Dr Rachel Hale

: haler3@cardiff.ac.uk
: Understanding Risk Group, Tower Building, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT

: Available for postgraduate supervision

I am a Research Associate in the Understanding Risk Group working on the Living Well in Low Carbon Homes research strand of the EPSRC funded study 'The Active Building Centre' (ABC). The Active Building Centre is a major national (UK) initiative to transform the energy and construction industry through new sustainably-powered building design and use, involving other major University (UK-wide), commercial, and local council partners. I am conducting social science research located within the fields of socio-technical energy transitions (including digitisation and the smart revolution), environmental risk/sustainability studies and psychosocial inquiry, contributing to a major qualitative longitudinal social sciences study of occupants of active homes in schemes in the South Wales region. My work on the ABC study is characterised by a strong commitment to interdisciplinary qualitative social science methodologies including established and newer developments (e.g. visual, sensory, multimodal, relational, creative, embodied, affective, material-discursive).

I am a sociologist fascinated by the societal and ethical issues around health, science and technology. I have expertise in qualitative methods and sociology/Science and Technology Studies theoretical approaches; as well as in, quantitative, mixed and systematic review methods. I have experience of teaching substantive topics and research methods at several universities, to a diverse range of students, and of undergraduate and postgraduate dissertation/professional project supervision. I am a committed academic citizen, including as an expert consultant for the World Health Organization and a member of the UK Government KEU COVID-19 Outbreak Expert Database.

Commentary on the Coronavirus Pandemic, UNESCO Inclusive Policy Lab, https://en.unesco.org/inclusivepolicylab/e-teams/inequalities-time-covid-19/documents/lessons-h1n1-pandemic

EDUCATION

October 2010-May 2016: PhD in Sociology and Public Health, University of Nottingham

Full doctoral studentship jointly funded by ESRC and MRC

Thesis Title: An Actor Network Analysis of the Healthcare Worker Influenza Immunisation Programme in Wales – 2009-11

Supervised by: Prof. Robert Dingwall and Prof. Jonathan Van Tam

Examined by: Prof. Trisha Greenhalgh and Prof. Ian Shaw

Masters in Public Health modules: Sociology of Health & Illness; Qualitative Research Methods; Epidemiology Research Methods & Basic Statistics

April 2010-September 2010: MSc Social Science Research, University of Glamorgan

Dissertation Title: A Foucauldian Discourse Analysis of the Official and Media Discourses Around the Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine in the UK – 2008-10

September 2008-July 2010: PGCE (PCET) , University of Glamorgan

September 1991-July 1994: BA (Hons) Humanities (Sociology) , University of Glamorgan

November 2006-April 2010: PG Dip Social Science Research Methods, Open University

Modules – Ethnography; Discourse Analysis; Rethinking Social Policy, Introduction to Research: Basic Skills and Survey Methods

Honours and awards

EXPERT ADVISORY ROLES

Welsh Assembly Government Covid-19 Expert, 2020-present

Invited member of the UNESCO Inclusive Policy Lab E-Team COVID-19: what social sciences need policymakers to know, 2020-present

Invited member of the UNESCO Inclusive Policy Lab Public E-Team: ‘Inequalities in the time of COVID-19’, 2020-present

UK Government KEU COVID-19 Outbreak Expert Database member, 2020-present

Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Ethics Network (PHEPREN)

Cardiff University Biobank Scientific Review Committee member, 2019-present

UNESCO Inclusive Policy Lab expert, 2019-present

Independent Expert Advisory Group (IEAG) member for the World Health Organization Influenza Implementation Research Focal Point (Initiative for Vaccine Research), 2018- present

External Consultant for Tailoring Influenza Immunization Programmes (TIP FLU) for the World Health Organization (WHO), 2014-present

External Consultant for Public Health Wales healthcare worker measles immunisation research study, 2013

External Consultant for Public Health Wales cervical screening uptake amongst hard-to-reach groups research study, 2010

FUNDING AWARDS

GW4 AMR Alliance Research funding, ‘Engaging the public with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) using blended arts and science events’, £7,500, October 2021

GW4 Crucible Seed Funding, ‘Exposure and environmental engagement: A pilot integrating wearable sensors, air quality and citizen science (EXPO-ENGAGE)’, £3,855, July 2021

