Graduate and lecturer named New Generation Thinker by BBC and research council

After a nationwide search, Dr Jake Morris-Campbell has been chosen as one of 10 researchers by the BBC and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) for the coveted New Generation Thinkers 2021 scheme which recognises the UK’s brightest minds in arts and humanities.

The programme places the country’s most promising early career researchers’ insightful and innovative work in the spotlight, including giving them the chance to broadcast their research on BBC Radio and get involved in other media opportunities including festival appearances.

Dr Morris-Campbell will spend a year being mentored by producers from Radio 3’s Free Thinking programme, where he will appear to take part in discussions between April and July, and will also work on episodes of The Essay to be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 next spring. 

Academic and published poet, Dr Morris-Campbell is excited to embark on the programme and share his work with the international audiences tuning in.

He said: “I am delighted to be selected as one of the New Generation Thinkers for 2021. The scheme will provide me with a great springboard, allowing my writing and research to reach a wider audience.

“Writing poetry from and about the north of England, I’m excited to get involved in making radio broadcasts that will bring greater national recognition to the value of my own and others’ work.”

Dr Morris-Campbell is a current Visiting Lecturer in English at the University of Chester, studied his Master of Arts in Creative Writing (2010) and Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Creative Writing with English (2009) at the University and worked in the University’s Student Support and Guidance team between 2013 and 2015.

He also teaches at Newcastle University; has tutored for The Poetry School; and runs Creative Writing workshops in primary and secondary schools.

Alan Davey, Controller of BBC Radio 3 said: “The successful 10 were selected from hundreds of applications from researchers at the start of their careers. They have all demonstrated a passion for communicating their work and a skill for making complex areas of study engaging, accessible, and enlightening.”

Professor Christopher Smith, AHRC Executive Chair added: “New Generation Thinkers is a flagship scheme for the AHRC and is vital in supporting the next generation of arts and humanities researchers to connect with the public and challenge what we think we know.” 

Since launching the scheme in 2010, the AHRC, BBC Radio 3 and BBC Arts have given more than 100 New Generation Thinkers unique access to training and support and the esteemed opportunity to communicate their research by making programmes for BBC radio and television.

New Generation Thinkers have become regulars on BBC Radio 3, presented TV documentaries on BBC Four, discussed their work with the public at the Hay Festival, hosted panel sessions, made short films about their expertise, taken part in judging panels for leading cultural prizes and several have gone on to become established BBC presenters.

Participants become ambassadors and exemplars for the arts and humanities, sharing pioneering ideas, bringing people into their world, redefining understanding of subjects and expanding horizons.

The BBC Radio 3 Free Thinking programme introducing this year’s New Generation Thinkers can be listened to on BBC Sounds at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000t6fn.

For further information on the New Generation Thinkers scheme please visit: https://ahrc.ukri.org/innovation/new-generation-thinkers/.

ENDS

Further information

Dr Jake Morris-Campbell

Dr Jake Morris-Campbell’s Northern Bridge (AHRC) funded PhD, ‘The Poets’ Hyem’, explored international regionalism in post-war poetry of North-East England and led to the production of his first manuscript of poetry, Corrigenda for Costafine Town, which will be published by Blue Diode Press in November 2021. He has published two pamphlets of poetry: The Coast Will Wait Behind You (Art Editions North, 2015) and Definitions of Distance (Red Squirrel Press, 2012). His work often appears as part of multi-disciplinary collaborations, including Ghosts of the Restless Shore: Space, Place and Memory of the Sefton Coast and the Heritage Lottery Funded initiative, Stringing Bedes: A Poetry and Print Pilgrimage. A winner of New Writing North’s Andrew Waterhouse award, Jake has tutored for The Poetry School and led many workshops in schools.

The Arts and Humanities Research Council

The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), part of UK Research and Innovation, funds internationally outstanding independent researchers across the whole range of the arts and humanities: history; archaeology; digital content; philosophy; languages and literature; design; heritage; area studies; the creative and performing arts, and much more. The quality and range of research supported by AHRC works for the good of UK society and culture and contributes both to UK economic success and to the culture and welfare of societies across the globe.