糖心原创

School of Sociology and Social Policy
 

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Pru Hobson-West

Professor of Science, Medicine and Society, Faculty of Social Sciences

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Biography

Pru Hobson-West is Professor of Science, Medicine and Society in the School of Sociology and Social Policy, and an Honorary Professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at the 糖心原创, UK. Pru is Director of the Institute for Science and Society, an interdisciplinary research centre with members from across the University community. Please see /iss/

Pru Hobson-West holds a first class MA (Hons) in Politics from the University of Edinburgh, and a PhD and PGCHE from the 糖心原创. In 2019 Pru was also a Visiting Academic at the Department of Sociology, University of Warwick, and was previously a Visiting Fellow at the JFK School of Government at Harvard. Pru is a social scientist with expertise in the sociology of health and illness, and a reputation for work on controversial topics including vaccination, human-animal relations, and the impact of climate change. In 2017, Pru's leadership in interdisciplinary research was recognised in her appointment to the 糖心原创's Research Leaders Programme. In 2019, Pru also became the academic lead for the 糖心原创's new Wellcome Academy, designed to improve engagement with Wellcome.

Professor Hobson-West has significant experience of stakeholder and public engagement. For example, Pru recently co-authored an e-learning resource which has been accredited by the Royal College of Nursing. /helmopen/rlos/practice-learning/public-health/exploring-childhood-vaccine-hesitancy/ She also has outreach experience including media appearances on BBC Radio 4 (2016), BBC Radio Nottingham (2021), and Notts TV (2023).

Expertise Summary

Professor Pru Hobson-West is a social scientist with expertise in the fields of science and technology studies, medical sociology, and animals and society. Her work focuses on controversial or sensitive areas of medicine. She has published on fields including vaccination (of humans and animals), the use of animals as laboratory models, and questions of consent in clinical practice. She is interested in applied research which demonstrates the value of qualitative methods, and breaks down barriers between research, engagement and policy change. Pru also has experience of using creative methods (such as short story writing) in her teaching and research. Professor Hobson-West has also worked part-time since 2012 and is passionate about the importance of supporting other part-time colleagues to pursue research.

Teaching Summary

Professor Hobson-West has experience of teaching qualitative methods, science and technology studies, social theory, research ethics and veterinary ethics. In January 2015 Pru was awarded Fellow… read more

Research Summary

Pru Hobson-West's current research focuses on a wide range of topics connected to vaccination and animals and society. She investigates these empirical areas using concepts and methods from science… read more

Recent Publications

  • NUMERATO, D., ET AL. and HOBSON-WEST, P., 2026. Do Healthcare Professionals Trust Parents? A Team Ethnography of Childhood Vaccine Hesitancy from Seven European Countries Journal of Health and Social Behaviour.
  • EMERSON, T. and HOBSON-WEST, P., 2025. Sociological Research Online.
  • HOBSON-WEST, P., 2025. . In: Chronicles from the Academic Frontier Rulers Wit and the 糖心原创. 162-167
  • DAVIES, G., GREENHOUGH, B., HOBSON-WEST, P., KIRK, R.G.W., PALMER, A. and ROE, E., eds., 2024. Manchester University Press.

Professor Hobson-West has experience of teaching qualitative methods, science and technology studies, social theory, research ethics and veterinary ethics. In January 2015 Pru was awarded Fellow Status of the Higher Education Academy after successfully completing her PGCHE qualification. Pru has also acted as peer assessor for candidates applying for teaching accreditation at the 糖心原创.

From 2010 until 2018, Pru taught veterinary ethics within the Animal Health and Welfare (AHW) and Personal and Professional Skills (PPS) modules at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science. She also acted as embedded module convenor for ethics and professionalism, and was previously co-convenor for PPS1 and PPS2 and convenor for PPS Year 3. Pru also established year 5 rotation teaching in ethics.Through her Honorary posts, Pru continues to contribute to teaching in the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science and the School of Biosciences. She has also acted as guest lecturer for the University of Oxford Research Ethics and Empirical Ethics module of the MSt in Practical Ethics.