Goethe University funding to present at workshop ‘Hope and fear for the future of human genome editing, We, new utopians – Genome editing and echoes of future life’, Frankfurt, September 2019

British Council Research Links funding for Qualitative Research in Infection Control workshop (Sao Paulo, Brazil), February 2015

Cardiff University/HEFCW Strategic Insight Programme (SIP) funding, 'Divisional Ownership of Infection Prevention and Control in Secondary Healthcare', £2500, November 2014

British Sociological Association (BSA) Early Career Researcher conference funding to present at the BSA Medical Sociology Conference, York, September 2013

King’s College London bursary to attend summer school course ‘Doing social science research in healthcare settings’, London, July 2013

University of Nottingham Science Technology and Society (STS) Priority Group travel bursary, June 2013

Full ESRC/MRC PhD studentship October 2010-September 2013

Professional memberships

PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS

Knowledge, Expertise and Science (KES)

Tyndall Centre Early Career Network (TECN)

GW4 Alliance - Net Zero

GW4 Alliance - Climate and Health

GW4 Crucible 2021 - Transitions to Net Zero in the time of COVID-19

Association for Studies in Innovation Science and Technology (AsSIST-UK)

British Sociological Association (BSA), (Climate Change study group, Medical Sociology study group, Science and Technology Studies study group, Deconstructing Donation Special Interest Group, Animal/Human study group)

UKRI ECR Forum

Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Ethics Network (PHEPREN)

Learned Society of Wales

ELSI 2.0 Network

EuroScience

Responsible Research and Innovation Networked Globally Community (RRING)

Cardiff Environmental Cultures

Cardiff Health and Social Care Improvement Research Network (CHOIR)

Cardiff University Medicine, Science and Culture (MeSC) research interest group

Cardiff University Research Centre for the Study of Knowledge Expertise Science (KES)

Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering Research (CITER)

Cardiff Materials Research Network (CMRN)

Infectious Disease Research Network (IDRN)

Animal Welfare Science Ethics and Law Veterinary Association (AWSELVA)

Women in Academia@USW Network

WISERD Well-Being Network

Academic positions

02/2019-present: Research Associate, Cardiff University

02/2017-01/2019: Research Fellow, University of Warwick

10/2015-03/2017: Research Associate, University of the West of England

05/2013-02/2017: Research Associate, Cardiff University

09/2008-09/2010: Sociology Lecturer, University of Glamorgan

Speaking engagements

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Collins, H., Evans, R., Hale, R. and Conley, S. [Panel discussion] Conferences as Scientific Practice: What Do Responses To Covid Reveal About Disciplinary Differences, 2021 Meeting of the Society for the Social Studies of Science (4S), Toronto, September/October 2021.

Hale, R. and Hedgecoe, A. [Oral presentation] Hope and fear for the future of human genome editing, We, new utopians – Genome editing and echoes of future life workshop, Goethe University, Frankfurt, September 2019.

Hale, R. and Hedgecoe, A. [Oral presentation] Communicating Uncertainty in Next Generation Clinical Genetics, Conference of the UK Association for Studies of Innovation, Science and Technology, University of Manchester, Manchester, September 2019.

Hale, R. and Kent, J. [Oral presentation] Designing futures for the emerging technology of cultured red blood cells, Critical engagement vs. technophobia: The risks of emerging technologies European Sociological Association Workshop, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, October 2018.

Hale, R. and Boardman, F. [Oral presentation] An analysis of the social and ethical implications of a shift in reproductive decision-making around genetic screening from families affected by genetic conditions to the general population, British Sociological Association Medical Sociology Annual Conference, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, September 2018.

Hale, R. and Boardman, F. [Oral presentation] Moving Beyond Qualitative and Quantitative Data: A Study of Attitudes Towards Genetic Screening in the UK, Mixed Methods International Research Association Conference, University of Vienna, Vienna, August 2018.

Hale, R. and Boardman, F. [Oral presentation and poster] Social and Ethical Implications of Fragile X Screening: The Families’ Views, Fragile X Syndrome Research Workshop 2018, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, May 2018.

Hale, R. and Boardman, F. [Oral presentation] An analysis of the social and ethical implications of a shift in reproductive decision-making around genetic screening from families affected by genetic conditions to the general population, British Sociological Association Annual Conference, Northumbria University, Newcastle, April 2018.

