John Preston

John Preston is Executive Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Professor of Sociology at the University of Essex. His research focuses on disaster sociology, emergency preparedness, and education policy with a focus on class, race, and existential threats. He has held leadership roles including ESRC Leadership Fellow in Conflict, Crime and Security, and Principal Investigator (PI) on interdisciplinary grants like 'Chatty Factories' (EPSRC) exploring human-AI collaboration in manufacturing. His work critiques systemic inequalities in disaster response and competence-based education systems. He authored influential books such as 'Grenfell Tower: Preparedness, Race and Disaster Capitalism' (2019) and 'Competence Based Education and Training and the End of Human Learning' (2017).

Education:

• PhD, University of London
• MA Economics of Education (Distinction), University of London
• BA (Hons.) Economics (2:1), University of Lancaster

Research Interests: Disaster sociology, emergency pedagogy, racialized policy analysis, critical education theory, and the intersection of AI/capitalism with human labor. His work bridges historical analysis (e.g., Cold War civil defense) and contemporary crises like Grenfell and pandemic responses.

Grants & Awards: ESRC Leadership Fellowship, PI on ESRC/EPSCR grants totaling over £multi-million, including 'Threats to Infrastructure' (2012-2015) and 'Game Theory for City Evacuations' (2010-2013). Current leadership includes managing IAA2 (ESRC) to enhance social science research impact.

Labs/Teams: Leads interdisciplinary research clusters on disaster preparedness, critical race theory in education, and future of work initiatives. Collaborates with global institutions through comparative studies of preparedness cultures (UK, US, Japan, Germany, New Zealand).