British Academy/Wolfson Professorships awarded to pioneering SHAPE research

The British Academy and the Wolfson Foundation have today announced five new British Academy/Wolfson Research Professorships to enable some of the UK’s most outstanding SHAPE (Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts for People and the Economy) scholars to immerse themselves in research.

First awarded in 2009, the awards give established scholars the opportunity to concentrate on a significant research programme for three years freeing them from normal teaching and administrative commitments. Emphasis is placed on the ability of award holders to communicate their research to a broad audience.

This year’s British Academy/Wolfson Research Professorships have been awarded to:

• “England’s Freedom: The English Revolution in History and Historiography” – Professor Michael Braddick, University of Sheffield
• “The Parish Revolution: Parochial Origins of Global Conservationism” – Professor Brycchan Carey, Northumbria University
• “Emotional Engagement with Museum Collections Through Digital Storytelling and Participatory Approaches” – Professor Maria Economou, University of Glasgow
• “The Foundations of Modern Shi’ism: The End of Akhbārism and the Beginnings of Uṣūlism” – Professor Robert Gleave, University of Exeter
• “The Persistence of the Aesthetic: The Value of Musical Listening in the 21st Century” – Professor Julian Johnson, Royal Holloway, University of London

Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation, said: 

“The importance of research in the humanities and social sciences is critical to society - and now more than ever. We are therefore delighted to continue our partnership with the British Academy to support another cohort of Wolfson Research Professorships: a benchmark of excellence in both original scholarship and its elegant communication.”

Hetan Shah, Chief Executive of the British Academy, said: 

“We are delighted to announce another outstanding cohort of British Academy/Wolfson Research Professors. Made possible thanks to the generous support of the Wolfson Foundation, the Professorships will enable five exceptional scholars to undertake innovative and ambitious research into topics including participatory approaches to museum collections and the parochial origins of global conservationism. We wish our new British Academy/Wolfson Professors the greatest success and look forward to seeing the results of their research and public engagement.”