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Professor Andrew Simpson holds the Chair in Scots Private Law at the University of Aberdeen's School of Law. He earned an LLB (Hons) from Aberdeen, LLM from Aberystwyth, and PhD from Cambridge. Previously Professor of Scottish Legal History at the University of Edinburgh (2010-2020), he returned to Aberdeen in 2020. His research focuses on medieval Scots law, comparative legal frameworks, and the intersection of legal traditions with state formation. He has held visiting positions at the University of Bergen and University of Agder, and was a 2022 research fellow at Norway's Centre for Advanced Studies. Key research themes include medieval legal procedures in Scottish burghs, cross-cultural legal comparisons between Scotland and Norway, and the codification of Scots law through works like David Chalmers' 1566 Compendium. He co-edited The Compendium of the Laws of Scotland (2023) and co-authored Comparative Perspectives in Scottish and Norwegian Legal History (2023). His work frequently engages with legal manuscripts and their socio-political contexts. Recent publications analyze 14th-century Aberdeen court records, medieval legal authority structures, and the evolution of Scots private law through historical lenses. Simpson contributes to legal reform consultations, including submissions on tenement maintenance law (2019) and succession law (2019). He collaborates with the Stair Society, a legal history organization, and directs digital initiatives like Aberdeen Registers Online (2019).

• Legal History
• Comparative Law
• Private Law
• +3 more

Dr Andrew Smith is an Associate Professor in Responsible Management at the Department of Management, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham. He joined the university in 2023, bringing extensive academic experience from previous positions at the University of Liverpool Management School and Laurentian University. He holds a PhD from the University of Western Ontario and an MA from the same institution, with a BA Hons from Queen’s University, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of London. His research interests lie at the intersection of business history, institutional economics, and responsible management. He investigates how formal and informal institutions shape ethical business practices, with a focus on modern slavery, rent-seeking, corporate social legacy, and the historical defense of stigmatized industries. Drawing on theorists such as Elinor Ostrom, Oliver Williamson, Michel Foucault, and Gordon Tullock, his work combines macro, meso, and micro-level analyses to understand the foundations of free, prosperous, and just societies. His recent publications reveal a strong trend in historical and ethical analysis of business practices, particularly around modern slavery, corporate rhetoric, and institutional evolution. He frequently publishes in top journals such as Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice , Journal of Management Studies , Business History , and Journal of Business Ethics . His methodological expertise includes process-tracing and historical narrative analysis. British Academy/Leverhulme Research Grant Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Research Grant Dr Smith has served as an expert witness in a constitutional court case with significant business implications and actively engages in impact and consultancy work with non-academic organizations, including companies, charities, and government agencies. He currently supervises PhD student Diana Madibekova, whose research explores the business-peace relationship through interviews in Istanbul.

• Responsible Management
• Business History
• Institutional Economics
• +12 more

Professor Robert Frost is the Burnett Fletcher Chair of History at the University of Aberdeen, affiliated with the School of Divinity, History, Philosophy & Art History and the Department of History. He has held this prestigious chair since 2013 and previously served as Head of the School (2004–2009) and Head of History at King's College London (2001–2004). A Fellow of the British Academy, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences, he is a leading scholar in early modern European history. PhD in History, University of London (1990) MA in Modern History, University of St Andrews (1980) Diploma in Polish Language and Culture, Jagiellonian University (1981) His research centers on the history of Poland-Lithuania, Eastern Europe, and Scandinavia, with a focus on political unions, state formation, and military history. He is best known for The Oxford History of Poland-Lithuania , a landmark two-volume (now three-volume) study. His work explores noble society, monarchy under the Vasas, and the geopolitical impact of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. He also investigates comparative parliamentary cultures and the legacy of early modern warfare. His recent publications include studies on the Union of Lublin, the Battle of Poltava, and the contested portrait of Bonnie Prince Charlie. His articles span journals like Journal of the British Academy , Transactions of the Royal Historical Society , and The Conversation , reflecting both academic and public engagement. Themes across his work include sovereignty, compromise, memory, and the interplay between war and state development. Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (2021) Knight's Cross of the Order for Merits to Lithuania (2020) Pro Historia Polonorum Prize (2017) Polish Foreign Ministry Prize (2018) Benedict the Pole Prize (2019) Early Slavic Studies Association Award (2005) Fellow of the British Academy (2016) Frost supervises PhD students on topics including Poland-Lithuania, the Thirty Years’ War, and early modern warfare. He has received major grants, including a Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship (2016–2019) and a British Academy/Wolfson Research Chair (2009–2012). As Director of the Research Centre for Polish-Lithuanian Studies at Aberdeen, he fosters international collaborations, notably with the Museum of Polish History and Oxford scholars. His work continues to shape understanding of Eastern Europe’s complex historical legacy. He leads collaborative projects on comparative parliamentary culture (with Oxford and the History of Parliament) and promotes the study of Polish-Lithuanian history through conferences and publications. His leadership in establishing Aberdeen as a hub for Polish-Lithuanian studies underscores his commitment to interdisciplinary and international scholarship.

• Early Modern European History
• History of Poland-Lithuania
• Political Unions and Confederations
• +7 more

Professor Naomi Waltham-Smith is a Professor of Music and Douglas Algar Tutorial Fellow at Merton College, University of Oxford. She holds interdisciplinary expertise in music theory, continental philosophy, and sound studies, focusing on the intersections of listening practices with political, decolonial, and environmental concerns. Her research explores how aurality shapes contemporary political struggles, democracy, and colonial histories. She previously held roles at the University of Warwick and University of Pennsylvania. Her education includes degrees from Selwyn College, Cambridge and King’s College London. Key research projects include fieldwork in Parisian banlieues, Leverhulme Trust-funded studies on political philosophy’s listening concepts, and Mellon Foundation-supported decolonial sound mapping. Her work extends beyond academia through public policy engagement, listening workshops, and multimedia installations. Books: 4 monographs including Mapping (Post)colonial Paris by Ear (2023) and Shattering Biopolitics (2021) Awards: Society for Music Theory Prize (2020), American Musicological Society Prize (2022), ACLA Wellek Prize (2024) Grants: Leverhulme Trust, British Academy, Mellon Foundation Her current work investigates listening’s role in democratic challenges, supported by Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg fellowships. She advocates for academic freedom through policy contributions and chairs committees on higher education equity.

• Politics of listening
• Philosophy of music and sound
• Sound studies
• +4 more

Dr. Simon Skinner is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Oxford and Keen Fellow & Tutor in History at Balliol College. His academic focus spans 19th-century British political and religious history, with specializations in Robert Peel, the Oxford Movement, and the social history of motorcycling. He teaches British history modules from 1685 to the present, including papers on political-religious dynamics and historiography. His research explores Peel’s religious politics and the Maynooth Grant controversy. Affiliations: Balliol College (Teaching/Tutoring), Faculty of History (University of Oxford) Teaching Awards: College & University level recognitions for pedagogy Research interests include paternalist politics, Tractarian thought, and the intersection of religion with 19th-century political movements. He contributes to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography and broadcasts on historical topics (e.g., BBC Timewatch, In Our Time). Supervision topics range from Spencer Perceval’s politics to Gladstone’s historiography and Disraeli’s religious philosophy. He convenes the Oxford British History 1685–1850 graduate seminar.

• 19th-century British political history
• 19th-century British religious history
• Robert Peel studies
• +3 more

Dr. Daniel Martyn Knight is a Reader in Social Anthropology at the University of St Andrews, directing the Centre for Cosmopolitan Studies. He holds positions in the Department of Social Anthropology and collaborates with the British School at Athens. His work focuses on crisis, temporality, and socio-economic transformations in Greece and Europe. Research Interests: Philosophical anthropology, crisis studies, temporal vertigo, renewable energy ethics, Mediterranean anthropology, Michel Serres. Key Projects: TiCToC (HERA-CHANSE-funded, €1.5M, 2025–2028) and Leverhulme Trust 'Times of Polycrisis' (2025–2029). Publications: Over 78 outputs including Vertiginous Life (2021), Energy Talk (2025), and co-edited volumes on austerity and crisis. Awards: Research funded by ESRC, EPSRC, and the National Bank of Greece. No specific named prizes listed. Advisory Roles: Co-editor of History and Anthropology , convenor of the ASA's Anthropology of Time Network. His recent work explores 'polycrisis' dynamics across Europe, blending ethnography with theoretical frameworks to analyze societal temporal disorientation.

