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University academic awarded prestigious research professorship

22 May 2017

Professor Yaron Matras is one of four new British Academy/Wolfson Research Professors

The University of Manchester

Professor of Linguistics Yaron Matras has been awarded a British Academy/Wolfson Foundation Professorship, created to enable some of the UK’s most outstanding scholars to immerse themselves in research.

First awarded in 2009, the awards give established scholars the opportunity to concentrate on a significant research programme for three years, while freeing them from normal teaching and administrative commitments. Emphasis is placed on the ability of award holders to communicate their research to a broad audience.

Professor Matras, from the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures, will be researching urban multilingualism using the unique opportunity to document an extraordinary process of civic engagement around multilingualism, built around the Multilingual Manchester project. He will develop a theory from this example, give attention to the role that civil society and use innovative digital tools in order to examine public engagement with and response to language diversity.

He was one of more than 100 academics from across the country applying for four positions. The Academy's Research Awards Committee commented on the “unprecedentedly high standard of competition” with which they were faced in selecting the recipients.

Alun Evans, Chief Executive at the British Academy, said: “If we are to remain one of the world’s leading lights for research, it’s essential that we continue to support, nurture and develop the UK’s top academic minds. This scheme plays a huge part in that, as it offers our leading scholars the freedom to embark on significant areas of research, without the day-to-day stresses of teaching and administrative duties.”

Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive at the Wolfson Foundation, said: “We are delighted once again to be funding these awards, which embody the Wolfson Foundation’s aim to improve the health of society by supporting excellence in the research and dissemination of knowledge.”