New honorary doctors at The Faculty of Social Sciences

Anette Mikes
Anette Mikes is based at Saïd Business School and Hertford College, University of Oxford (formerly HEC Lusanne, Harvard Business School and London School of Economics and Political Science). Her research has greatly contributed to the development of a key area of the accounting and financial management literature, namely risk management. In this area, she is a pioneer with her in-depth case studies from the financial sector. With her focus on man-made disasters, Dr. Mikes’ research has expanded in recent years to include ethics and sustainability. She has also uniquely contributed to building bridges between academia and practice. This is evident, among other things, in her work and contribution in establishing “The Oxford Ministry for the Future”. The aim of this initiative is to create a multidisciplinary network of academics and practitioners who together influence the conversation about climate change and how society should address this problem. Dr. Mikes has received several prizes and awards for her contribution to the cutting edge of research in risk management and governance.

Steven C. Hayes
Professor Steven C. Hayes' work has contributed enormously to establishing evidence for the importance of placing mental distress in a specific context that is unique to the individual. Through his theoretical and psychotherapeutic contributions, behavioral science and psychology today have begun to place greater focus on the experiences of individuals, as a way to better understand well-being and performance in the individual and in society, and as a way to design better treatments. In psychology, this is called a process-focused approach, known as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). It may sound like common sense or what practitioners already do, but this is not the case. It's tempting to immediately assume that people with specific types of conditions need specific treatments, which are the same for everyone with that condition. But with tools such as smartphone-based apps, sophisticated statistical procedures and AI, there is now the potential to individualize psychological treatment in a scientific, evidence-based way, as never before. Thanks to Professor Hayes' contributions to psychology, along with advances in technology, we can now collect complex, time-intensive data, analyze it in such a way that we can incorporate what people care about most into treatment, and use this information to customize treatment to focus on exactly what needs to change. The goal is to help people become empowered in themselves and within their families and communities, so that we are better equipped to meet the challenges of the human condition.

Torgny Wadensjö
During his long career as a publisher, Torgny Wadensjö has had a major impact on Swedish social science research. Through his work, he has promoted the dissemination of social science literature as well as actively contributed to creating a platform for scientific discussion and debate. His eye for quality and relevance has meant that important research results have reached a wider audience, which has strengthened the understanding of complex social issues and contributed to a more informed public. By promoting and disseminating research-based books, Torgny Wadensjö has facilitated a wider application of social science insights in both policy and public discourse. His ability to identify and publish works of great societal significance has made him a central figure in communicating research findings to policy makers, journalists and the interested public. Furthermore, Wadensjö has been an advocate for social science research to reach beyond the walls of academia. Through his network and his work, he has enabled researchers in the social sciences to get their work published and disseminated at a time when scientific publishing faces major challenges.

Host of the winter promotion is professor Fredrik Nilsson, Department of Business Studies.