• Philosophical Anthropology
• History and Anthropology
• Economic Anthropology
• +7 more

Zoe Sutherland is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Brighton within the School of Humanities and Social Science, affiliated with the Centre for Applied Philosophy, Politics and Ethics (CAPPE). Her work bridges academic research with community collaboration, particularly in disability politics and feminist theory. She holds a DPhil in Philosophy from the University of Sussex, following BA and MA degrees from Middlesex University and King’s College London. Her research focuses on disability theory, feminist social reproduction politics, and critical engagements with art history. Notably, she co-leads CAPPE’s ‘Disability Politics’ and ‘Politics of Reproduction’ initiatives, organizing interdisciplinary events and collaborations with disabled communities and feminist groups. Her scholarship critiques historical eugenics, capitalist systems, and postwar art movements like Conceptual Art. Key collaborations include work with the Global Anti-Eugenics Forum and From Small Beginnings, examining eugenics legacies. She has also curated events like ‘Disability Politics After Covid’ and ‘Radical Disability Politics – A Global Dialogue’. Her teaching spans courses on gender, body politics, and revolutionary theory.

• Disability Theory and Politics
• Feminist Theory
• Social Reproduction
• +7 more

Eugene Michail is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Science at the University of Brighton. He holds a PhD and MA in Contemporary History from Sussex University and a BA in History and Archaeology from the University of Athens. He joined the University of Brighton in 2014 after academic positions at the University of Sussex and Queen’s University in Canada. His research centers on contemporary European cultural and transnational histories, with a focus on Greece, the Balkans, Britain, and Germany. Key themes include: War, resistance, and foreign intervention Refugee reception and cross-cultural contacts Memory studies and historical representation Political violence and historiography His recent publications and presentations analyze the refugee crisis in the Aegean, the Balkan Wars in Western historiography, and memory of the Second World War in Greece. The body of his work reflects a deep engagement with both academic and public discourse on migration, conflict, and historical memory, often bridging scholarly analysis with civic engagement. Scientific contributions include: Peer-reviewed articles in Journal of Refugee Studies , Journal of Contemporary History , and Slavonic & East European Review Book chapters on Balkan Wars memory and British perceptions of the Balkans Public writings in Open Democracy and Greek outlets like Απλωταριά Conference presentations across Europe and North America He supervises PhD students on modern European history, particularly on conflict, resistance, and refugeedom, with recent completions on topics ranging from Palestinian memoirs to British war crimes in Iraq. He also co-organized the 2023 workshop 'De-Specialising Research Writing,' emphasizing accessible scholarship. His research is supported by active engagement with interdisciplinary networks and public history initiatives, particularly around migration and memory in contemporary Europe.

• Contemporary European History
• Transnational History
• Memory Studies
• +9 more

Dr Victoria de Rijke is an active academic researcher affiliated with Middlesex University, where she earned her PhD in 2000. She holds an hourly academic position, contributing to research and teaching in the fields of children’s literature, early childhood education, and visual arts. Her work is deeply interdisciplinary, engaging with critical theory, ecopedagogy, and arts-based methodologies. PhD in Childhood Studies, Middlesex University, 2000 Her research interests center on critical and postdevelopmental approaches to childhood, with a focus on play, picturebooks, and the integration of ecological and artistic practices in education. She explores how children’s literature and visual arts can challenge normative developmental frameworks and open spaces for affective, political, and ecological engagement. Her scholarship often draws on feminist theory, biopolitics, and posthumanism, particularly through the lens of thinkers like Ursula K. Le Guin. Victoria de Rijke’s recent publications reveal a strong thematic trajectory toward ecopedagogy, AI and reading, and the use of creative methods like collage and scribble as both artistic and research practices. Her work frequently appears in journals such as Global Studies of Childhood , Qualitative Inquiry , and Children's Literature in Education , and she has edited or contributed to key volumes with publishers like Bloomsbury, Springer, and Routledge. She is an active member of the Centre for Education Research and Scholarship (CERS) and the Museum and Gallery Education group at Middlesex University, indicating strong engagement with both academic and public-facing educational practices. Dr de Rijke has not received any explicitly mentioned scientific awards in the provided texts. However, her sustained scholarly output and editorial roles suggest significant recognition within her academic community. She has collaborated extensively with scholars such as Jayne Osgood, Rachel Sinker, and Helen Hollands. While no formal list of advisees is provided, her mentorship may be inferred through collaborative publications with emerging researchers and student teachers. She has not disclosed any grant funding in the provided materials. Her research often involves collaborative projects with galleries and cultural institutions, such as Tate Modern and Arnolfini Gallery, reflecting a commitment to bridging academic research with public and artistic engagement. These collaborations highlight her interest in how art and play can be integrated into educational theory and practice.

