Sociology

Chris Phillipson has held the post of Professor of Applied Social Studies and Social Gerontology, at the University of Keele since 1988. He currently serves as one of the three Pro-Vice Chancellors for the University, with a portfolio covering learning and teaching. Professor Phillipson established the Department of Applied Social Studies and Social Work in 1988 and headed the Department until 1996. He subsequently served as Dean of Research for the Faculty of Social Sciences and Dean of Postgraduate Affairs before taking up his present post in 2006. He was also founding Director (1986-1997) of the Centre for Social Gerontology.

His major research work has been in the field of ageing where he has led a number of research programmes investigating issues relating to pre-retirement education, family and community life in old age, problems of social exclusion, and issues relating to urbanisation and migration.

He has published extensively on age-related matters. His books include: Reconstructing Old Age (Sage, 1998), Social Theory and Social Ageing (co-authored, McGraw-Hill, 2003), Social Networks and Social Exclusion (co-edited, 2004), Ageing, Globalisation and Inequality (co-edited, Baywood, 2006) and the Futures of Old Age (co-edited, Sage, 2006).

He is Past-President of the British Society of Gerontology and a former Vice-Chair of the Training and Development Board of the Economic and Social Research Council. He has been a visiting Professor to universities in Japan and the USA. He is a Founding Fellow of the British Society of Gerontology and an Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences.