Professor Greta Defeyter was conferred to the Fellowship of the Academy in spring 2026. She is Professor of Developmental Psychology, Dean of Social Mobility Policy Engagement and Director of the Healthy Living Lab at Northumbria University. She is a strong advocate for social justice and children’s and young people’s rights.
Professor Greta DefeyterOBE FAcSS
Greta’s work applies critical social science methods and theory to the understanding of different forms of social injustice, and to understanding health, educational and social inequalities in children and young people, and how these inequalities shape social mobility. Her research encompasses a variety of topics, including school health and nutrition, urban planning, and community wellbeing initiatives with a specific focus on child poverty and food insecurity. Conceptually, Greta’s work draws heavily on socio-ecological theories and much of Greta’s work has been co-produced with a wide range of people, including activists, artists, youth groups, NGOs, and governments.
Greta is one of the UK’s leading researchers into holiday hunger and school breakfast clubs. She is passionate about research making a difference through policy. She supported the Department for Education’s (DfE) co-design of the Holiday Activities and Food programme, known as HAF, which provides over 500,000 children and families access to nutritious meals, sporting and cultural activities and more during school holidays. Following its implementation, Greta’s ongoing research has evidenced the positive impact of HAF on children, families and communities and led to the government confirming a further £600 million investment to deliver HAF across all higher-tiered local authorities in England. Greta is currently working with the DfE on the roll out of the £315 million National School Breakfast Club Scheme across all state funded primary schools in England.
As an advocate for interdisciplinary research, Greta’s work spans human geography, medical humanities, disability studies, health economics, nutritional sciences, education, sociology, psychology, and politics. Greta’s research has attracted funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the British Academy, the Wellcome Trust, the National Institute Health Research (NIHR) and the UK Government.
Find out more about Professor Greta Defeyter and her work.
Why do the social sciences matter?
The social sciences provide evidence-based insights for policy, improve economic wellbeing, reduce inequalities, and foster critical thinking to create more inclusive, informed communities. They can provide crucial information on how systems operate and how people experience life in both the natural and artificial worlds. Many of these issues are fundamental to the development of global issues, such as new technologies, climate change, social justice, cohesive communities, and equality.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I’m driven by a deep-rooted professional and personal concern about poverty, especially child poverty. I love the fact that one day I can be talking to the Chancellor of the Exchequer or discussing holiday hunger with Gordon Ramsay, and the next day to a young person who is not in employment, education or training. As a mixed methods researcher, I particularly like co-designing research projects, with people from different sectors, children and young people, that utilise creative methods. I also love knowledge exchange: supporting young people in the dissemination of their work, ensuring that their voices are not only heard by policymakers but acted upon.
What is the most urgent issue social scientists need to tackle today and within the next three years?
I think one of the most important things that social scientists need to work on is the growing social injustice in the world and the pace at which human rights are being eroded.
What does being a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences mean to you?
I am honoured to be elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. Over the last 25 years, I have had the privilege of working with many social scientists and I appreciate the impact they have had on my thinking and the direction of my research. I hope to work with the Academy of Social Sciences to further promote the importance of social science research, especially to policymakers.