This theme analyses and connects change to understand the behaviour of people, social groups, and organisations.
This theme analyses and connects change at individual, group, institutional, lifestyle, and societal scales to understand the behaviour of people, social groups, and organisations. At a time of intense change in economies and societies, this ability to link different scales and types of transitions is crucial.
Interdisciplinary research on the health and well-being aspects of these changes is a core priority, as is the link between research and practice.
Exeter’s research on these topics includes a focus on:
- The promotion of healthy lifestyles (including healthy ageing).
- Understanding how families are changing and what psychological, social, legal, and policy implications that change entails.
- Promoting social cohesion; increasing participation; and addressing social inequalities.
Several Exeter networks and centres support this work, such as the Centre for Sport, Leisure and Tourism Research (funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Mood Disorders Centre (in partnership with the NHS), the European Centre for Environment and Human Health, and the Network on Family Regulation and Society, all of which combine research with engagement with professionals and businesses.
Sub themes
The theme is currently hiring up to three Advanced Research Fellowships in the Humanities or Social Sciences.
Details of the process for application and the appointments can be found on our job pages.
As a guide, the Theme is seeking social scientists or humanities scholars to take forward sub-themes within this broader theme, such as the ones outlined in these web pages. The role of the Advanced Fellows will be:
- To promote interdisciplinary working across disciplines related to the theme through networks and grant applications.
- To undertake research (as much as possible collaboratively) related to one or more of the sub themes listed on these pages.
- To work with the theme leader to develop the theme or sub themes by thinking about relevant activities and potentially (help) organise events to promote interdisciplinary collaborations on these topics.
Hence we seek:
- Researchers working on the social and human aspects of health related issues, such as issues surrounding ageing and obesity.
- Researchers working on issues related to changes in lifestyles and families.
- Researchers working on social participation and social inequalities.
- Researchers looking at the human and social aspects of various other types of social change and innovation such as technological change, organizational change, community change.
These areas are indicative, and scholars from any disciplinary background with experience of promoting interdisciplinarity across social sciences and humanities, or willingness to do so, will be considered.
In applications, please include a statement of your experience (if any) and intentions of how to promote interdisciplinary activity and how your research would contribute to one or more sub-themes including a proposal for such research.
Inquiries to Theme Leader, Professor Manuela Barreto.
