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 the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. In 2018, he co-founded the Centre for Biomedicine, Self & Society through funding of over £2m from the Wellcome Trust. This is now a fully established Centre within the School of Population of Health Sciences, of which Martyn is currently Co-Head. Through this role, he is also a member of the School Executive. In 2020, he became Co-Director of a new £5.3m Wellcome Trust PhD Programme in 'One Health Models of Disease: Science, Ethics and Society'. This brings together staff and students from across biomedicine, public health, the humanities, and the social sciences. Martyn previously co-founded the SKAPE Centre for Science, Knowledge, and Policy, as well as serving as the Director of Research for the Usher Institute.

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 ARIA, AHRC, ESRC, MRC, British Academy, Leverhulme Trust, and Wellcome. Martyn has published widely in key journals within sociology and science and technology studies, as well as in the health-related humanities. He is the author of Configuring Psychology: Access to Therapy and the Transformation of Psychological Care (Cambridge University Press). Martyn has held a range of visiting positions in Australia, Europe, and North America. He 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. 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. 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 Group on Science and Technology, the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Social Science and Policy, and a member of the Scottish Science Advisory Council.