Hale, R. and Kent, J. [Oral presentation] The future of donation: Implications of cultured red blood cells, Deconstructing Donation Conference, University of Bristol, Bristol, December 2017.

Hale, R., Kent, J. and Meacham, D. [Oral presentation] Designing futures: targeting red blood cell products, British Sociological Association conference, University of Manchester, Manchester, April 2017.

Kent, J. and Hale, R. [Invited poster] Public and patient views of cultured red blood cells (cRBCs), Interdisciplinary Research: Exploring funding opportunities and best practice with the British Academy, University Alliance-British Academy Event, Bristol, November 2016.

Hale, R. and Kent, J. [Oral presentation] Extending the gift? Donor perspectives on laboratory grown red blood cells, Deconstructing Donation Symposium, Lancaster University, June 2016, and Red Cell Special Interest Group Scientific Meeting, BBTS conference, Harrogate, September 2016.

Kent, J., Meacham, D. and Hale, R. [Oral presentation] Researching new technologies in transfusion medicine: patient and public perspectives on laboratory grown red blood cells, the Centre for Health & Clinical Research Annual Conference, University of the West of England, Bristol, March 2016.

Hale, R. [Invited to present PhD findings] An actor-network analysis of the healthcare worker influenza immunisation programme, HProImmnune Info day, Athens, July 2014.

Hale, R. [Invited presentation] An actor-network analysis of the healthcare worker influenza immunisation programme, Wales Immunisation Conference, Wrexham, May 2014.

Hale, R. [Roundtable discussion] Inserting influenza vaccines into healthcare workers in two Welsh Local Health Boards, BSA Conference, Leeds University, Leeds, April 2014.

Hale, R. [Oral presentation] Actor-network theory, sociology and bioethics in the UK healthcare worker influenza immunisation programme, Working together? STS, collaboration and (multi)disciplinarity conference, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, December 2013.

Hale, R. Dingwall R and Nguyen-Van-Tam J.S. [Full paper accepted for roundtable discussion] Linking micro and macro in the UK National Health Service healthcare worker influenza immunisation programme, American Sociological Association, New York, August 2013.

Hale, R. Dingwall R and Nguyen-Van-Tam J.S. [Oral presentation] The bioethics of healthcare worker influenza immunisation, BSA Medical Sociology Conference, University of York, September 2013.

Hale, R. [Oral presentation] Actor-Networks and Health Professionals’ Vaccination against H1N1 Pandemic Influenza, BSA Medical Sociology Conference, University of Leicester, Leicester, September 2012.

Hale, R. [Oral presentation] Health care workers and the H1N1 pandemic influenza vaccine, East Midlands Universities Association Postgraduate Conference, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, July 2012.

Hale, R. [Poster] A Duty of Care: A review of studies on uptake and attitudes of healthcare workers and pandemic H1N1 vaccine, Medical Sociology Conference, University of Chester, September 2011 and Postgraduate Student Conference, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, June 2011.

STAKEHOLDER PRESENTATIONS

Hale, R. & Kent, J. [Invited presentation] An Investigation of What Diverse Patient, Donor and Public Groups Think About The Use of Innovative Blood Cell Therapies: A Small Scale Qualitative Study for the Bristol Blood & Transplant Research Unit. Presentation to Bristol Blood & Transplant Research Unit, NHSBT, Bristol, January 2017.

Hale, R. & Kent, J. [Invited presentation] Donor, Patient and Public Perspectives on Laboratory Grown, Red Blood Cells, Presentation to NHSBT Public Advisory Group, Bristol, December 2016.

Hale, R. (2013) An actor-network analysis of the healthcare worker influenza immunisation programme in Wales. Presentation to representatives from the Welsh Assembly Government, Public Health Wales and Local Health Boards, Cardiff, June 2013.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

Boardman, F. and Hale, R. (2019) ‘Genetic screening, Disability and the Future of Society?’, Café Scientifique, Leamington Spa, January 2019.

Hale, R. and Boardman, F. [Invited presentation] ‘A Study of Attitudes Towards Genetic Screening in the UK’, The Haemophilia Society Conference, Birmingham, November 2018.

Hale, R. and Boardman, F. (2017) ‘Pre-conception genetic screening for autosomal recessive conditions of uncertain or highly variable prognosis: social and ethical implications’, Fragile X Society Family Weekend, Oxfordshire, September 2017.

