Sociology News
News events will appear here as they occur
2011-2012|2010-2011|2009-2010|2008-2009|2007-2008
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2011-2012
Dr Hazem Kandil's book on Egypt's revolution, Soldiers, Spies and Statesmen: Egypt's road to revolt, is published in November 2012:
http://www.versobooks.com/books/1164-soldiers-spies-and-statesmen
The publication is marked by a series of lectures and talks:
Egypt's Power Structure in Light of Revolution," lecture delivered at the Center for Social Theory and Comparative History at UCLA-Los Angeles, November 2012.
The Egyptian Military: A Closer Look," lecture delivered at the Center for Civil-Military Relations at the US Naval Postgraduate Academy-Monterey (CA), November 2012.
Egypt's Revolt: A Conversation,"hosted by the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University-Cambridge (MA)-November 2012.
Soldiers, Spies, and Statesmen:Book Launch," organized at the Alwan Center for the Arts-New York City, November 2012.
Egypt's Road to Revolt: A Roundtable Discussion," hosted by the Elliot School of International Affairs at George Washington University, Co-sponsored by the Middle East Research and Information Project, Washington, DC, November 2012.
Aaron Reeves’ report on suicide rate increase during recession is published in The New York Times
New research on work-family conflict
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10815817
Cambridge comes out top again in Sociology in The Complete University Guide
http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings?s=Sociology
Cambridge comes out first again in the Guardian Good University Guide ranking for Sociology
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/table/2012/may/22/university-guide-sociology
Sociologists Sridhar Venkatapuram and David Stuckler discuss how tensions within society are slowing down the process of combating disease worldwide.
http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/discussion/ethical-dilemmas-and-global-health/
Cambridge Sociology comes 4th in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2011.
Published annually since 2004, QS World University Rankings is the most trusted university ranking in the world . For 2011 it ranked Cambridge Sociology among the top four universities of the world with Harvard, Berkeley and Oxford.
Dr Bruno Perreau (Newton Fellow and Jesus College Research Associate) publishes his new book: Rethinking Adoption. The Pastoral Governance of Gender’
Rethinking Adoption. The Pastoral Governance of Gender’
http://bernardthomasson.com/2012/02/01/le-parcours-de-ladoption/
Professor Sarah Franklin has been appointed to the Chair of Sociology at the University of Cambridge.
Professor Franklin is a specialist in the field of reproductive technology and a leading figure in the field of biosocial studies, and was previously Professor of Social Studies of Biomedicine at the LSE. Her appointment contributes to a growing focus on health-related studies in the University of Cambridge’s Department of Sociology.
For information about Professor Franklin's work please see her profile page here.
Alexander Kentikelenis and Dr. David Stuckler on financial crisis and public health in Greece
A team including Cambridge sociologists Alexander Kentikelenis and Dr. David Stuckler set out to find the effects of the economic crisis on the health of Greeks. Their findings have been widely reported in international media.
For details see the Lancet paper or coverage in the Guardian, Reuters, BBC or Bloomberg
Peggy Watson has been awarded a prestigious Rockefeller Foundation residency
Peggy Watson has been awarded a prestigious Rockefeller Foundation residency at the Bellagio Center, Italy, to be taken up next year. During the residency she will be working on a project entitled: Globalisation and the Political/Moral Economies of Health Care Change in Eastern Europe.
Brendan Burchell receives Pilkington Teaching Prize
Brendan Burchell of the Department of Sociology is a recipient of the Pilkington Prize.
Please see the School of the Humanities and Social Sciences website for more details.
Cambridge’s Lois Lee: Europe’s forgotten "religion"
Lois Lee of the University of Cambridge discusses the significance of "non-religion" in Europe.
Please see the Research website for more details.
2010-2011
Cambridge's David Stuckler: EU suicide rates surged after 2008 crisis
David Stuckler of the University of Cambridge has been studying a link between the economic downturn and mortality rates.
Please see the Bloomberg website (external link) for more details.
Cambridge Sociology tops Guardian league tables
Please see Guardian Online (external link) for more details.
Darin Weinberg wins 2011 Outstanding Article Award
9 May 2011
Dr Darin Weinberg was awarded the 2011 Outstanding Article Award from the Social Problems Theory Division of the Society for the Study of Social Problems, for his article:
Weinberg, Darin. 2009. ‘On the Social Construction of Social Problems and Social Problems Theory: a contribution to the legacy of John Kitsuse’. The American Sociologist. 40:61-78
Cambridge Sociology comes top in UK
4 May 2011
Cambridge Sociology comes top out of 89 UK sociology departments listed in the Complete University Guide 2012:
Complete University Guide 2012 (Sociology)
Dr Darin Weinberg wins Pollner Prize
April 2011
Dr Darin Weinberg’s book ‘Of Others Inside: Insanity, Addiction and Belonging in America’, published by Temple University Press, has won the American Sociological Association Pollner Prize.
The Melvin Pollner Prize in Ethnomethodology is conferred by the American Sociological Association's Section on Ethnomethodology and Conversation Analysis. The award honours the intellectual spirit and memory of Melvin Pollner and is given to an outstanding book, article, or chapter that addresses issues relating to ethnomethodology in the inclusive sense reflected in Pollner's intellectual and research concerns. The prize includes an award of $1000.
