University Honorary degree for former Nuffield Fellow
Nuffield College alumnus and former Research Fellow Professor Sir John Curtice FBA, FRSE, FRSA (DPhil Politics 1976), (Research Fellow 1981-83; Associate Fellow 1983-84), has been named one of eight distinguished individuals who will receive an honorary degree from the new Chancellor of the University of Oxford.
Sir John is a well-recognised face in British political media, frequently being called upon for his expertise on UK election nights to interpret polls and survey data. He has written extensively about voting behaviour in elections and referendums in the UK, as well as on British political and social attitudes.
As well as being a student and then a Fellow at Nuffield College, Sir John has worked closely with Nuffield academics throughout his distinguished career. For example, he was formerly involved in The British Election Study (BES), which is one of the longest-running election studies in the world, and the UK’s longest-running social science survey. BES was founded by the late Nuffield Fellow David Butler (DPhil Politics 1949; Research Fellow 1951-55; Official Fellow 1954-92; Emeritus Fellow 1992-2022), and has also been headed up by current Nuffield Emeritus Fellow Anthony Heath, Official Fellow Geoffrey Evans and Professorial Fellow Jane Green. The study is currently hosted at Nuffield College, with the University of Manchester and Royal Holloway, as part of the Elections Unit of the Nuffield Politics Research Centre.
The Chancellor of the University of Oxford, the Rt Hon Lord Hague of Richmond will confer the honorary degrees at a ceremony in the Sheldonian Theatre on 24 February. It is a longstanding tradition that, at the start of a new Chancellorship, the incumbent Chancellor proposes a group of candidates for honorary degrees.
On the nomination of Sir John and the other honourees, Chancellor Lord Hague said:
“I have nominated exceptional individuals whose achievements have been an inspiration to me. They have made lasting contributions to society, and in some cases to the University of Oxford in particular.”
Tickets for the ceremony will be available for University of Oxford staff, students, alumni, members and retired members of Congregation, and academic visitors. Registration opens on Monday, 12 January.