• Children's Literature
• Early Childhood Education
• Play Theory
• +12 more

Ben Rogers is Professor of Practice at the University of London and Distinguished Policy Fellow in Government Innovation at LSE Cities, London School of Economics and Political Science. He leads the European Cities initiative in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies and founded the London Research and Policy Partnership, fostering collaboration between policymakers and researchers on urban challenges. His research interests lie at the intersection of urbanism, political theory, and public policy. He focuses on citizenship, the history of political thought, public space, and public service reform. His work emphasizes civic republicanism, urban governance, and quality of place in modern cities. Ben's recent work continues this thematic focus, contributing to policy debates through influential reports and books. His intellectual trajectory combines academic rigor with practical policy innovation, particularly in urban and governmental reform. Member, London Finance Commission Founder, Centre for London think tank (2011) Former Associate Director, Institution for Public Policy Research (IPPR) Team Leader, Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit Ben has advised on urban policy and governance extensively. He has led research partnerships and policy initiatives, though no formal PhD or Master’s students are listed. His work is supported through institutional and philanthropic collaborations, including with Bloomberg Philanthropies. He is affiliated with LSE Cities and co-leads major urban policy initiatives. He also chairs Design South East and acts as Acting Chair of the Yard Theatre, reflecting his engagement with urban design and cultural institutions.

• Urban Policy
• Political Theory
• Citizenship
• +7 more

Matilde Masetti Placci is a doctoral candidate and Affiliate Researcher at the University of Edinburgh, affiliated with Edinburgh Law School and the Centre for Critical Data Studies at the Edinburgh Futures Institute. Her educational background includes: BA, Sciences Po Paris LLB, University College London LLM, University of Edinburgh Her research spans the history of international legal thought, social theory, critical approaches to international law, global gender governance, international law and technology, and the politics of law in the Middle East with emphasis on Palestine. She investigates governance technologies of counterterrorist watchlisting and digital bordering systems through the UKRI-funded infra-legalities project, examining how legal and technological frameworks intersect in border control and security regimes. Matilde has received significant recognition for her academic work: Modern Law Review Scholarship Vans Dunlop Scholarship (2025/2026) As an educator, she tutored International Law Ordinary courses at Edinburgh Law School, earning two nominations for the University's Teaching Awards. She co-designed and delivered LLB/LLM modules including International Investment Arbitration and International Human Rights in the Digital Era. From 2022-2024, she coached Edinburgh's Jessup International Law Moot Court team to the octo-finals in Washington DC—their best historical performance. Her research is supported by the UKRI infra-legalities project grant. Matilde actively contributes to the Centre for Critical Data Studies and Edinburgh Futures Institute, where she engages in interdisciplinary research on data governance, legal technologies, and the socio-technical dimensions of bordering systems through knowledge exchange initiatives and conference presentations.

• history of international legal thought
• social theory
• critical approaches to international law
• +5 more

Dr. Berenice Ortega Bayona is a full-time Lecturer at the Department for Latin American Studies, School of Philosophy and Humanities, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where she has taught since 2015. She is also a Visiting Associate Professor at King’s Brazil Institute, part of King’s Global Institutes within the School of Global Affairs. PhD in Sociology , University of Essex (2011) MPhil in Latin American Studies , UNAM Courses in International Relations , New York University Her research focuses on Latin American social movements, particularly in Bolivia and Mexico, using oral history and qualitative methodologies. She explores political transformation, economic restructuration, and the intersection of political philosophy and Latin American thought. Recent publications analyze collective action dilemmas in Latin America, democratization processes in Oaxaca, and class identity formation in Bolivian peasant movements. Her work bridges empirical studies of social protest with theoretical frameworks of political sociology. Teaching includes courses on Globalisation, Development and the Americas. Affiliations span UNAM, King’s College London, and prior human rights organizations in New York City and Mexico City.

