One of the country’s most eminent professors of sociology has joined the University of Plymouth.

John Scott, who was formerly Professor of Sociology at Essex University in Colchester and has also worked at the universities of Leicester and Strathclyde, took up his position at the start of October.

Professor’s Scott’s primary research and teaching interests lie in the areas of social stratification, business organisation and sociological theory and methods. He is the author of fifteen specialist books in these areas and he has produced more than a dozen edited collections. He is also co-author of one of the leading introductory textbooks in sociology and a contributor to numerous books and international journals.

Editor of both the European Societies, journal of the European Sociological Association, and the third edition of the Oxford Dictionary of Sociology, he is currently working on the early history of sociology in Britain.

Alongside his research work, Professor Scott is an active member of the British Sociological Association. Since 1970 he has held the posts of newsletter editor, secretary, treasurer, chairperson, president – and is currently honorary vice-president.

He is also a Fellow of the British Academy (FBA) a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) and an academician of the Academy of Learned Society in the Social Sciences (AcSS).

Professor Scott said: “I am hoping to develop some research into class, power and community structure in the South West, investigating factors responsible for maintaining or undermining cohesive, local societies.

“Naturally, I am also hoping to find time to take full advantage of the wonderful coastline and countryside the Westcountry has to offer.”

As well developing his research work, Professor Scott will also be fully involved in the core teaching of the sociology schemes. In addition to teaching on such topics as class and power, he also hopes to establish a new option course in the Sociology of Popular Music, to complement existing teaching strengths within the Sociology Group.