supporting the Academy’s work in advancing understanding of these issues and promoting a more just and informed society.”