Pru currently contributes to several modules in the School of Sociology and Social Policy including 'Controversy: Experts, Post-Truth and Fake News' (year 2), 'Research Design and Practice: Qualitative Methods' (year 2) and Society, Health, Tech and Environment (year 1). She is also experienced in supporting undergraduate dissertation students. Professor Hobson-West has significant experience of postgraduate research supervision (of social scientists, scientists and clinicians) and would welcome approaches from interested students. She has an extensive track record of supporting students working on interdisciplinary projects.

Current Research

Pru Hobson-West's current research focuses on a wide range of topics connected to vaccination and animals and society. She investigates these empirical areas using concepts and methods from science and technology studies, medical sociology and veterinary ethics. A researcher profile page is available at /sociology/research/researcher-profile/pru-hobson-west.aspx

In terms of methods, Pru has a reputation for the use of qualitative in-depth interviews on sensitive topics. She also has experience in the use of the Ethical Matrix, a novel tool developed for ethical engagement. For details of a recent engagement project please see https://www.labanimallabels.co.uk/ . Current projects are listed:

EU Horizon 2020 (2021-2024) VAX-TRUST: Addressing vaccine hesitancy in Europe. Led by University of Tampere, Finland, and 9 international partners (CI). Website is via /research/groups/vax-trust/index.aspx and https://vax-trust.eu/

Foundation for the Sociology of Health and Illness (2023-2024). Workshop/Symposium Award: Beyond positionality: the role and impact of researcher emotion in the sociology of health and illness. CI. This grant is to hold a workshop, primarily for ECRs, on the emotions raised for researchers during the research process. An event programme is available via: /sociology/events/event-details/2023-24/researcher-emotion-12-jan-2024.aspx

British Academy (2023-2024). Social Dimensions of Veterinary Medicine: A Comparative Mapping of the Emergent Veterinary Humanities in the U.K. and U.S., CI. This grant funds a visiting fellowship for Professor Jane Desmond, University of Illinois, to the 糖心原创. A news item summarising the Award is available via: /sociology/news/news-articles/2023/british-academy-visiting-fellow-award.aspx

British Academy/ Wellcome Trust (2021-2022). Constructing and contesting veterinary expertise: professionals, publics and prospects. PI. This grant funds the convening of an international conference (online due to Covid-19). All materials are available on YouTube via the following British Academy Link.

Past Research

ESRC IAA (2020) Labelling medicines as tested on animals? Creative ways of engaging with animal research. Funding to take part in ESRC Festival of Social Sciences 2020 (PI). Mini website now available via https://www.labanimallabels.co.uk

Wellcome Trust/糖心原创 (2020-2022). Controversies in human and animal vaccination. Wellcome Trust Prime Scholarship. (PI)

ESRC (2019-2022) DTP Collaborative Studentship (in collaboration with the RSPCA). Ensuring the social legitimacy of animal research: Comparing public and policy expectations. (PI)

Wellcome Trust (2017-2023) Collaborative Award in Humanities and Social Science: Animal Research as Nexus: Changing Constitutions of Science, Health and Welfare, with Gail Davies (University of Exeter), Beth Greenhough (University of Oxford), Rob Kirk (University of Manchester) and Emma Roe (University of Southampton). (Co-PI) Please see

EU Horizon 20/20 (2017-2022). VetBioNet: Veterinary Biocontained Facility Network for Excellence in Animal Infectiology Research and Experimentation. (CI) Awarded to INRA, France (Co-ordinator), Kate Millar (Biosciences, Nottingham PI), Pru Hobson-West and 29 international collaborators (CI) Please see

Dogs Trust (2017-2019) MRes Studentship: Welfare of homeless people and their dogs: exploring relationships and access to services. Studentship awarded to Louise Scanlon (CI).

