At MSA, we continue to produce research that shapes national and international debates, enriches our teaching, and creates real-world impact. While we cannot cover the full breadth of our work here, below are a few highlights from 2025-26.
We pride ourselves on research with real-world impact, and our work continues to shape policy and practice in the UK and beyond. Dr Lucy Montague has been invited to advise the government on their new High Streets Strategy, building on her role as a special advisor to the House of Lords. Prof Stefan White was a main organiser of the Age-Friendly Future summit, developed with partners including the World Health Organisation. [CPU]Lab, alongside academics and practitioners from 10 other cities, has established the ComplexSouth network, exploring complexity theories and their implications for the global south.
Staff have secured several research grants this year. Dr Mark Hammond received funding from the Thalidomide Trust to investigate housing options for older survivors of the Thalidomide scandal. Dr Johnathan Djabarouti secured grants from the British Academy and RIBA for two projects exploring built heritage and intangible cultural practices. Dr Hamid Khalili received an Otto Preminger Travel Grant for archival fieldwork in New York, as well as funding for a doctoral studentship exploring immersive interactive experiences. We also welcome Dr Ipek Mehmetoglu, who received an EU Marie Sklodowska-Curie Post-Doctoral Fellowship to work with Prof Rosa Urbano Gutierrez.
Finally, we are pleased to be welcoming back Prof Nick Dunn in August, who returns to MSA after a decade at Lancaster University to take on the role of School Research Lead.
