海角黑料

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 海角黑料, UK. Pru holds qualifications from University of Edinburgh and 海角黑料 and has or previously held visiting roles at Harvard University, Link枚ping University and University of Warwick.

Professor Hobson-West was Director of the Institute for Science and Society, an interdisciplinary research centre focused on critically examining relations between science, technology, medicine and society. In 2026, Pru was appointed as Faculty lead for the strategic theme of Climate, Environment and Health. She is also the social scientist expert for the Research Ethics Committee of the Wellcome Sanger Institute.

Expertise Summary

Professor Pru Hobson-West is a social scientist with expertise in science and technology studies, medical sociology, and more-than-human relations. Her work focuses on controversial or sensitive areas of medicine. She has published on fields including vaccination, the use of animals as laboratory models, and 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 worked part-time since 2012 and is committed to supporting others to pursue research.

Professor Hobson-West has significant experience of community and public engagement. For example, she recently produced an e-learning resource which received accreditation by Royal College of Nursing. Pru also collaborates with artists on engagement activities, for example please see Professor Hobson-West has outreach experience including invited radio and TV appearances. In 2026 she gave oral evidence to the House of Lords Childhood Vaccinations Committee.

Teaching Summary

Professor Hobson-West is an experienced higher education lecturer, with a full PGCHE teaching qualification and Fellow Status of the Higher Education Academy. She has experience of teaching… 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 qualitative and creative methods… read more

Recent Publications

  • NUMERATO, D., ET AL. and HOBSON-WEST, P., 2026. Journal of Health and Social Behaviour.
  • BRUNT, M. and HOBSON-WEST, P., 2026. Professional Journeys into the Social Science of Veterinary Medicine: The Case of Animal Research. In: SKIPPER, A., SERLIN, R. and GRAY, C., eds., An introduction to Veterinary Humanities Routledge.
  • EMERSON, T. and HOBSON-WEST, P., 2025. Sociological Research Online.
  • HOBSON-WEST, P., 2025. . In: Chronicles from the Academic Frontier Rulers Wit and the 海角黑料. 162-167

Professor Hobson-West is an experienced higher education lecturer, with a full PGCHE teaching qualification and Fellow Status of the Higher Education Academy. She has experience of teaching qualitative methods, science and technology studies, social theory, research ethics and veterinary ethics, and supporting dissertation students and personal tutees. Pru has also acted as guest lecturer for the University of Oxford Research Ethics and Empirical Ethics module of the MSt in Practical Ethics.

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 qualitative and creative methods utilising concepts from science and technology studies, medical sociology and veterinary ethics.

Past Research

Selected awards are listed here: For a full list, please contact Pru.Hobson-West@nottingham.ac.uk

EU Horizon 2020 (2021-2024) 'VAX-TRUST: Addressing vaccine hesitancy in Europe'. Website is via

Foundation for the Sociology of Health and Illness (2023-2024). 'Beyond positionality: the role and impact of researcher emotion in the sociology of health and illness'. Event programme 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'. Visiting Fellowship for Professor Jane Desmond, University of Illinois. A news item is 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'. This grant funded the convening of an international conference (online due to Covid-19). All materials on YouTube and via via

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. Mini website via

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

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). Achived website at

ESRC Impact Accelerator Award (2016-18). 'Improving UK animal research governance: Delivering effective ethical review'. Output available via

Leverhulme Trust (2012-17) 'Making Science Public: Challenges and Opportunities' Project details via /sociology/research/projects/making-science-public/

Future Research

Professor Pru Hobson-West would welcome approaches from prospective PhD students or researchers on potential research topics. 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. Journal of Health and Social Behaviour.
  • BRUNT, M. and HOBSON-WEST, P., 2026. Professional Journeys into the Social Science of Veterinary Medicine: The Case of Animal Research. In: SKIPPER, A., SERLIN, R. and GRAY, C., eds., An introduction to Veterinary Humanities Routledge.
  • EMERSON, T. and HOBSON-WEST, P., 2025. Sociological Research Online.
  • HOBSON-WEST, P., 2025. . In: Chronicles from the Academic Frontier Rulers Wit and the 海角黑料. 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.
  • HOBSON-WEST, P., 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

Law and Social Sciences building
海角黑料
University Park
Nottingham, NG7 2RD

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