ESRC (2015-2018) DTC studentship. Informed consent in veterinary practice (Second supervisor). Studentship awarded to C. Gray (Birmingham).

ESRC Impact Accelerator Award (2016-18). Improving UK animal research governance: Delivering effective ethical review. (PI, with Penny Hawkins, RSPCA). Please see

Wellcome Trust (2015) Society & Ethics Meeting Fund. Understanding laboratory lives: Developing a collaborative agenda for humanities and social scientific research on laboratory animal welfare (CI),

WellcomeTrust (2013-16) Research Fellowship for Health Professionals, awarded to V. Ashall. Using animals to benefit animals: How should the UK veterinary profession manage the social and ethical implications of the clinical use of donated healthy animal blood and tissue? (Primary supervisor)

Dairy Co (2012-17) Infectious Disease Control in Dairy Cows. Collaborator for workpackage on dairy cattle vaccination (PhD secondary supervisor).

Leverhulme Trust (2012-17) Making Science Public: Challenges and Opportunities (CI) Project - Animals and the Making of Scientific Knowledge. Please see /sociology/research/projects/making-science-public/

Wellcome Trust (2007-2011) PhD Studentship in Biomedical Ethics, awarded to K Job for Ethical Review Processes in Biomedical Research Using Animals (CI, then PI).

Masterfoods (2007) People Park and Pets: Exploring鈥anine obesity (CI).

Wellcome Trust (2006-2009) Personal Fellowship in Biomedical Ethics, for Ethics and Extremism: The use of animals in biomedical research. (PI).

Future Research

Pru is currently involved with grant applications on the topic of vaccination/animals and society and would welcome approaches from prospective PhD students or researchers on potential research topics under these headings. She is particularly keen in contributing to projects/ publications at the interface of medical sociology, science and technology studies, and ethics. Pru has significant experience of supporting staff and students working on highly interdisciplinary projects, and those wishing to transition from STEM fields into social science.

