New President of the British Sociological Association

Professor John Holmwood from The University of Nottingham has been appointed President of the British Sociological Association (BSA). Professor Holmwood has pledged to make sociology a necessary part of public life and debate during what he called a very testing time for universities.

John Holmwood, a Professor of Sociology in the School of Sociology and Social Policy, was elected by the trustees of the BSA late last year and will begin his three-year period in office in June. The BSA is the representative body in British sociology and has 2,500 members, most of them social scientists in UK universities.

Professor Holmwood said: “The next few years will be a very testing time for universities and for different disciplines as they adjust to the new market in higher education. A period of austerity will also test many other social institutions.

“This calls for engaged social science for difficult times. It will be a challenge to the sociological imagination and one we should face with heart, intellect and collective purpose. The British Sociological Association represents members across a diversity of institutions and settings. Over the last few years it has demonstrated the public relevance of sociology locally and globally.”

Professor Holmwood is Co-founder of the Campaign for the Public University set up to oppose the government’s policy of marketising higher education.

He said: “We also face a new obligation to students to ensure that they benefit from an education designed to enhance both their critical skills and their sympathetic understanding of social problems. Within the profession, we owe a particular obligation to postgraduate students and to early career academics to ensure that they are properly supported during these difficult times.”

Professor Holmwood replaces Professor John Brewer, who is thanked for his tireless and successful work in promoting sociology over the past two years, during which he instituted a series of presidential events on topics of immediate concern such as global warming and humanitarianism.

Professor Holmwood said: “I plan to build upon the initiatives taken by my predecessor to make sociology a necessary part of public life and debate.”

Professor Holmwood has previously held posts at the universities of Tasmania, Edinburgh, Sussex and Birmingham. He has been an active member of the BSA since he was a postgraduate student and has been Chair of the UK Council of Heads and Professors of Sociology. He is a member of the ESRC Training and Skills Committee and a fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.

A picture of Professor Holmwood is available on request.

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