Professor James Cheshire was conferred to the Fellowship of the Academy in autumn 2024. He is Professor of Geographic Information and Cartography at University College London and the inaugural Director of UCL’s Social Data Institute (UCL SODA), where he oversees a world-leading programme of data intensive teaching to undergraduates. A leading geographer, James has made significant contributions to the social sciences, particularly in spatial data analysis and visualisation.
Professor James CheshireFAcSS
James’ extensive and interdisciplinary research portfolio covers topics such as behavioural changes during COVID-19, cartographic representation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and innovative visualisations of population datasets. His work has been supported by over £15 million in research funding, and he has helped to create data and mapping portals that have been widely used in education and policy. James’ co-authored books, have achieved global success, being translated into 12 languages and receiving widespread critical acclaim.
He is the recipient of major awards from the likes of the Royal Geographical Society, the American Association of Geographers and the Royal Scottish Geographical Society.
Why do the social sciences matter?
The social sciences anchor us to the reality of the human condition. Individually, and collectively, we can behave in entirely predictable ways and then suddenly become unpredictable when circumstances change. Some voices are louder than others, and some people more present than others in the way that data is used to inform big decisions. Good social science creates an awareness of who is and, crucially, who is not represented and then proceeds to new insights, without taking anything or anyone for granted.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I’m never happier than when I discover something new within a dataset, or have a creative idea for how to visualise it.
What is the most urgent issue social scientists need to tackle today and within the next three years?
From developments in AI to the consequences of the climate crisis, social scientists have much to contribute. However, the importance of the work can be overshadowed by the excitement of new technologies and the immediacy of political issues. I think more can be done to amplify the ideas and insights that the social sciences can generate, and I see better communication as crucial to this. This is something we can all start to think about now and I know is already an important part of the work Academy of Social Sciences and its affiliated societies.
What does being a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences mean to you?
It feels wonderful – and a little daunting – to be placed amongst so many of the social scientists that I admire with this fellowship, but more importantly it means I get to swell the ranks of AcSS Fellows who are all seeking to better understand the complexities of the social world to drive positive change.