  • NUMERATO, D., ET AL. and HOBSON-WEST, P., 2026. Do Healthcare Professionals Trust Parents? A Team Ethnography of Childhood Vaccine Hesitancy from Seven European Countries Journal of Health and Social Behaviour.
  • EMERSON, T. and HOBSON-WEST, P., 2025. Sociological Research Online.
  • HOBSON-WEST, P., 2025. . In: Chronicles from the Academic Frontier Rulers Wit and the 糖心原创. 162-167
  • DAVIES, G., GREENHOUGH, B., HOBSON-WEST, P., KIRK, R.G.W., PALMER, A. and ROE, E., eds., 2024. Manchester University Press.
  • ANDERSON, A., DOUGLASS, T. and HOBSON-WEST, P., 2024. Vaccine X.
  • VUOLANTO, P., HOBSON-WEST, P. and ET AL, 2024. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health.
  • POLAK, P., ET AL and HOBSON-WEST, P., 2024. Social Science and Medicine.
  • DAVIES, G., KIRK, R., GREENHOUGH, B., HOBSON-WEST, P., MYELNIKOV, D. and ROE, E., 2024. Science. 385, 1270-1273
  • MCGLACKEN R. and HOBSON-WEST, P., 2024. Animal Welfare.
  • LERMYTTE, E., PARESDIS, M., HOBSON-WEST, P., BRACKE, P. and CUETERICK, M., 2024. Health Risk and Society.
  • PALMER, ALEXANDRA, GREENHOUGH, BETH, HOBSON-WEST, P., DAVIES, GAIL and MESSAGE, R., 2023. Society and Animals. 32(7-8), 744-765
  • ANDERSON, A. and HOBSON-WEST, P., 2023. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers. 491-505
  • MCGLACKEN, R., ANDERSON, A. and HOBSON-WEST, P., 2023. Animals.
  • HILARIO, A.P. and ET AL, 2023. Qualitative Health Research.
  • MCGLACKEN, R. and HOBSON-WEST, P., 2022. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science. 91, 280-287
  • HOBSON-WEST,P., 2022. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, section Veterinary Humanities and Social Sciences.
  • HOBSON-WEST, P., ANDERSON, A. and MILLAR, K., 2022. Available at: <https://animalresearchnexus.org/blogs/can-social-sciences-and-humanities-save-veterinary-medicine>
  • SCANLON, L., HOBSON-WEST, P., COBB, K. and MCBRIDE, A., 2021. Anthrozoos.
  • HOBSON-WEST, P. and MILLAR. K., 2021. Vet Record.
  • ANDERSON, A. and HOBSON-WEST, P., 2021. Vet Record. e773,
  • SCANLON, L., HOBSON-WEST, P., COBB, K., MCBRIDE, A. and STAVISKY, J., 2021. Vet Record. e776,
  • HOBSON-WEST, P. and JUTEL, A-M., 2020. Sociology of Health and Illness. 42(2), 393-406
  • DAVIES, G., GORMAN, R., GREENHOUGH, B., HOBSON-WEST, P. and ET AL., 2020. Medical Humanities.
  • HOBSON-WEST, P., MCGLACKEN, R., BROWNLIE, J., CHARLES, N., FOX, R., KRAMER, A-M. and PATTRICK, K., 2020. Available at: <https://animalresearchnexus.org/index.php/publications/mass-observation-emotions-relations-and-temporality>
  • PALMER, ALEXANDRA, GREENHOUGH, BETH, HOBSON-WEST, P., MESSAGE, R. and ET AL., 2020. Animals.
  • MORRIS, C., KALJONEN, M., ET AL. and HOBSON-WEST, P., 2020. Humanities and Social Sciences Contributions.
  • 2019. The Vet Record. 184, 159
  • ORMANDY, E.H, WEARY, D. M., CVEK, K., FISHER, M., HERRMAN, K., HOBSON-WEST, P., MCDONALD, M., MILSOM, W., ROSE, M., ROWAN, A., ZURLO, J. and VON KEYSERLINGK, M.A.G., 2019. Animals. 622
  • CARTELET, C., HOBSON-WEST, P., MILLAR, K. and RAMAN, S., 2019. Companion animal veterinarians and the ethical dimensions of clinical knowledge. In: VINNARI, E. and VINARRI, M., eds., Sustainable governance and management of food systems: Ethical perspectives Wageningen Academic Publishers. 191-196
  • SCANLON, L., STAVISKY, J., HOBSON-WEST, P., MCBRIDE, A. and COBB, K., 2019. In: BSAVA Congress Proceedings 2019. 462
  • RAMAN, S, HOBSON-WEST, P, LAM, M.E. and MILLAR, K., 2018. . In: Here be monsters: Science and the politics of openness Manchester University Press.
