Nothing uncertain about Paul’s new role

An academic who analyses risk and uncertainty - from the earthquake in Japan to what we eat and drink - has been appointed Director of one of Teesside University’s five research institutes.

Dr Paul Crawshaw is the new head of the Social Futures Institute, (Sofi), which produces high quality research and enterprise around the theme of society.

His own research interests focus on the sociology of risk and how we use risk and uncertainty to predict our own futures.

Dr Crawshaw said: 'We could be talking about cataclysmic events such as the earthquake in Japan or the hurricane in New Orleans - things that are beyond our control in our everyday lives.

'But, there is another side to the sociology of risk that is concerned with how our diet, lifestyle and exercise regimes are used as a way to try and predict our futures and our future selves.

'The constant imperatives we get to look after our health and well-being and to regulate our bodies, our exercise, the foods we eat, our use of tobacco and alcohol – these things are all about risk, our behaviours and the potential they have for causing us harm in the future. That’s where the cross-over really comes in with the sociology of health and illness.'

Addressing inequality It is Dr Crawshaw’s belief that the route to improving health and reducing health inequalities lies within addressing the wider issue of inequality rather than individual behaviours towards health.

He added: 'The overall aim of my personal research is to give more in-depth understanding of inequality and how inequality manifests itself within modern societies,” explained Dr Crawshaw.

'It looks at how we can begin to develop more coherent strategies to address those issues, rather than resorting to solutions like addressing individual behaviours, getting people to take more responsibility for their own health.'

Dr Crawshaw joined Teesside University in 1998 as a Research Assistant and, as well as being Director of Sofi, is also Assistant Dean in the School of Social Sciences & Law.

He said: 'The main purpose of Sofi is to provide a hub for all the research activity that’s going on in the School of Social Sciences & Law and pull it all together under the broad theme of society.

'The satisfaction really comes from being part of local, national and international networks who are working towards the same ends. What we hope to achieve is to develop work which has a direct impact and goes towards achieving our wider goals.'

Reflecting on the importance of research at Teesside University, Dr Crawshaw added: 'I think research is an absolutely vital part of the environment at Teesside University. The research done by all of our academic colleagues feeds directly into the teaching that we provide.'

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