An academic from The University of Manchester has been honoured as a distinguished expert in her field by being appointed a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.
New Fellows are selected based on the excellence and impact of their work, which deals with significant issues and contributes to the social sciences for the benefit of the public. Through their leadership, scholarship, applied research, policymaking, and practice, they have helped to enhance our understanding of some of the most challenging issues facing our society and the world.
The Academy consists of over 1400 Fellows, 46 societies, and a number of affiliates. This extensive community of over 90,000 social scientists has played a key role in establishing the UK as a global leader in the social sciences.
Joining them is Professor of Sociology and Social Gerontology Tine Buffel, a renowned expert on urban ageing whose research is guiding cities in creating supportive environments for older people. Through her leadership of the Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group, Tine has brought international recognition to 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 expertise in the field is widely acknowledged. Her work is frequently cited by other academics and the policy community, and she has delivered keynote speeches at major conferences such as IAGG, the leading international conference for Geriatrics and Gerontology.
Tine has spearheaded multiple research programmes on urban ageing, backed by a strong track record of grants from the European Research Council, ESRC, UKRI, and the Leverhulme Trust. She has also received numerous awards for her collaborative work aimed at improving the experiences of ageing in low-income neighbourhoods.
Tine’s impact extends beyond academia, as she collaborates with local and regional government, community organisations, and groups of older people to collectively shape policies and practices to enhance quality of life in later years. As an elected expert member of major international committees, she plays a crucial role in working with leading organisations in the field of ageing, contributing to initiatives such as the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing, and collaborating with the World Health Organization to develop new measures to monitor the health and well-being of older individuals.
“At a time when the importance of the social sciences in addressing many pressing issues cannot be overstated, it is 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 advanced our understanding in addressing 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 collaborating with them to further promote the crucial role that the social sciences play in all areas of our lives.”
