Flora Cornish

Professor Flora Cornish is a Professor in Qualitative Research Methodology at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Department of Methodology. She holds a PhD in Social Psychology from LSE (2004) and an MSc in Social Research Methods from LSE's Department of Methodology. Prior to joining LSE in 2011, she held positions at the University of Cambridge and Glasgow Caledonian University.

Her research focuses on community-led responses to public health crises, including studies on post-Grenfell Tower fire recovery, HIV prevention through sex worker-led initiatives, and participatory methods to democratize knowledge. She leads projects funded by LSE's Knowledge Exchange and Impact grants, emphasizing collaboration with communities, activists, and policymakers to improve disaster response and health equity.

Key research areas include health activism, community mobilisation, and qualitative methodology. She co-authored Qualitative Research for Development: A guide for practitioners and edited special issues on public health activism in Critical Public Health and Journal of Social & Political Psychology.

• Education:
• PhD in Social Psychology, LSE (2004)
• MSc in Social Research Methods, LSE (pre-2004)

Her work critiques simplistic monitoring and evaluation practices in global health interventions, advocating for dialogical methodologies and participatory approaches. Recent studies highlight systemic barriers to long-COVID care in Brazil and the role of activism in reshaping public health narratives.

• Labs/Teams: Collaborations with community groups in Grenfell recovery initiatives, scholar-activists in health advocacy networks, and interdisciplinary teams at LSE.
• Grants: LSE Knowledge Exchange and Impact grant for community-led disaster recovery research.