Francis Xavier Sixth Form Visit
9 February 2011
On 9 February 2011the Sociology Department played host to eighteen students from Francis Xavier Sixth Form College, South London, who were accompanied by their Sociology teacher. At a meeting in the Seminar Room, Dr Peggy Watson firstly welcomed the visitors and introduced them to the Tripos and the range of research being carried out in the Department. Five Cambridge Sociology students attended the event – Nathanael Arnott-Davies, Taz Rasul, Rin Ushiyama, Chrystalla Vassou and Jonny Walker. Each briefly spoke about why they had chosen to study Sociology and the new understandings they had gained from the course – which gave rise to an interesting and lively exchange. Finally, Dr Darin Weinberg gave a flavour of his research by discussing some related epistemological issues – raising questions, for example, as to what might lie behind competing constructions of ‘health’, or ‘addiction’. This produced a dynamic discussion, with the Francis Xavier visitors putting forward a wide range of views. Lunch was followed by a brief introduction to the Cambridge college system from Dr Brendan Burchell, after which the Sixth Formers joined a Part 1 lecture on the topic of Class.
2009-2010
Greater gender equality, (un)happier families?
24th September 2010
A seminar to help identify the effects of the gender division of paid and unpaid work on relationship quality, parental and child wellbeing
Thursday, 9th December 2010, 10 am – 4.30 pm, at University of Cambridge Mond Building Seminar Room, Free School Lane, Cambridge CB2 3RF
Cambridge Sociology comes top in Guardian Online rankings
15th June 2010
The University's Department of Sociology, attains first place in the Guardian's Online 'University Guide 2011'.
Please see Guardian Online (external link) for more details.
Cambridge Sociology comes top in Times Online rankings again
21st May 2010
The University's Department of Sociology, attains first place in the Times Online 'Good University Guide 2010'.
Please see Times Online (external link) for more details.
Happiness hinges on the lives of others. Study led by Professor Jacqueline Scott
15th April 2010
Article based on research by Jacqueline Scott, Anke Plagnol and Jane Nolan marking the book launch of Gender Inequalities in the 21st Century published by Edward Elgar.
Please see the University website for more details.
Special Sociology lectures and seminars announced for Easter Term 2010
23rd March 2010
Please see the Department's Seminars and Events page for more details.
Richard Sennet nominated for Honorary Doctorate
17th March 2010
The Department of Sociology is delighted to congratulate Richard Sennet who has been officially nominated to receive the conferment of an Honorary Doctorate by Cambridge. Richard is already an Honorary Visiting Professor at our Department and this honour further acknowledges his close links with sociology at Cambridge.
Please see the announcement on the University's website for more details.
Winners of A-level prize 2009 announced
17th September 2009
Read the winning entries of the A-level Essay Competition here:
2008-2009
Social Stratification Research Seminar, 2009
6th July 2009
The annual conference will be taking place on the 9th and 10th September at the PPSIS faculty (Department of Sociology), University of Cambridge
A provisional programme of papers will be published at www.camsis.stir.ac.uk/stratif/.
Please see the Booking Form / Call for Papers (pdf) for more details.
New Department of Sociology website launched
14th June 2009
The new Department of Sociology website is launched today.
Cambridge Sociology comes top in Times Online rankings
3rd June 2009
The University's Department of Sociology, attains first place in the Times Online 'Good University Guide 2010'.
Please see Times Online (external link) for more details.
Prof Michael Mann Lecture
20th & 21st May 2009
THE SOCIOLOGY DEPARTMENT IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE:
A public lecture by Prof Michael Mann:'The End of American Empire?' WEDNESDAY 20 MAY, 5.00 PM, MAXWELL LECTURE THEATRE, PPSIS, FREE SCHOOL LANE
A departmental seminar by Prof Michael Mann:'The Rise and Fall of Neoliberalism' THURSDAY 21 MAY AT 12.30 PM, PPSIS SEMINAR ROOM, PPSIS, FREE SCHOOL LANE
ALL WELCOME!
Sociology in the Media (last updated 11th May 2009)
Click here for a summary of media reports involving Cambridge's Department of Sociology
Cambridge Sociology comes top in The Independent's University Guide 2010 (scoring 100%)
April 2009
Click here for the full story (external site)
Cambridge Sociology 2nd in 2009 Guardian League Table
2nd April 2009
Sociology at Cambridge is in second place in 2009 Guardian league tables, achieving a score of 91/100 for its overall teaching quality. See The Guardian website (external link) for details.
RAE 2008 Results
3rd January 2009
The RAE results just released have Sociology at Cambridge in 11th equal place in the list of 59 units assessed. Our grade profile was as follows: 20% or work was graded at the 4* level (‘world-leading’), 30% at 3* (‘internationally-excellent’), 30% at 2* level (‘internationally-recognised’) and 20% at 1* level (‘nationally recognised’). This is very pleasing, as it represents a clear improvement from 2001 when we were ranked c 24th (The different grading system used then makes exact comparisions difficult). This represents a sound foundation for the start of the new Department of Sociology (Sociology) in January
Sociology A-level prize winners visit Cambridge
4th November 2008
The A-level competition winners visit Cambridge. Click here for the full story.
Winners of A-level prize announced
4th November 2008
Read the winning entries of the A-level Essay Competition here
Cambridge Sociology Essay Competition 2009
The competition is now closed, but Click here for competition details.