Professor Vicki Squire of the University of Warwick joins Academy of Social Sciences Fellowship recognising leadership in migration and humanitarian research

Professor Vicki Squire of the University of Warwick joins Academy of Social Sciences Fellowship recognising leadership in migration and humanitarian research

(IN BRIEF) Professor Vicki Squire of the University of Warwick has been elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, a prestigious honour recognising significant contributions to research and public understanding within the social sciences. Professor Squire, a leading scholar in international politics, is widely known for her work on borders, migration, citizenship, and humanitarianism. Her research has contributed to global debates on displacement and migration policy while also raising public awareness of the lived experiences of displaced people. Her current research project examines data literacy among internally displaced communities in Nigeria and South Sudan and is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. In addition to her academic research, Professor Squire actively contributes to public engagement through media appearances, exhibitions, and policy discussions. At Warwick, she serves as Deputy Head of Department and Director of Research for Politics and International Studies. The Spring 2026 cohort of Academy Fellows includes 74 researchers and practitioners from institutions across the UK and internationally.

(PRESS RELEASE) COVENTRY, 9-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — The University of Warwick has announced that Professor Vicki Squire, a leading scholar in international politics within the Department of Politics and International Studies (PAIS), has been elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. The recognition places her among 74 newly appointed Fellows and marks one of the highest distinctions available in the field of social science in the United Kingdom.

Election to the Academy of Social Sciences Fellowship recognises individuals who have made significant contributions to research, policy development, and professional practice across the social sciences. Fellows are selected through an independent peer-review process that evaluates the quality, impact, and broader societal benefits of their work.

Professor Squire is internationally known for her research exploring borders, migration, citizenship, and humanitarianism. Her work has contributed to broader public understanding of global displacement and the experiences of people forced to move across regions due to conflict, insecurity, and other pressures. Her scholarship has also played a role in informing international policy discussions surrounding migration and humanitarian responses.

Reflecting on the recognition, Professor Squire said she was honoured to be elected to the Academy and emphasised the importance of social science research in addressing the human consequences of global instability and conflict. She noted that research in this field is increasingly vital as the world faces rising levels of insecurity and displacement.

She also expressed her commitment to supporting the Academy’s work in strengthening public understanding of these challenges and helping foster approaches that recognise the value and dignity of every human life.

Professor Squire’s research spans several regions and contexts and frequently focuses on the lived experiences of displaced populations. One of her current projects, Data Literacies in Displacement and Humanitarian Settings, examines how internally displaced people interact with and understand humanitarian data systems. The project draws on field research conducted with displaced communities in north-eastern Nigeria and South Sudan and is supported by funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Her most recent book, Making and Unmaking Global Citizenship Lived Experiences of Precarious Migration, was published in 2025 by Edinburgh University Press. The work explores how individuals experiencing unstable migration conditions navigate ideas of citizenship, belonging, and rights.

Professor Squire has also contributed widely to public engagement and scholarship beyond academic publications. She has appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Thinking Allowed programme discussing the experiences of Syrian refugees during resettlement processes, contributed research insights to the Imperial War Museum’s exhibition Refugees Forced to Flee, and written articles for The Conversation examining the importance of humanitarian data at a time when global aid resources are under increasing pressure.

Within the University of Warwick, Professor Squire plays an active leadership role. She currently serves as Deputy Head of Department and Director of Research in the Department of Politics and International Studies, as well as Co-Convenor of the Borders, Race, Ethnicity and Migration research network.

Will Hutton, President of the Academy of Social Sciences, welcomed the newly elected Fellows and highlighted the wide range of societal issues addressed by their research. He noted that the new cohort’s work contributes to advancing knowledge and understanding in areas such as climate risk, justice systems, economic policy, social inequality, and hate crime prevention.

The Spring 2026 cohort of Fellows includes scholars and practitioners affiliated with 39 organisations across the United Kingdom as well as internationally. Newly elected Fellows also come from countries including Australia, the Czech Republic, Finland, and Ireland, reflecting the global reach of contemporary social science research.

About the University of Warwick

Founded in 1965, the University of Warwick is a world-leading institution known for its commitment to era-defining innovation across research and education. A connected ecosystem of staff, students and alumni, the University fosters transformative learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and bold industry partnerships across state-of-the-art facilities in the UK and global satellite hubs. Here, spirited thinkers push boundaries, experiment and challenge convention to create a better world.

About the Academy of Social Sciences

The Academy of Social Sciences is the national academy of academics, practitioners and learned societies in the social sciences. We exist, as a charity, to promote the social sciences in the UK for public benefit. We showcase, champion and advocate for the social sciences and their applications, raising awareness – in policy, business and with the public – of their immense value in understanding and managing our contemporary human world, and helping to secure their flourishing future.

The social sciences include: anthropology; business, finance & management; development studies; economics; economic & social history; education; human geography; law; planning; politics; regional studies; sociology; social policy; social psychology; social statistics & methodologies.

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SOURCE: University of Warwick