Uni academics study the impact of virus

Stirling University is to contribute to three new research projects looking at the response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The studies, all led by academics from the Faculty of Social Sciences, will examine the impacts of Covid-19 on business, the economy and society.

They are funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The Stirling academics are Dr Richard Simmons, Professor Fiona Copland and Professor Alasdair Rutherford.

Dr Simmons has secured £476,113 to launch a 15-month project, ‘Optimising Procurement Outcomes for Covid-19 and Beyond: Lessons from the Crisis’, with support from colleagues at the Universities of Oxford, Cardiff and Northumbria.

Professor Copland is the principal investigator of ‘Supporting separated migrant children to thrive during

Covid-19’, a project awarded £192,000 to examine how the pandemic has impacted on young people’s connectivity to networks and services.

Professor Rutherford, is part of a Uk-wide team who will explore the volunteering response in each of the UK’S four nations during the pandemic.

‘Mobilising Voluntary Action in the four UK jurisdictions: Learning from today, prepared for tomorrow’ has received funding of almost £420,000 and is a partnership between six universities and representatives from volunteer organisations, including voluntary sector infrastructure bodies for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Professor Copland said: “Stirling’s social scientists are well-equipped to explore the wider impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and their insights will have a big impact not only in Scotland, but across the world.”