Overview

Professor Martyn Pickersgill FAcSS is a sociologist of science and medicine, conducting research, teaching, and engagement around the social dimensions of biomedicine. 

Roles and Responsibilities

Martyn holds a Personal Chair in the Sociology of Science and Medicine in Edinburgh Medical School. In 2018, he co-founded the Centre for Biomedicine, Self & Society through seed and continuing funding of over £2m from the Wellcome Trust, and is currently Co-Director. In 2020, he also became Co-Director of a new £5.3m Wellcome Trust PhD Programme in 'One Health Animal Models of Disease: Science, Ethics and Society', which brings together expertise from the social and biomedical sciences. He previously co-founded the SKAPE Centre for Science, Knowledge, and Policy. Martyn is part of the Senior Leadership Team for the Medical School's Usher Institute (>400 staff and PhD students), and has served as the Institute Director of Research.

Research

Through various grants and fellowships, Martyn's research has focused primarily on the social, legal and ethical dimensions of biomedicine and the health professions. In particular, his work has considered the sociologies of (epi)genetics, neuroscience, and mental health. This has been supported through a range of funders as PI/Co-PI/Co-I, including the AHRC, ESRC, MRC, British Academy, Leverhulme Trust, and Wellcome Trust. Martyn has published widely in key journals within sociology and science and technology studies, as well as in the health-related humanities. He has held a range of visiting positions in Australia, Europe, and North America. Martyn is a recipient of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Henry Duncan Medal, and an elected Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.

Enagagement

Martyn has contributed to a number of advisory committees, funding panels, and editorial boards internationally, including advising various funders on strategy. Currently, he serves as a member of the ESRC Strategic Advisory Network. Over the last 20 years, Martyn has engaged with a range of publics - in the UK, and internationally. He has received support to do so from the British Academy, ESRC, and Wellcome Trust. In terms of policy engagement, Martyn has contributed advice within Scottish, UK, and international health policy forums, including the UK Department of Health and the WHO. He is a member of Scottish Cross Party Parliamentary Groups on Mental Health and on Science and Technology, the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Social Science and Policy, and a member of the Scottish Science Advisory Council.