UofG academics elected new Fellows by The British Academy
Published: 18 July 2025
Four of the University of Glasgow’s leading academics are among 92 distinguished scholars who have been elected to the British Academy’s Fellowship.
Four of the University of Glasgow’s leading academics are among 92 distinguished scholars who have been elected to the British Academy’s Fellowship, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the humanities and social sciences.
In 2025, 58 UK Fellows (drawn from 25 universities), 30 International Fellows and 4 Honorary Fellows have been elected.
The academics from the University of Glasgow, confirmed as new British Academy Fellows, are:
- Professor Callum G Brown FRSE, Professor emeritus in History, School of Humanities | Sgoil nan Daonnachdan
- Professor Christopher Philo FAcSS, Professor of Geography, School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
- Professor Jennifer Smith, Professor of Sociolinguistics, School of Critical Studies
- Professor Satnam Virdee, FRSE, Professor of Sociology, School of Social & Political Sciences
The new Fellows of the British Academy represent a broad spectrum of expertise from the study of twentieth-century music and the structural causes of poverty to environmental law and the neuroscience of memory, language, and cognition. This year’s cohort sees an increased number of UK Fellows elected, due to new Fellowship places for candidates whose research spans more than one discipline. They join a community of over 1,800 scholars who share a commitment to advancing the humanities and social sciences.
Professor Susan J. Smith PBA, new President of the British Academy, speaking about the new Fellows, said: “What a line-up! With specialisms ranging from the neuroscience of memory to the power of music and the structural causes of poverty, they represent the very best of the humanities and social sciences. They bring years of experience, evidence-based arguments and innovative thinking to the profound challenges of our age: managing the economy, enabling democracy, and securing the quality of human life.
“This year, we have increased the number of new Fellows by nearly 10% to cover some spaces between disciplines. Champions of research excellence, every new Fellow enlarges our capacity to interpret the past, understand the present, and shape resilient, sustainable futures. It is a privilege to extend my warmest congratulations to them all.”
The full list of this year’s new British Academy UK, International and Honorary Fellows can be found by clicking here - The 2025 British Academy Fellows
The British Academy
The British Academy is the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences. It mobilise these disciplines to understand the world and shape a brighter future. The British Academy invest in researchers and projects across the UK and overseas, engage the public with fresh thinking and debates, and bring together scholars, government, business and civil society to influence policy for the benefit of everyone.
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
First published: 18 July 2025