Scott Lampon – Research Hero

What is the biggest challenge you have faced during your career?
The pandemic happened only a few years into my professional working life, so it was definitely a huge challenge to adapt to not only the nature of work changing, but being able to ensure that research could still be efficient, effective and insightful during this difficult period for everyone. Because I am also the social secretary at Shift, I also saw it as my duty to ensure that people didn’t feel isolated from other colleagues at this time, so I had to get creative beyond just Zoom quizzes to make sure everyone felt included.

What will be the next big trend or development in the research industry, and why?
I might be slightly biased because Shift specialises in sustainability research, but I do think research to encourage and inform sustainable behaviours and structures will be the future. When I say sustainability here, I don’t mean just in terms of ecological efforts for the environment, but also social justice and inclusion efforts.

Who inspires you as a researcher?
So many people. My original inspirations for research were the amazing academics I met at the sociology department at the University of Warwick. Women such as Maria Do Mar Pereira and Akwugo Emejulu guided my own research and dissertations at the time and they both do incredible research into the experiences of women and people of colour. But of course I am also inspired by my each and every one of my colleagues at Shift who all bring so much knowledge, experience and energy to my working life.

View the full list of Research Heroes for 2022