• Social Movements
• Oral History
• Qualitative Methodologies
• +5 more

Jamie K J Perry is a Lecturer in the Department of History at the University of Bristol. Holding a BA, MA, and PhD in History, Perry specializes in modern British political thought and activism, with a focus on liberal internationalism and non-governmental organizations in twentieth-century Britain. Research Interests Modern British political thought Liberal internationalism Non-governmental organizations Interdisciplinary research methodologies Britain’s global relationships Perry’s publications span interdisciplinary education strategies (2024), historiographical analysis of the League of Nations (2022), and critiques of British imperial propaganda (2015). Their work bridges historical scholarship with contemporary debates on activism and internationalism.

• History
• Political Science
• International Relations
• +3 more

Dr. Ian P Wei serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Bristol, specializing in the intellectual culture and social history of ideas in twelfth and thirteenth-century Western Europe. His research examines the authority of theology masters at the University of Paris and explores how medieval intellectuals developed epistemological frameworks influencing societal views on money, sex, and politics. Research interests: Dr. Wei investigates the social embeddedness of medieval knowledge production, with emphasis on institutional power structures at European universities. His work reveals how theological discourse intersected with economic practices and gender relations, particularly through analysis of Parisian academic texts. As co-coordinator of the international 'Ideas and Universities' project since 2004, he facilitates cross-cultural dialogue among 15+ global institutions including Hong Kong, Illinois, and Nanjing to examine historical patterns of knowledge institutionalization. Scientific awards: Advising and grants: Dr. Wei has supervised MA/PhD dissertations on theological interpretations of pain, spatial representations in medieval chronicles, royal financial regulation in England, and Bernardus Silverstris' works. His research is supported by the 'Globalising Geographies of Research' project involving 25+ international collaborators, which analyzed transnational academic networks and institutional development patterns across university systems worldwide. Labs and teams: As a core member of Bristol's Centre for Medieval Studies, he participates in interdisciplinary research on medieval epistemology. He co-leads the 'Ideas and Universities' network coordinating biannual video seminars and international conferences that connect scholars from Bergen, Toronto, Sydney, and Zhejiang to study historical and contemporary university structures.

• Medieval History
• Intellectual History
• Social History of Ideas
• +3 more

Tim Stanton is a Professor in the Department of Politics at the University of York, actively engaged in research on early modern political philosophy with a focus on Hobbes and Locke. His work examines foundational concepts including property rights, liberalism, republicanism, and anti-democratic movements in 16th-17th century England. He currently accepts PhD students and maintains active research output. Stanton's research specializes in the intellectual history of political thought, analyzing how thinkers like Hobbes conceptualized divine politics and gratitude in Leviathan , while exploring Locke's theories of toleration and property rights. His scholarship bridges philosophy, history, and political science to interrogate the evolution of democratic systems and liberal theory through primary textual analysis of early modern works. Recent 2025 publications reveal consistent focus on pre-Civil War English political theory, with articles examining anti-democracy movements (1570–1642), Hobbesian divine politics, and property rights frameworks. These works demonstrate methodological rigor in contextualizing foundational political concepts within their historical settings while drawing implications for contemporary political discourse. Scientific recognition includes: Beinecke Fellow, Yale University (2007) Visiting Fellow, Wolfson College, Cambridge (January 2012) Balzan-Skinner Research Fellow and Lecturer in Modern Intellectual History, University of Cambridge (8 January 2012) Research funding encompasses three completed projects: AHRC-supported John Locke and Toleration (2008–2009), John Locke and the fable of liberalism (2012), and a Lichtenberg-Kolleg Senior Fellowship (2014). He actively mentors PhD candidates and disseminates findings through 33 recorded academic activities including keynotes on Locke's Two Treatises (2020) and liberalism debates (2017). While no dedicated research labs are documented, Stanton participates in international academic networks through fellowships at Wolfson College and the University of Cambridge, contributing to modern intellectual history discourse via editorial roles and conference leadership.

• Political Philosophy
• History of Political Thought
• Early Modern Political Thought
• +4 more