John Urry (1946-2016) embodied the tradition of world class Sociology that he was central to creating at Lancaster University. His purpose was the pursuit of truth in order to make the world a better place, to be achieved through the practice of collegiality, no deference, argument with respect, and collaboration around the world. This tradition lives on in the Department of Sociology and the Centre for Mobilities Research at Lancaster University, which he helped to establish.

The John Urry Fellowship was established in 2017 to continue this tradition.  The Visiting Fellow will be ‘in dialogue’ with John Urry.

The Fellowship is located in the Department of Sociology at Lancaster University, where John was based for all his working life.

We invite applications from scholars whose research interests resonate with those of John Urry. The fellow will be an individual whose research is already in dialogue with John Urry’s work on sociology, mobilities, complexity, tourism, social futures or any other topic he covered over his long and fruitful career. Fellows may be from any academic discipline, and the fellowship is open to junior and senior scholars, as well as post-doctoral researchers. Applicants must have completed a PhD to be eligible for the award.

The fellow will be awarded up to £2,000 for expenses such as travel, accommodation in Lancaster, the cost for an event at Lancaster University, bench fees to gain full access to the library and facilities, and expenses associated with research activity during the Fellowship.

The John Urry Fellowship is to be taken-up between October and June. Fellows will visit Lancaster University and are invited to spend a period of time in residence. You will be expected to organise and lead a lecture, seminar or workshop on the topic of your research.  If you like, you will be invited to write a blog about your time at Lancaster.  The call for the 2019-20 fellowship award will open later in 2019/2020. 

The Fellowship is administered by the Centre for Mobilities Research (CeMoRe), founded by John Urry, which has a tradition of offering fellowships to scholars external to the university.

How to apply 

To apply for the fellowship, please submit a CV with a short biography (150 words) and a 1 page covering letter detailing:

1. how your research connects to John Urry’s work
2. what you plan to do during your time in Lancaster
3. a title and abstract for a seminar paper
4. a budget for using the £2000.

Please send all applications to cemore@lancaster.ac.uk. Queries may be directed to Prof. Monika Büscher (CeMoRe Director) – email m.buscher@lancaster.ac.uk

Associated Staff

• Monika Buscher
• Joe Deville
• James Faulconbridge
• Anne-Marie Fortier
• Lynne Pearce
• David Tyfield