Sheffield professor's research into Covid-19 receives top honours

Professor of Health Psychology, Madelynne Arden, is one of 37 leading social scientists who have received the award for the excellence and impact of their work and their wider contributions to the social sciences for public benefit.

Professor Arden, who is Director of the University’s Centre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology, has conducted numerous pieces of work and research to support the public health response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

During the last year, she has led work for the British Psychological Society Covid-19 disease prevention and behavioural science taskforce on integrating behavioural science into the Covid test and trace app and support for self-isolation. She is currently working on two studies on vaccine hesitancy, that will result in recommendations on how to overcome barriers to uptake in different populations.

Professor Arden has also worked with Sheffield City Council to support their public messaging and encourage people to adhere to lockdown restrictions.

On receiving the fellowship Professor Arden said: “I feel very honoured to have been conferred the award of Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.

“I feel particularly privileged to receive this award in 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic has shone a spotlight on the importance of behavioural and social science research and health psychology practice to inform our response to the crisis in terms of prevention, understanding the impact on our lives and behaviours, and supporting our longer-term recovery.”

Professor Arden was nominated by colleagues from the British Psychological Society, Division of Health Psychology and the Behavioural Science and Public Health Network for her contribution to health psychology and behavioural science research and leadership. The Academy’s Fellowship is made up of distinguished individuals from academic, public and private sectors.

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