Professor Helen Kennedy elected as Fellow of the British Academy

The British Academy has bestowed its highest honour in recognition of Helen's research which investigates how developments in digital technology are experienced in everyday life.

A photo of Helen Kennedy

Each year the British Academy elects to its fellowship outstanding UK-based scholars who have achieved distinction in any branch of the humanities and social sciences. It is the highest honour that the Academy confers on UK residents. 

Helen Kennedy鈥檚 research focuses on how data, AI and automation are experienced by non-expert folk as part of their everyday lives, how they come into being, the contexts in which they are made and shaped, how and whether they can be fair and equitable, what good digital societies looks like and why the concept of 鈥榯he digital good鈥 is so contested. She has secured over 拢9m in research funding, including for the current  and . Most of her research involves collaborating with non-academic stakeholders in order to enact positive social change.

Helen responded to hearing the news, saying: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge honour to be elected a Fellow of the British Academy, and to be in such great company, including the incredible Honorary Fellows. I鈥檓 especially pleased that my election means that digital expertise and scholarship from the north of England are represented in the British Academy Fellowship.鈥

葫芦影业 the British Academy

The humanities and social sciences have a rich and unique contribution to make to the world we live in. The British Academy鈥檚 fellowship and award-holders represent breadth and excellence of expertise across these disciplines, and the Academy鈥檚 policy and research work is dedicated to applying that insight to policy issues for public benefit and societal wellbeing.