UNSW researchers elected to Academy of the Social Sciences
2026-10-23T15:00:00+11:00
The researchers have been elected as Fellows for their significant contributions to research on mental health, justice and society.
Four UNSW Sydney researchers have been elected 2026 Fellows of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia for their outstanding contributions to their fields.
Professors Theunis Roux and Gary Edmond from UNSW Law & Justice, and Professors Jessica Grisham and Jill Newby from UNSW Science are among 43 new Fellows elected by the Academy for their excellence and distinction in social sciences.
Fellowship is one of the highest honours in the field, recognising those whose research and leadership have made significant contributions to public understanding, policy development and social progress.
“Their work demonstrates the power of social science research to create positive change,” said Academy President Professor Kate Darian-Smith. She added that the 2026 cohort exemplified the vital role of social science research in addressing complex challenges and building a more informed, equitable and prosperous society.
UNSW Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research & Enterprise, Professor Bronwyn Fox, congratulated the four researchers on their election to the Academy.
“From developing more affordable, accessible mental health treatments to examining the role of forensic sciences in criminal proceedings, these researchers are tackling issues with real consequences for people and communities.
“Election to the Academy is one of the highest honours in the social sciences. It recognises the excellence of their research and the contribution their work makes to public understanding, policy development and social progress.”
Professor Gary Edmond
Prof. Edmond, from the School of Law, Society & Criminology, is an evidence scholar whose research explores the relationship between law and science, particularly the use of forensic science in criminal proceedings.
His interdisciplinary work examines the use of forensic evidence in investigations, prosecutions and appeals, as well as the effectiveness of legal rules, procedures and personnel in evaluating scientific, technical and biomedical knowledge.
"Much of my research examines the gap between prevailing legal assumptions, rules and procedures and modern scientific knowledge, particularly what we know about the cognitive vulnerabilities that affect all human decision-makers,” Prof. Edmond said.
“Being elected to the Academy is recognition of this contribution, and I hope it helps to bring greater attention to the importance of carefully scrutinising scientific evidence in criminal proceedings."
Professor Jessica Grisham
Prof. Grisham, from the School of Psychology, is an international authority on understanding and treating hoarding disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
For more than a decade, she has partnered with Lifeline Harbour to Hawkesbury to improve hoarding treatment. She also works with collaborators at Sydney Children’s Hospital Network and Queensland Health to improve access to treatment and outcomes for young people with OCD.
"The people who take part in our clinical research are complex, creative and resilient individuals, often with remarkable and sometimes challenging life stories. They are much more than their symptoms. What drives me is understanding why OCD and hoarding take hold and developing treatments that respect each person's individuality and experience.
“I’m truly honoured by this recognition, and I see it as shared with my dedicated collaborators, my wonderful students and the people who have so generously shared their experiences with us.”
Professor Jill Newby
Prof. Newby is a clinical psychologist with the Black Dog Institute and UNSW School of Psychology, who researches digital mental health interventions for adults and young people with depression and anxiety. She is also Co-Director of the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Depression Treatment Precision.
Her work focuses on developing and testing accessible, effective and scalable psychological and lifestyle-based treatments, including digital tools that could support more personalised care.
“Mental ill-health is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Digital mental health has the potential to bring effective, evidence-based treatments to people who face barriers to accessing support. It can help make high-quality care more accessible and affordable, and provide people with practical tools when they need them most.
“Election to the Academy is a wonderful recognition, not only of my work, but also of the wonderful staff, students, clinicians, collaborators and people with lived experience of depression and anxiety who have contributed to this research.”
Professor Theunis Roux
Prof. Roux, from the School of Global and Public Law, is an internationally recognised scholar of comparative constitutional studies whose research examines the relationship between constitutional law, politics and social change.
His research has advanced understanding of constitutions and courts as political and social institutions. It shows that they must be analysed not only through legal doctrine but also within their historical, political and institutional contexts.
“The central driver of my work is understanding the role of constitutional courts in stabilising transitions from authoritarianism to democracy. That interest stems from my experience living through South Africa's transition to democracy and has developed in a comparative direction since my move to Australia,” Prof. Roux said.
“I’m honoured by this recognition from the Academy. My research has long sat at the intersection of law and political science, and the Fellowship reflects the value of interdisciplinary scholarship in helping us understand democratic institutions and social change.”
Media enquiries
For media enquiries contact Kate Burke:
Tel: +61 2 9348 2538
Email: kate.burke@unsw.edu.au