Hale, R. and Kent, J. [Invited presentation] ‘Lab grown blood becomes a reality’ Science Café, British Science Association (Bristol and Bath Branch), SouthBank Club, Bristol, February 2016.

Committees and reviewing

Member of the Executive Committee and conference co-ordinator for the Association for Studies in Innovation, Science and Technology (AsSIST-UK), September 2019-present

Journal Associate Editor, Cogent Social Sciences

Journal Reviewer, Sociology of Health and Illness

Journal Reviewer, Science as Culture

Journal Reviewer, Journal of Hospital Infection (JHI)

Journal Reviewer, American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC)

Journal Reviewer, Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses

OTHER CITIZENSHIP

Deputy lead for the Genitourinary Tract Infections subgroup, of the Infection, Immunity and Inflammation (I3) Group, at the Centre for Trials Research, Cardiff University, August 2020-April 2021

Covid-19 Student Check-in Service Volunteer, March-April 2020

Co-ordinator for the Social Divisions/ Social Identities stream at the British Sociological Association (BSA) conference, November 2013-April 2019

STEM Ambassador, April 2019-present

Public Health Wales (PHW) Screening Engagement Volunteer, April 2012-April 2013

At Cardiff University, I recently supervised to completion a Masters in Public Health (MPH) dissertation 'Health, Fitness and Social Media Influencers: A focus group study exploring the impact of Instagram on the health behaviours of young women'.

At Cardiff University, I have taught on Research Methods 2 - Evidence for Health Policy (BSc Intercalated Population Medicine). I have also previously taught at several universities (Warwick, Nottingham, West of England, South Wales/Glamorgan) to a diverse range of undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students (sociology, criminology, education, interdisciplinary, medical, other health professionals). I have taught on the following substantive courses: Social Identity and Inequality; Bodies, Technology and Society; Genomics: Science and Society; Sociology of the Body; Values, Law and Ethics; Ethics of health screening; Pandemic planning; Sociology of Pornography; Key Issues in Sex Education. I have taught on the following research methods courses: Research Design, Practice and Ethics; Qualitative Research Methods in Health; Mixed Methods in Health Research; and, Mixed Methods Research Techniques. I have been a repeated guest lecturer at a previous institution where I was a sociology lecturer. I have also supervised undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations and professional projects.

During 2020 to 2021, I worked on the study ‘Scientific Conferences after COVID’ which investigated the ways that scientists use conferences and meetings across the sciences, to identify those aspects of scientific work that are dependent on face-to-face meetings and those which could safely continue to be done remotely. We will also analyse the potential impacts on inequality. The outcome will be a unique contribution to the sociology of science and practical recommendations for the re-organisation of scientific meetings.

During 2021 I took part in the GW4 Crucible 2021 - Transitions to Net Zero in the time of COVID-19 – which fostered conversations and collaborations between future research leaders across a broad range of disciplines from the natural and political sciences to the arts, humanities, and creative sectors. From this I became part of the GW4 Alliance on Climate and Health, which organised a networking workshop to identify priorities for funding applications, including GW4 IAA funding.

From 2020 to 2021, I worked as a qualitative researcher at the Centre for Trials Research at Cardiff University. I worked on two studies: The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Foundation funded study 'Inside the Black Box- An Ethnographic Examination of Nurses' Professional Judgement in Nursing Staffing Systems in England and Wales'; and the Medical Research Council (MRC) funded study 'Developing and Testing Participant Information Leaflets (PILs) that Inform and do not Cause Harm (PrinciPILs)'.

During 2019, I worked at Cardiff University on Prof. Adam Hedgecoe's Wellcome Trust funded qualitative study: ‘Professional decision making in next generation clinical genetics’.

From 2017 to 2019, I worked at the University of Warwick on Dr. Felicty Boardman's Wellcome Trust funded mixed methods study: ‘Pre-conception genetic screening for autosomal recessive conditions of uncertain or highly variable prognosis: social and ethical implications’.

From 2015 to 2017, I worked at the University of the West of England on Prof. Julie Kent's NIHR funded qualitative study: ‘Social, economic and ethical issues around cultured red blood cells, stem cells and immortalised cell lines’.

From 2013 to 2017, I worked at Cardiff University on several qualitative and mixed methods research projects including; divisional ownership of infection prevention and control; cancer survivorship; and, dentists' decision making around crown placement and replacement. I also worked on literature reviews and grant applications.