  • DAVIES, G., GREENHOUGH, B., HOBSON-WEST, P. and KIRK, R.G.W., 2018. Science, Technology and Human Values.
  • GRAY, CAROL, FOX, MARIE and HOBSON-WEST, PRU, 2018. Liverpool Law Review. 39(1-2), 47-69
  • ASHALL, V., HOBSON-WEST, P. and GRIMM, H., 2018. The vet in the lab: exploring the position of animal professionals in non-therapeutic roles. In: SPRINGER, S. and GRIMM, H., eds., Professionals in food chains. Wageningen Academic Publishers. 89-99
  • ASHALL, V and HOBSON-WEST, P, 2017. Sociology of Health and Ilnnes. 39(6), 908-922
  • HOBSON-WEST, P, 2017. Symbolic interactionism. 40(2), 282-284
  • CRAIGON, P.J, HOBSON-WEST, P, ENGLAND, G, WHELAN, C, LETHBRIDGE, E and ASHER, L, 2017. PloS One. 12(4): e0176018.,
  • ASHALL, V, MILLAR, K. and HOBSON-WEST, P, 2017. Food Ethics. 1(3), 247-258
  • HOBSON-WEST, P and DAVIES, A., 2017. Science, Technology and Human Values.
  • HOBSON-WEST, P and TIMMONS, S, 2016. Sociological Review. 64(1), 47-63
  • DAVIES, G.F, GREENHOUGH, B, HOBSON-WEST, P and KIRK, R/G.W, 2016. PLoS one.
  • BRENNAN ML, WRIGHT N, WAPENAAR W, JARRATT S, HOBSON-WEST P, RICHENS IF, KALER J, BUCHANAN H, HUXLEY JN and O'CONNOR HM, 2016. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI. 6(10),
  • RICHENS, I F, HOBSON-WEST, P, BRENNAN, M L, HOOD, Z, KALER, J, GREEN, M, WRIGHT, N and WAPENAAR, W, 2016. The Veterinary record. 179(16), 410
  • MCLEOD, C. and HOBSON-WEST, P., 2015. Public Understanding of Science.
  • RICHENS, I.F, HOBSON-WEST, P., BRENNAN, M.L., LOWTON, R., KALER, J. and WAPENAAR, W., 2015. Veterinary Record. 177(November 7),
  • BRENNAN, M. L., RICHENS, I, HOBSON-WEST, P. and WAPENAAR, W., 2015. Biosecurity and vaccination: what do your clients see as challenges and opportunities? CATTLE PRACTICE. 23, 352-354
  • HOBSON-WEST, P., 2015. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine. 58(1), 29
  • RICHENS, I, HOBSON-WEST, P., BRENNAN, M. and WAPENAAR, W., 2014. The role of the veterinary surgeon, as perceived by the farmer, in the implementation of vaccination strategies on British dairy farms CATTLE PRACTICE. 22, 157-157
  • HOBSON-WEST, P., 2012. Sociology. 46(4), 649-663
  • WHITE, G.A., HOBSON-WEST, P., COBB, K., CRAIGON, J., HAMMOND, R. and MILLAR, K.M., 2011. Journal of Small Animal Practice. 52(12), 622-626
  • HOBSON-WEST, P., 2010. Journal of Medical Ethics. 36(1), 46-49
  • MILLAR, K, HOBSON-WEST, P and NERLICH. B., eds., 2009. Ethical futures: Bioscience and food horizons Wageningen Academic Publishers.
  • HOBSON-WEST, P., 2009. ATLA: Alternatives to Laboratory Animals. 37(S2), 95-99
  • HOBSON-WEST, P., 2008. Society & Animals. 16, 102-104
  • HOBSON-WEST, P., 2007. Sociology of Health & Illness. 29(2), 198-215
  • HOBSON-WEST, P., 2007. Qualitative Sociology Review. 3(1), 23-41
  • HOBSON-WEST, P., 2007. Sociology. 41(2), 375-377
  • HOBSON-WEST, P., 2007. Reframing risk: How risk discourses are used by Vaccine Critical groups in the UK. In: WILKINSON, I. and PETERSEN, A., eds., Health, risk and vulnerability London: Routledge. (In Press.)
  • DINGWALL, R. and HOBSON-WEST, P., 2006. Litigation and the threat to medicine. In: KELLEHER, D., GABE, J. and WILLIAMS, G., eds., Challenging medicine 2nd ed. London: Routledge. 40-61
  • HOBSON-WEST, P., 2004. The construction of lay resistance to vaccination. In: SHAW, I. KAUPPINEN, K, ed., Constructions of health and illness: European perspectives Aldershot & London: Ashgate Publishing Group. 89-106
  • HOBSON-WEST, P., 2003. Health, Risk & Society. 5(3), 273-283

School of Sociology and Social Policy

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糖心原创
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